Lige verilen milli arada Beşiktaş Başkanı Serdal Adalı, Teknik Direktör Sergen Yalçın ve Serkan Reçber bir araya gelecek. Yapılacak 3'lü zirve sonrasında kimlerin gidip, kimlerin kalacağı netleşecek.
Son yıllarda şampiyonluk yarışlarına çok erken havlu atan Beşiktaş'ta önlem alınacak. Lige verilen milli arada Başkan Serdal Adalı, Teknik Direktör Sergen Yalçın ve Serkan Reçber'in bir araya geleceği öğrenildi. Bu kritik toplantı, kısa süre içinde gerçekleştirilecek...
İSİMLER AÇIKLANMAYACAK
Yeni sezonda gelecekler ve ayrılacaklar konusunda son karar, 3'lü zirvenin ardından alınacak... Fakat bu isimlerle ilgili bir açıklama yapılmayacak. Siyah-Beyazlılar, sezon sonuna kadar toplayabileceği maksimum puanı toplamayı hedefliyor. Bu süreçte ayrılıklarla ilgili bir açıklama, havayı bozabilir.
TRANSFERLERİN DURUMU
Beşiktaş Teknik Direktörü Sergen Yalçın, kafasındaki transferleri de büyük oranda belirledi. 3'lü zirvede Başkan Serdal Adalı'ya bu futbolcuların özellikleri anlatılacak. Yönetim, maddi açıdan elinden geleni yapacak. Her bölge için çok sayıda alternatif var... Takviye konusunda atılacak adımlar da kritik toplantı sonrasında belli olacak.
İspanya La Liga'nın 29. haftasında Real Madrid ile Atletico Madrid karşı karşıya geldi. Real Madrid maçı 3-2 kazarak derbide gülen taraf oldu.
İspanya La Liga'nın 29. haftasında Real Madrid ile Atletico Madrid karşı karşıya geldi. Bernabeu'da oynanan mücadeleyi ev sahibi Real Madrid 3-2'lik skorla kazandı.
Real Madrid forması giyen milli yıldızımız Arda Güler, maça ilk 1'de başladı ve 74. dakikada yerini Jude Bellingham'a bıraktı.
Atletico Madrid'i konuk ettiği son 13 resmi maçı kaybetmeyen ve 7. galibiyetini elde eden Real Madrid, puanını 69'a yükseltti ve lider Barcelona'yı 4 puan geriden takibini sürdürdü. Atletico Madrid ise 57 puanda ve 4. sırada kaldı.
Fatih Karagümrük mağlubiyetinin ardından gönderilmesi gündeme gelen Domenico Tedesco, Gaziantep FK galibiyetiyle takımdaki ve Samandıra'daki birlik beraberliği sağladı.
Galatasaraylı kurmaylar, 27 Mart'ta UEFA'dan gelecek 11.8 milyon Euro'luk para ile vadesi gelen bütün maaşları ödeyecek. Oyunculara karşı borçları sıfırlayacak yönetim, bu hamlesiyle futbolcuları kalan maçlar öncesinde motive etmeyi hedefliyor.
Galatasaray yönetimi ve teknik heyeti, Osimhen'in sakatlığı ve zorlaşan fikstüre rağmen şampiyonluk yolunda Okan Buruk'un kriz yönetme becerisine tam güven duyarken; Buruk da oyuncularına ligdeki avantajın rehavetine kapılmadan, önlerindeki 8 kritik maça ve yerel kupalara en üst seviyede konsantre olmaları gerektiği mesajını verdi.
Galatasaray, Okan Buruk'un da görüşme yaptığı iddia edilen Hakan Çalhanoğlu'nu, Inter Milan'dan ayrılık ihtimalinin güçlenmesiyle daha düşük bir bonservisle transfer etmeyi planlıyor.
“Qalatasaray”ın futbolçusu Viktor Osimhen Türkiyədə klub alacaq.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Afrika mətbuatı məlumat yayıb. Nigeriyalı hücumçu “İstanbulspor”un səhmlərini almaq üçün danışıqlara başlayıb.
“İstanbulspor” Türkiyə I Liqasında mübarizə aparır. Komanda çempionatda 32 turdan sonra 39 xalla 16-cı sıradadır.
Last November, 365 Division I men’s college basketball teams began the season with dreams of advancing to the NCAA tournament’s second week.
The 16 still alive all have one thing in common: They each hail from a power conference.
Six are from the Big Ten, raising the possibility that league could finally end its 26-year national title drought. Four are from the SEC, though regular season champion Florida surprisingly is not among them. Three are from the Big 12. UConn and St. John’s hail from the Big East. And Duke is the ACC’s lone team left standing.
Thirteen of the 16 remaining teams are No. 5 seeds or better, but even this historically chalky NCAA tournament did produce some surprises. Nebraska is playing in its first-ever Sweet 16. Iowa and St. John’s haven’t been since 1999. Ten of the 16 remaining teams have never won the NCAA tournament.
Who has a chance to climb ladders and cut down the nets in Indianapolis? Here’s a look at how I’d rank this year’s Sweet 16 from most likely to least likely to win the national championship:
1. Michigan Wolverines (33-3)
How they got here: Defeated Howard (16), Saint Louis (9)
Up next: Alabama (4)
Outlook: What makes Michigan so lethal is more than just its positional size. The Wolverines overwhelm opponents because of how seamlessly their pieces fit together. Over the course of 12 days last spring, Dusty May assembled a title contender via the transfer portal, adding skilled 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara; rim runner, rebounder and interior defender Morez Johnson; do-it-all 6-9 forward Yaxel Lendeborg; and pass-first playmaker Elliot Cadeau. That quartet has carried the Wolverines to 33 wins, including routs of Howard and Saint Louis to open NCAA tournament play. “You see a lot of teams that are poorly constructed that pay a lot of money for their teams,” Saint Louis coach Josh Schertz said Saturday. “Dusty's teams, the pieces really fit well.”
Will Yaxel Lendeborg and the Wolverines be advancing Michigan to the Final Four next weekend? (Bjorn Franke/Getty Images)
Bjorn Franke via Getty Images
2. Arizona Wildcats (34-2)
How they got here: Defeated LIU (16), Utah State (9)
Up next: Arkansas (4)
Outlook: Arizona blew away overmatched LIU and overcame pesky Utah State. Now comes the hard part. Twelve times since 2001, Arizona advanced to the NCAA tournament’s second weekend. Five times, the Wildcats made the Elite Eight. Each trip ended in heartbreak, from a near miss against Kansas in 2003, to Illinois’ stunning 15-point comeback in 2005, to Jamelle Horne’s game-winning 3-pointer rimming out against UConn in 2011, to back-to-back narrow losses to Frank Kaminsky and Wisconsin in 2014 and 2015. Can this year’s Arizona team ride its balanced scoring and ferocious interior defense to the program’s first Final Four in a quarter century? Anything less would be a disappointment.
3. Houston Cougars (30-6)
How they got here: Defeated Idaho (15), Texas A&M (10)
Up next: Illinois (3)
Outlook: There was never any doubt that Houston was going to seize the opportunity to play in a South regional less than three miles from its campus. The Cougars won their first two NCAA tournament games by 30-plus points, joining 1998 Arizona, 1999 Duke and 2008 North Carolina as teams who have achieved that feat. Now the question is whether playing close to home can help Houston get through the likes of Illinois and either Florida or Nebraska to advance to another Final Four. This year’s Cougars aren’t quite the defensive juggernaut that Sampson’s previous teams have been, but their mix of proven veterans and heralded freshmen make them one of the five biggest threats in this NCAA tournament field to win six games.
4. Duke Blue Devils (34-2)
How they got here: Defeated Siena (16), TCU (9)
Up next: St. John’s (5)
Outlook: While surprisingly vulnerable Duke survived a major scare against 16th-seeded Siena and struggled to put away TCU for 30 minutes, the opening weekend of the NCAA tournament wasn’t all bad for the Blue Devils. The return of center Patrick Nnongba from injury should help Duke unleash the best version of Cam Boozer. It’s no surprise that Duke’s vaunted defense is most stifling when Boozer defends opposing power forwards and cedes rim-protection duties to Nnongba. What’s more interesting is that Boozer’s 2-point field goal percentage increases by 9%, per CBB Analytics, when Nnongba is on the floor with him. They complement one another well and have obvious chemistry, as shown by plays like this one.
How they got here: Defeated North Dakota State (14), Louisville (6)
Up next: UConn (2)
Outlook: Michigan State point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. says his favorite thing about passing “is seeing my other teammates score and the joy and the excitement it brings them.” As the nation’s assists leader puts it, “If they’re happy, I’m happy.” Fears has had a lot of happy teammates this season as he has emerged as the engine and primary playmaker for a Michigan State attack ranked sixth nationally since March 1, per Bart Torvik’s T-rankings. Fears dished out 16 assists Saturday against Louisville, the most by a Big Ten player in an NCAA tournament game in the past 50 years. The all-Big Ten selection now has a ridiculous 27 assists in two NCAA tournament games.
6. UConn Huskies (31-5)
How they got here: Defeated Furman (15), UCLA (7)
Up next: Michigan State (3)
Outlook: Why was UConn able to put away UCLA on Sunday night despite getting a combined two points out of Solo Ball and Silas Demary Jr.? Because Alex Karaban isn’t ready for his storied college career to end. The two-time national champ put the Huskies on his back, piling up a career-high 27 points on everything from spot-up 3-pointers, to driving layups, to put-backs through contact. UConn coach Dan Hurley went out of his way to highlight Karaban during his introductory remarks to the media after the game. “This man’s greatness and what he’s done in college basketball for four years, literally every outlet should be doing a story,” Hurley said. “No one has been better in college sports the past four years in terms of being a winner.”
7. St. John’s Red Storm (30-6)
How they got here: Defeated Northern Iowa (12), Kansas (4)
Up next: Duke (1)
Outlook: It didn’t matter to Dylan Darling that he was in the midst of a massive shooting slump or that he had missed all four shots he’d taken. The St. John’s guard still wanted to call his own number with Sunday’s second-round matchup against Kansas on the line. “Run power,” Darling told Rick Pitino, referring to a high back-screen pick-and-roll. Pitino agreed and then thought to himself, “Wait a second, he hasn’t scored a bucket and he wants to run a play for himself.” The confidence of Darling paid off in a big way for the Johnnies. His driving layup as the final horn sounded secured a 67-65 victory that sent his team to its first Sweet 16 since 1999. “To be honest, the ball left my hands and I hit the ground, and I didn't even see the ball go in,” Darling said. “I just heard everybody going crazy.”
Rick Pitino and St. John's are moving on to Washington D.C. for the East regional next weekend. (Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
Jamie Schwaberow via Getty Images
8. Purdue Boilermakers (29-8)
How they got here: Defeated Queens (15), Miami (7)
Up next: Texas (11)
Outlook: Purdue did not live up to expectations during the regular season, but the Boilermakers seem to have regained their swagger since the postseason began. They won four games in four days at the Big Ten tournament, toppling Michigan in the title game. Then they overwhelmed Queens in their NCAA tournament opener and handled a Miami team with the sort of wing athletes that often give Purdue trouble. One concern for Purdue heading into the West regional is the health of guard CJ Cox, a knock-down shooter and the Boilermakers’ best on-ball defender. Cox went down against Miami with what Matt Painter described as a hyperextended knee. When asked if Cox would play against Texas next week, Painter said, “We'll kind of see how treatment goes and everything to see what his status is.”
9. Iowa State Cyclones (29-7)
How they got here: Defeated Tennessee State (15), Kentucky (7)
Up next: Tennessee (6)
Outlook: So much for Iowa State being vulnerable against Kentucky without All-American Joshua Jefferson. The Cyclones weathered an ice-cold shooting start from behind the arc, pulling ahead by halftime and extending their second-half advantage to as much as 23 points. Now the question is whether Jefferson’s sprained left ankle will heal quickly enough for him to be able to play against Tennessee next week. Jefferson has an MRI scheduled for Monday morning, according TJ Otzelberger. The 6-9 senior is holding out hope that last Friday’s first-round victory over Tennessee State wasn’t his final game in a Cyclones jersey. He told the Associated Press, “Knowing that I have a chance Friday to try to get back healthy and get back out there is huge for me.”
10. Illinois Fighting Illini (26-8)
How they got here: Defeated Penn (14), VCU (11)
Up next: Houston (2)
Outlook: Could this finally be the year that the Big Ten ends its 26-year title drought? The conference certainly has to feel optimistic about its chances after sending a Big Ten-record six teams to the Sweet 16. The litmus test for whether Illinois is a true national title contender this season will arrive Thursday when the Illini roll into Houston to face the Cougars 2.5 miles from their campus. That will be a showdown between one of college basketball’s most potent offenses this season and a disruptive defense that forces turnovers, blocks shots and gives up nothing easy at the rim.
11. Alabama Crimson Tide (25-9)
How they got here: Defeated Hofstra (13), Texas Tech (5)
Up next: Michigan (1)
Outlook: Perhaps we were a little premature burying Alabama after its second-leading scorer was arrested on felony drug charges the morning after Selection Sunday. The Crimson Tide didn’t skip a beat without Aden Holloway’s scoring, playmaking and 43.8% 3-point shooting. Neither of Alabama’s opening-weekend opponents put any real game pressure on the Crimson Tide. Alabama pulled away from Hofstra for a 90-70 first-round win and then opened a 24-point halftime lead over Texas Tech en route to another blowout. Senior guard Latrell Wrightsell stepped up the most in Holloway’s absence, tallying 24 points against Texas Tech. The Tide will need Wrightsell and other role players to stay hot from behind the arc to pose a serious threat to Michigan next week.
12. Nebraska Cornhuskers (28-6)
How they got here: Defeated Troy (13), Vanderbilt (5)
Up next: Florida (1)
Outlook: Nebraska didn’t just shed the inglorious label of the only power-conference program never to win an NCAA tournament game. The Huskers also outlasted Vanderbilt by the slimmest possible margin to secure a spot in their first Sweet 16. Trailing by two and needing a miracle to stave off elimination, Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner let fly from beyond mid-court. Tanner’s aim looked true until the ball caromed off the backboard, spun all the way round the rim and bounced out. "When that thing was up in the air, I was like, 'Oh, man, that's going in," Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg recalled. His son also assumed the worst. Said point guard Sam Hoiberg, "I think it took me half a second to register that it didn't go in.”
13. Arkansas Razorbacks (28-8)
How they got here: Defeated Hawaii (13), High Point (12)
Up next: Arizona (1)
Outlook: Point guard Darius Acuff is Arkansas’ offensive catalyst, a dynamic scorer, unselfish playmaker and ruthless closer. The freshman phenom has raised his scoring average to 30.2 points in five postseason games, leading Arkansas to the SEC tournament title and a fifth Sweet 16 in the past six years. Acuff unleashed the best version of himself in Saturday’s closing minutes after High Point tied the score at 83. The projected lottery pick scored a pair of driving layups, then finished off the tournament’s lone remaining Cinderella with a cold-blooded 3. While Arkansas’ olé defense could be its undoing moving forward, the offensive formula isn’t complicated. As John Calipari puts it, “We play it through Darius and he just makes plays.”
14. Tennessee Volunteers (24-11)
How they got here: Defeated Miami Ohio (11), Virginia (3)
Up next: Iowa State (2)
Outlook: Time to retire all your misguided social media memes about Rick Barnes falling short of expectations in the NCAA tournament. Tennessee is back in the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight season, an active streak that only Alabama and Houston can match or exceed. A Vols team that squandered five double-digit leads this season appeared to be in danger of letting a nine-point second-half lead against Virginia slip away on Sunday. The Cavaliers edged in front in the closing minutes before Tennessee came up with a string of defensive stops, turned a few of those into buckets and went 9-for-10 from the free throw line down the stretch to secure an all-important win.
15. Texas Longhorns (21-14)
How they got here: Defeated NC State (11), BYU (6), Gonzaga (3)
Up next: Purdue (2)
Outlook: Who says this NCAA tournament is lacking a charming underdog story? Plucky upstart Texas has come to the rescue! An underachieving Longhorns team that barely snuck into the field of 68 took advantage of the fresh start. They ripped off three victories in five days to become the sixth team to advance from the First Four to the Sweet 16 and the first since 2021 UCLA. Texas is the only double-digit seed still alive in this year’s NCAA tournament, but the Longhorns shouldn’t be discounted as a Final Four threat. Matas Vokietaitis has emerged as one of college basketball’s elite centers, he’s surrounded by an array of perimeter shotmakers and the Longhorns are peaking at the right time.
16. Iowa Hawkeyes (23-12)
How they got here: Defeated Clemson (8), Florida (1)
Up next: Nebraska (4)
Outlook: With Iowa trailing top-seeded Florida by two and eight seconds to go in regulation, Alvaro Folgueiras knew the Hawkeyes needed a hero. The sharpshooting forward approached point guard Bennett Stirtz and promised him, “I'm going to be ready and I'm going to make it.” Those words were ringing in Stirtz’s ears moments later as he shed his defender, zoomed down court and saw Florida’s Thomas Haugh leave Folgueiras to help stop the basketball. Stirtz dished to Folgueiras spotted up in the corner. Folgueiras then drilled the game-winning 3-pointer, sending Iowa to its first Sweet 16 since 1999. “He’s got ultra confidence,” Stirtz said. “Irrational confidence,” Iowa coach Ben McCollum corrected him.
Coach Nils Nielsen led Japan to the Women's Asian Cup title in Australia (Kazuhiro NOGI)
Coach Nils Nielsen warned Monday that Japan need "different tools" to win next year's Women's World Cup after sweeping to the Asian title with a series of barnstorming performances.
Japan beat Women's Asian Cup hosts Australia 1-0 in Saturday's final in Sydney to lift the trophy for the third time in four tournaments.
Nielsen's side dazzled along the way, scoring 29 goals and conceding just one to lay down a marker ahead of next year's World Cup in Brazil.
Japan are the only Asian team to have won the world title and Nielsen said they would need to keep improving if they want to do it again.
"We found some parts of ourselves that are really strong," the Greenland-born coach said after returning to Tokyo.
"There are also elements that we saw, we had some difficulty getting the final to be on our terms because of the opponent's strength.
"We will see that again at the World Cup, that means we need to find some different tools how to get the game to be the way we want it."
Japan won the World Cup in 2011 and reached the final again four years later, losing to the United States.
They have not gone past the quarter-finals at either a World Cup or Olympics since.
Nielsen's squad in Australia featured 16 England-based players including captain Yui Hasegawa and forward Maika Hamano, who scored a spectacular winner in the final.
The coach said his team had "grown a lot together already and that's not going to stop".
"You need to grow more, you need to constantly be moving," said Nielsen.
"If you are satisfied and accept status quo, you're not going to be good enough in the end."
Japan's win capped off a landmark tournament with more than 350,000 fans through the turnstiles, reinforcing the growth in popularity of women's football.
This was around six times as many as the previous record set in 2010 in China, with the 74,397 fans at the Sydney final setting a new attendance mark for a single game in tournament history.
There was palpably less excitement in Japan, with the final not being shown on terrestrial TV and a muted media reaction to the team's win.
Nielsen urged Japanese media companies to provide more coverage, saying "you will get your value back if you do because they are worth following".
"We are not at the same place as they are in Europe and around the world," he said.
"We are competing with other sports that are very popular."
TOPSHOT - Chelsea's English head coach Liam Rosenior reacts following the English Premier League football match between Everton and Chelsea at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, north west England on March 21, 2026. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / | AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea’s season may be getting flushed down the pipes faster than last night’s Taco Bell, but worry not my fellow gullibles, the future is still very bright and very exciting. Sunshine and rainbows and lollipops, not even a wisp of a cloud in the sky. Those in charge remain steadfast in their vision of the road ahead, and there’s so much alignment going on that we’re putting all chiropractors out of business at the same time.
Liam Rosenior has already drank more than his contractually obligated fair share of the Kool-Aid, but that’s not a problem, there’s plenty left to go around. In fact, there are no problems here whatsoever; how dare you suggest otherwise! (These quotes are from Friday, from before the Everton defeat on Saturday, but I doubt that’s changed anything.)
“We’re having really detailed conversations now about the areas we want to strengthen. I’ve had great conversations [with the sporting directors] about what I think we need. We’re very aligned, actually, in terms of where we want to strengthen and how we go about that, which is very exciting. The most important bit, though, is making sure we get the now right as well.
“It’s great to be able to plan for the future, but I want to make sure we’re also in a good place. We want to win. That’s why I’m here, and I’m having really good conversations with the ownership and sporting directors about that.”
That “now” bit is sure going swimmingly at the moment, ain’t it? How could anyone possibly be unhappy about how things are going, or in what direction we’re headed. Everyone’s happy as a clam.
“I have a very, very good relationship with the players because we speak all the time. Not just about football, or the situation with their contracts, but about their life, how their kids are, how school is. I have a very, very close relationship with Enzo and with the other players.
“In terms of contracts and where they want to be, there’s not one player at this club since I’ve been here that has said that he doesn’t want to be here in the summer. In fact, the conversations are more about how we improve, what we can do as a group to improve, what we need to do to win in this moment. That’s where we are at the moment. [But] they love it here.”
Where we are at the moment is teetering on the precipice of a gaping competitive and financial hole. If we fall in, it might be a fair while before we scale the walls to get back out of it.
“In my conversations with the ownership and the sporting directors, our plans are not solely based on whether we make the Champions League or not. But there’s so many ifs. We just have to make sure that the ‘if’ we create is as positive as possible and we’re still in a position to do that.”
Utah Mammoth celebrate the goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
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Melissa Majchrzak
And then there were two.
The Utah Mammoth’s 4-3 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday means the league’s newest team has beaten 30 of the 32 teams in the NHL. And their next opponent, the Edmonton Oilers, are one of the two remaining squads.
Utah’s top line made all the difference in this one. Lawson Crouse scored twice in the first 10 minutes, and Nick Schmaltz scored a beauty and the OT winner. The two of them alongside Clayton Keller has been the Mammoth’s most consistent line this season.
But what makes them so effective? Crouse deferred to the longstanding chemistry of his line mates.
“They’ve played together so long, they know each other like the back of their hands,” he said. “That chemistry, it’s great to just jump in there and play. (I) just try and play fast for them, but smart and heavy and try and win battles, get to the net, open the ice for them.
“Obviously, they’re elite playmakers and finishers, so there’s a happy balance of getting to the net and trying to open up ice, but also being available for them to make quick plays to get shots on goal.”
This year has been a complete 180 for number 67. His goal total alone surpasses his point total from last season, and the Mammoth still have 11 games left.
During training camp, I asked Crouse what he was doing to get his game back on track. He invited me to sit down while he laid it out.
“When you get in your own head, it’s not great,” he said. “As athletes, you need to do whatever you can to stay out of your head. When you let that affect your game, it affects the team’s game. I got away from what makes me successful as a player, so it’s just about getting back to that.
“... Ultimately, (I’m) just trying to be the best version of myself, and hopefully that’s contagious. Do the right things and lead by example.”
André Tourigny, who has had Crouse all five years of his NHL head coaching tenure, is not surprised to see him bounce back.
“You don’t always have your A year,” he said. “Sometimes, you have years where you (make) decisions you should have not, or things (don’t) go your way. That’s just life. But I think Lawson Crouse, his leadership, his commitment to the team, his professionalism, his focus, it’s always been something we’re really excited to have in our locker room.”
With the increased offense and the policing he’s done to keep his opponents in check, it’s probably safe to say “The Sheriff” has earned his badge back.
For whatever it’s worth, MoneyPuck now gives the Mammoth a 94% chance at making the playoffs.
Schmaltz has suffered through a lot of early golfing in his eight seasons since being traded to Arizona, and he’s glad to finally be in a favorable position down the stretch.
“It’s awesome,” he said after the game. “I mean, it’s way more fun playing these games than (it is when you know) you’re going to tee it up at the end of April or whatever.
“Super exciting to be in this position that we put ourselves in, and we’ve got some work to do left.”
The Mammoth’s game against the Kings was akin to playoff hockey in the sense that there was plenty of physicality, but the referees didn’t call any penalties unless they absolutely had to.
“Guys are fighting for their lives out there. It’s a lot of fun,” Schmaltz said. “A lot of competitiveness, a lot of stuff after the whistles. It’s a heck of a lot of fun out there.”
Utah and Los Angeles will meet again on Saturday, this time in Southern California. As it stands at the time of writing, the Kings are two points out of a playoff spot, so it’s bound to be just as hard-fought, if not more-so.
“We all know LA’s fighting to catch (up to us),” Tourigny said. “It’s a really important game.”
As golf season heats up with the Masters just two weeks away, TGL is set to crown its second champion this week.
The indoor league is down to the best-of-three finals series between the Los Angeles Golf Club and Jupiter Links Golf Club, with matches set for Monday and Tuesday.
L.A.'s lineup for the finals features Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and Sahith Theegala, while Jupiter will counter with Max Homa, Tom Kim and Kevin Kisner.
L.A. finished second during the regular season and took down defending champion Atlanta in the semifinals, while fourth-seeded Jupiter knocked off top seed Boston Common last week to reach the finals.
Los Angeles downed Jupiter in the teams' regular-season match on Jan. 20. Who will prevail this week and hoist the SoFi Cup? Here's everything you need to know to watch.
Monday's TGL finals opening match will air on ESPN2 and Tuesday's action will be on ESPN. Fans can stream the matches on the ESPN app or on Fubo. See the full broadcast schedule below.
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TGL finals schedule, start times
The TGL finals are a best-of-three series, with the first match set for Monday and the second and possible third slated for Tuesday.
Matches will be played at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
MUNICH, GERMANY - MARCH 21: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally enhanced.) Danilho Doekhi and Christopher Trimmel of 1. FC Union Berlin anticipate with Harry Kane of FC Bayern München a free kick during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and 1. FC Union Berlin at Allianz Arena on March 21, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images)
Union Berlin was served a heaping of humble pie after Bayern Munich’s 4-0 win at the Allianz on Saturday.
One of the few clubs to take points off Bayern this season, hopes for any semblance of a competitive match this time around were dispelled early…and if anything, the lopsided scoreline flattered the visitors in the end.
“It’s always tough against Bayern, no question. And it’s still different when you play here rather than at home. But of course we can’t play like that,” Union director Horst Heldt stated after the match in comments captured by FCBayern.com. “We were inferior in every respect today and deservedly lost by this margin. To be honest, we can be glad we didn’t concede more goals.”
Union player Christopher Trimmel and coach Steffen Baumgart echoed those remarks.
“I’d like to list all our weaknesses, but I’d just say FC Bayern were superior in all respects,” Baumgart offered. “It hurts, I have to say that. We need to clear our heads first, the last few weeks were exhausting for us, with a negative experience. Everyone knows what awaits us in the next few matches, the kind of play we’ll be up against. We definitely want to use the next few home games to take the final steps.”
Added Trimmel “We played away against the best team today. It’s always hard, but we’d aimed for more. To be honest, we’re lucky we got away with a 4-0 defeat, it could have been worse…We were too timid in possession, which was a major problem. We wanted to change things at half-time but failed to do that. Of course we tried to show we wouldn’t completely fall apart, especially after the third goal. But that isn’t always easy because Bayern never let up – which is another thing that sets them apart from many other good teams. These games happen.”
Taking the fight to Bayern: a sound strategy, but easier said than done.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
Bryson DeChambeau has won back-to-back LIV events heading into the Masters.Getty Images
Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss Bryson DeChambeau’s chances to claim a green jacket, Tiger Woods’ health and more.
Bryson DeChambeau beat Jon Rahm in a playoff to win LIV Golf South Africa and claim his second straight LIV victory in what was the league’s final tune-up before the first major of the year. With the way DeChambeau has played the last two weeks, has he taken away the title as Masters favorite? Or does that still belong to Scottie or Rory?
Zephyr Melton, associate game-improvement editor (@zephyrmelton): Considering Scottie’s early-season slump and Rory’s uncertain health, I think it’s fair to say that Bryson is the early favorite at Augusta. However, if he doesn’t control his distances with his irons well (which has plagued him in recent years at the Masters), I fear his chances to claim a green jacket are slim.
Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): It’s gotta be Scottie still; his demise is greatly exaggerated. But the fact that DeChambeau is in the middle of this conversation now is significant — and fun. Add in a few other stars ramping up with top-tier golf (Xander, Rahm, Fitz) and there should be plenty to talk about pre-Augusta.
Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): Vegas won’t call anyone but Scottie the favorite, and as Dylan says, Scheffler’s “slump” has consisted of three top-25 finishes that followed two top-fives and a win. Scheffler is also playing this coming week in Texas before he heads to Augusta, so he’s got one more chance to fine-tune some things. Bryson playing like this adds mega juice to any major. Few players energize a venue like him. I hope he plays well at Augusta.
LIV’s two biggest stars — DeChambeau and Rahm — battled it out in the final round in South Africa. It’s rare, on any tour, that the biggest names are the ones left standing down the stretch. Is this a meaningful player rivalry? And is that important for LIV or not?
Melton: It’s VERY important for LIV, and with smaller fields and a set schedule, they have a setup to make sure that storyline plays out on a more frequent basis. Unfortunately for the league, recent defections have thinned out the star pool, so the chances of stars battling down the stretch are smaller than the past few years.
Dethier: It’s funny, I went into the Bay Hill/Players double wondering if we were due for a Scottie-Rory showdown. That was very much not the case, and it’s almost never happened. So LIV should be thrilled that its top two dogs are tangling. Also, it’s top two dogs should be thrilled as they continue to build contract leverage…
Berhow: It’s important for LIV and it’s important for any league. I don’t think golf fans appreciate it enough when this stuff happens in major or non-majors. Think of how many times we saw Tiger and Phil play together in final pairings on major Sundays (once!) or just any pair of marquee players. Bryson and Rory in the final Masters pairing last year was one of the tastiest final major pairings we’ve had in years. The more we see it the more it continues to build these rivalries and storylines.
One week after he lost the Players Championship on the 72nd hole at TPC Sawgrass, Matt Fitzpatrick bounced back to win the Valspar on Sunday. While he’s won 10 times on the DP World Tour, this was just his third PGA Tour title. Has Fitzpatrick’s last two weeks proven he’s ready to go on a heater this summer? Or just a couple of good weeks?
Melton: As the cliche goes, you want to get hot at the right time — and Fitz seems like he’s peaking right when you want to. It’ll be hard to maintain this form all summer, but as far as maximizing his Masters chances go, he’s put himself in a great spot.
Dethier: The most encouraging thing about Fitzpatrick’s surge is his stellar approach play — that travels anywhere. I’d expect him to be a factor in multiple majors.
Berhow: Now he needs the major success. Sure, he won the U.S. Open at Brookline in 2022 but he’s still had just six major top 10s in 42 starts. But he was T4 and T8, respectively, in The Open and PGA last year, so maybe it’s coming. He’ll be a popular sleeper-ish pick come Masters week.
Last month at the Genesis Invitational, Tiger Woods offered a promising Masters update. But on Tuesday during TGL Woods said he’s “working on it,” adding, “the body doesn’t quite heal like it was when I was 24. Doesn’t quite bounce back. So I have good days when I can pretty much do anything, and other days where it’s hard to just move around.” Has this changed your opinion on if Woods will play the Masters?
Melton: Not at all. I’m just waiting for his WD to become official so we can put this silliness to bed.
Dethier: Meh, I’d still bet he plays. But it’s clear getting to that point is anything but easy. As long as we approach his start with a proper lack of expectations (unlikely, given it’s Tiger at Augusta) we should be fine. It’s all bonus.
Berhow: I wish I was as optimistic as Dylan. I’m moving his percentage chance of playing down to about 40 percent, although he probably truly doesn’t know until the week of with how things change so quickly with his body.
Augusta National released its Taste of the Masters hosting kits last week, where you can bring parts of the Masters — the pimento, cookies or azalea cocktails, etc. — right to your living room. But what if you only get one item to select? What are you shipping to your home?
Melton: I’m quite fond of the chicken salad sandwiches. But the Georgia peach ice cream sandwiches would be a solid choice as well.
Dethier: I’ve noticed some backlash against the Masters food in recent years — gripes that it’s not that good. I dunno. I don’t care. It’s like eating pasta while walking Rome. Part of the taste is the place. Pencil me in for 50 chicken salad / pulled pork sandos and 50 more chocolate chip cookies. I’ll gun for self-control starting April 13th.
Berhow: The chocolate chip cookies are a problem. I like the egg salad and pimento and ice cream, but I could live without them. The cookies? They mean too much to me.
Utah State players react on the bench as they trail Arizona during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Mark J. Terrill
SAN DIEGO — For a few brief moments, the ninth-seeded Aggies caught a glimpse of advancing to the Sweet Sixteen next weekend up the road in San Jose.
Despite finding themselves down by 18 points early in the second half of Sunday night’s second-round game against No. 1 seed Arizona, Utah State clawed its way back into the game with its defense and managed to close the gap to just four points on three occasions.
But each time the Aggies got to within a couple of scores, the feisty Wildcats scored on their subsequent possessions to keep their opponents at bay and eventually ended Utah State’s season with a 78-66 victory at Viejas Arena.
“It hurts. I don’t want to take the uniform off,” USU graduate guard Drake Allen said quietly. “Knowing it’s going to be my last time wearing it means so much. And it really feels like a family. Everybody in Logan feels like one big family.”
Utah State (29-7) might have been able to get over the hump were not for a brutal performance from the 3-point line. But after going 1 for 12 from long distance in the first half, the Aggies finished just 8 for 32 from beyond the 3-point arc.
“When you can’t find it — the ball won’t go in from 3 — you’ve got to get to the rim,” USU head coach Jerrod Calhoun said. “And I was really proud of our effort around the rim. I thought we were pretty efficient.
“But to beat a No. 1 seed when you’re a No. 9 seed, you’ve got to make those 3s. And our guys knew that.”
The Aggies knew that going up against the significantly larger Wildcats (34-2) was going to be a challenge, but Calhoun’s crew still ended up with three more field goals than Arizona and Utah State (39.1%) notched an overall field goal percentage that was nearly identical to that of the Cats (39.3%).
But in addition to a rough night from 3-point range, the Aggies were outrebounded by a stunning 54-26 margin, and the Wildcats also shot 28 more free throws.
“So far, they’re 2-0 in this tournament, and they live in the paint,” Calhoun said of Arizona. “They chew the paint up. They play ’80s, ’90s basketball. The number of physical plays in the game — we haven’t seen that all year.
“... But our guys did a tremendous job, I thought, the last nine minutes of really locking in on some of those details. You’ve got to be at least eight or 10 difference in the rebounding. It can’t be 28. And if you’re not going to rebound, you’ve got to make shots. So, it was just a couple of margins that we couldn’t overcome.”
Utah State guard Mj Collins (2) attempts to steal the ball from Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Mark J. Terrill
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (13) reacts after a play against Utah State during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Marcio Jose Sanchez
Utah State guard Mason Falslev (12) and Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (13) scramble for the ball during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Marcio Jose Sanchez
Utah State players react on the bench as they trail Arizona during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Mark J. Terrill
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) shoots around Utah State forward Garry Clark (11) during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Mark J. Terrill
Arizona forward Koa Peat (10), and Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) celebrate as their team leads Utah State during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Mark J. Terrill
Utah State guard Elijah Perryman (1) reacts after a play against Arizona during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Mark J. Terrill
Utah State head coach Jerrod Calhoun walks off the court after his team lost to Arizona in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Marcio Jose Sanchez
Arizona forward Koa Peat (10) shoots against Utah State during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Marcio Jose Sanchez
Arizona guard Brayden Burries (5) shoots over Utah State forward Karson Templin (22) during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Marcio Jose Sanchez
Utah State forward Garry Clark (11) shoots around Arizona forward Koa Peat (10) during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Marcio Jose Sanchez
Utah State forward Karson Templin (22) reacts after a play against Arizona during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Mark J. Terrill
Arizona guard Brayden Burries (5) celebrates after a play against Utah State during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Mark J. Terrill
Utah State forward Karson Templin (22) reaches for the ball against Villanova guard Tyler Perkins during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 20, 2026, in San Diego.
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Mark J. Terrill
Utah State forward Garry Clark (11) shoots against Arizona forward Koa Peat (10) during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Mark J. Terrill
Utah State forward Karson Templin, left, and Arizona guard Anthony Dell'orso (3) scramble for the ball during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Marcio Jose Sanchez
Utah State guard Kolby King (7) shoots around Arizona forward Koa Peat (10) during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Mark J. Terrill
Utah State guard Mj Collins (2) shoots around Arizona forward Ivan Kharchenkov (8) during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Mark J. Terrill
Arizona forward Koa Peat (10) shoots over Utah State forward Garry Clark (11) during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Mark J. Terrill
Utah State forward Zach Keller (32) shoots over Arizona during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Marcio Jose Sanchez
Utah State guard Mason Falslev (12) and Arizona forward Tobe Awaka (30) battle for the ball during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Mark J. Terrill
Utah State guard Mason Falslev (12) keeps the ball in bounds against Arizona forward Ivan Kharchenkov (8) during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Mark J. Terrill
Arizona guard Anthony Dell'orso (3) drives against Utah State forward Adlan Elamin (35) during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Mark J. Terrill
Utah State forward Zach Keller (32) and Utah State guard Mj Collins (2) battle Arizona for a rebound during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Mark J. Terrill
Utah State forward Garry Clark (11) shoots over Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (13) during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego.
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Marcio Jose Sanchez
Senior forward Garry Clark came off the bench to give the Aggies a huge lift, going 6 of 8 from the field, scoring 13 points and snagging six rebounds in just 18 minutes. Senior guard MJ Collins Jr. (12 points) and Allen (11 points) were the only other USU players to score in double figures.
The Aggies’ one-two scoring punch of Collins and junior guard Mason Falslev (8 points) went a combined 7 of 26 from the field and 4 of 15 from 3-point range in the loss.
Thanks to Clark, Utah State’s bench outscored Arizona’s 27-10. But then, the Wildcats’ starters totaled 68 points by themselves, with guards Jaden Bradley (18 points) and Brayden Burries (16 points) leading the way.
Burries also delivered one of the biggest blows to the Aggies’ chances of an upset with 2:18 left and Utah State still within six points. The freshman guard buried a 3-pointer with 6-foot-9 USU wing Adlan Elamin closing in on him, extending Arizona’s advantage to 73-64.
“Obviously, Burries’ 3 was a dagger,” Calhoun declared. “I thought we played that possession really well. It was just a six-point game. ... There’s a lot of plays through a 40-minute game that could impact it. And I thought that 3 by him was just a big-time shot in a big moment, and that kind of carried Arizona to the win.”
Burries ended up going 3 of 3 from 3-point range while the rest of the Wildcats went 4 of 13 from long range.
“I think Brayden’s a winner, and he has ultimate confidence,” Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd said. “It’s been a joy to coach him. ... He’s a laid-back, kind-of-unassuming guy, but he has a killer in him. And that’s a beautiful attribute.”
The Wildcats, who have won 11 straight games, also got 14 points from freshman forward Koa Peat, and 11 points and 14 rebounds from junior Motiejust Krivas. The 7–foot-2 center blocked three shots, caused the Aggies’ offense and all sorts of problems and went 7 of 8 from the free-throw line to help Arizona advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth time in Lloyd’s five seasons in Tucson.
Conversely, Utah State still hasn’t won two games in the same NCAA Tournament since 1970. But despite never holding the lead — Burries buried a 3-pointer just 24 seconds into the game — trailing 33-24 at halftime and falling behind by 18 points early in the second half, the Aggies still gave their fans hope.
After a 10-foot jumpier by Burries forced Calhoun into calling a timeout with his team trailing 51-33 with 14:43 left, Utah State turned up the intensity defensively, holding Arizona without a field goal for over seven minutes while creating turnovers with its full-court defense.
Two free throws by Elamin pulled the Aggies to within 56-51 at the 7:22 mark, and a 3-pointer by Allen closed the gap to just four points a minute later. But a putback by Krivas — one of Arizona’s 21 offensive rebounds — stretched the Cats’ lead back to 60-54.
Two more free throws from Elamin got USU back to four points once again, but those two points were offset when Arizona finally broke the Aggies’ press, leading to a 3-point play by Bradley. Following a missed 3-pointer by USU forward Karson Templin, Falslev came up with one of his three steals, which led to the Aggies getting back to within four points for a third and final time.
Allen enjoyed the moment, turning towards the Aggies’ fan section to celebrate Utah State getting back to 63-59 with just over five minutes to go. But his joy was short-lived, and USU’s momentum soon disappeared when Bradley scored the next three points of the game.
Although Allen did managed to slice through Arizona’s big men for a layup that left Utah State down 66-61, four free throws by Krivas and Burries’ clutch 3-pointer carried Arizona to the victory and brought Utah State’s spectacular season to an end.
“I think it’s very hard for a season to end anytime; it just comes abruptly,” Calhoun noted. “Its one of those things that you don’t ever want to end. You just want to coach these guys another day, another game.
“We wanted to get to San Jose, but we weren’t able to do it.”
Barcelona defenders react to transfer interest from Liverpool and Inter
Barcelona are projected to be very busy this summer, as they seek to address a number of areas in Hansi Flick’s squad. As well as the expected new signings of a centre-back and striker, there could also be significant departures, and two of these attracting strong interest in recent weeks have been Ronald Araujo and Gerard Martin.
According to MD, Araujo has seen interest in his services grow in recent months, with clubs very attentive to his lack of prominence at Barcelona. Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan all see the Uruguayan defender as a possible option for the number, with the Premier League giants prepared to make an offer of €35m.
The same report has also highlighted information from ESPN regarding Milan’s pursuit of Martin. The 24-year-old is regarded highly within the Rossoneri for his ability to operate as a centre-back and left-back, although any deal will be difficult to do in the summer.
Neither player plans to leave Barcelona
According to MD, neither Araujo nor Martin has any desire to leave Barcelona this summer. In the case of the former, he wants to work his way back into being a regular starter for the Catalans, with his lack of prominence not seen as a reason for him to want out at the Spotify Camp Nou.
As for Martin, his increased role this season is a clear motivation for him to remain in Catalonia. Even when a new left-sided centre-back arrives in the summer, he would still have an important role to play across the backline, both in the middle and on the left.
Despite this, Barcelona may actively look to sell one of Araujo or Martin in the summer. They may need to raise funds for signings, given that the desire is for a top-level centre-back and striker to come in, while money will also be needed to turn Marcus Rashford’s loan into a transfer.
Darrell Waltrip | Credits- Randy Sartin-Imagn Images
One of NASCAR’s greatest drivers ever, three-time Cup Series champion Darrell Waltrip had attended the 2026 Goodyear 400 in Darlington on Sunday, but it turned out to be not just a social He spoke to the press about various topics concerning the state that the sport is in currently and his opinions carried a hidden meaning to them, or so the fans believe.
With reporters pressing Waltrip on topics that have been discussed aggressively over the past few months, the NASCAR icon chose to deliver neutral answers wherever possible and kept himself out of trouble’s way. The particular disinterest that his words carried resonated deeply with some fans on social media, and they expressed that he is tired of the sport, as they all are.
For instance, Waltrip was asked if he still watched races and how enamored he felt with them. He answered, “I think the sport has gone through a transition from the days when I raced. You dropped a green flag, and you ran to the checkered. Now they’ve got all these different stages. It’s a little different than it used to be. I am not sure I like the way it is, but I watch. That’s about it.”
Waltrip also said that he is glad to be retired and that he wouldn’t come back for a short appearance in the broadcasting booth even if he were called upon.
One fan on X wrote in response to his interview, “Great job saying what he really thinks without saying what he really thinks. NASCAR misses and needs more characters like DW. He has lived a full life doing what he loved doing and enjoying every moment.”
Waltrip is 79 years old now. It is only fair that he keep his distance from the sport, should he wish to do so.
Another added, “Very diplomatic interview. Read between the lines, and it tells how we all feel.” The consensus is that NASCAR was a better sport earlier than it is now. There will be a large crowd that says otherwise. But what cannot be denied is that the traditional fans ought to be satisfied with the sport, regardless of anything else.
As a veteran, Waltrip doesn’t seem to be in love with the sport any longer as he once was. One comment pointed this out: “DW has definitely checked out with today’s product. While he doesn’t admit it, you can clearly tell in his body language.”
Another underlined, “He was professional but you can clearly tell he doesn’t want much to do with NASCAR anymore. Its nothing like he remembers.”
Waltrip was at Darlington with the purpose of catching up with some of his old friends whom he hadn’t seen in years. But if he is not happy with the sport in its current form, that does say a lot about the direction in which the ship is heading.
It's been a little over two weeks since Jayson Tatum returned to the Boston Celtics from his 10-month layoff, and the Celtics haven't skipped a beat. They've gone 6-3 since he came back, proving wrong critics who thought Tatum's return would disrupt Boston's impressive performance without him.
Tatum's transition back into the starting lineup has gone pretty smoothly, especially playing alongside Jaylen Brown again. According to Brown, that's a testament to their good communication, including a key one-on-one conversation they had in front of the team before Tatum returned.
"It was great. The initial conversation, having that communication," Brown said before Sunday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. "Sometimes your communication falls off, so being able to get back on the same page is important."
"We just communicated that it's going to be me and you."
Jaylen Brown talks about a meeting he had with Jayson Tatum and the rest of the Celtics team ahead of Tatum's return to action. pic.twitter.com/tJvVgwoP9V
Brown added that maintaining good communication will be critical for them going forward as they approach the playoffs and try to win another championship together.
"It's gonna take more communication as the year goes on. Things change..." Brown continued. "We just communicated that it's gonna be me and you. Our communication sets the tone for the rest of the team, and we both gotta be better going forward if we want this thing to work."
Now in their ninth season together, their relationship and partnership are still evolving. Brown's playing the best basketball of his career, but continuing to make room for Tatum and play off each other will be critical.
TAMPA − Alabama basketball has made it to the Sweet 16 after dispatching Texas Tech on Sunday night at Benchmark International Arena, 90-65. With impressive 3-point shooting and even more impressive defense, the Crimson Tide knocked off the No. 5-seeded Red Raiders with ease.
Alabama was led by senior guard Latrell Wrightsell, Jr., who scored a game-high 24 points and connected on six 3-pointers.
The Crimson Tide's third-round NCAA Tournament game marks the fourth consecutive year the UA has reached at least the Sweet 16. It's been an impressive weekend for coach Nate Oats, as Alabama played without its second-leading scorer in the suspended Aden Holloway.
Can UA advance further?
The Crimson Tide will face No. 1-seeded Michigan in the next round of the NCAA Tournament, at the United Center in Chicago.
For details on how to watch the Crimson Tide, keep reading.
Start time for Alabama-Michigan Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament Game
Texas Tech fell 90-65 to Alabama, and afterward college basketball fans and the Red Raiders faithful took to social media to react and join each other in sorrow. Alabama hit 19 shots from behind the arc, bringing out an early 18-point lead thanks to a 30-12 run.
The Red Raiders were led by 16 points from Lejuan Watts and Donovan Atwell with 12 points. They were down by as many as 34 but got it back to around 20 later in the second half.
The five-seeded Red Raiders' season came to a close with a 23-11 record. They finished third in the Big 12 but fell in the tournament quarterfinals.
Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports, Jax State athletics, the outdoors in Alabama and more for the Gadsden Times and USA TODAY Network. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@usatodayco.com.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah takes big step towards football comeback
Former Manchester United star Timothy Fosu-Mensah has reportedly taken a decisive step in his bid to make a sensational return to football.
United spell
A product of United’s academy, Fosu-Mensah spent seven years at the club, establishing himself as a versatile option before making the step up to the first team.
United snapped him up from Ajax’s youth set-up when he was 16 in 2014. He developed as a player capable of being deployed at centre-back, right-back, left-back, or even central midfield.
Fosu-Mensah made his senior United debut in February 2016, when he came on as a 55th-minute substitute for Marcos Rojo at left-back in a Premier League home win over Arsenal.
He featured more regularly in the latter half of the 2015/16 campaign under Louis van Gaal, going on to sign a new long-term contract in October. His deal ran until 2020 with the option of an additional year.
Fosu-Mensah made 30 senior appearances for the Red Devils. He was unable to nail down a consistent run of games and performances due to a combination of factors including competition for places, loan exits and injuries.
While at Old Trafford, the Dutchman went out on loan to Crystal Palace and Fulham. A permanent transfer to Bayer Leverkusen followed in 2021 but his time in the Bundesliga failed to go to plan, with injuries once again proving to be his undoing.
The player was released in 2024 and has been without a club since.
Fosu-Mensah has spoken candidly about the mental toll of his injury setbacks and the challenges of finding a new club, all as he aims to reignite his career.
Now, GIVEMESPORT have revealed that the 28-year-old has taken an important stride to achieve this objective.
Fosu-Mensah update
According to the news outlet, Fosu-Mensah has been training with Crystal Palace’s U21 side in recent weeks to maintain fitness while looking for a club to sign him.
Sam Cohen writes that Fosu-Mensah is using Palace’s development set-up to stay sharp and in top physical condition after a lengthy spell away from competitive action.
Cohen adds, “There is growing belief that he is now physically in a strong position and ready to return to football, with his current training programme designed to rebuild match fitness and rhythm.”
“Sources indicate he is open to opportunities across Europe, with his priority centred around staying fit and playing consistently.”
It would truly be something special to see Fosu-Mensah return to the pitch and get back to doing what he loves most.
Craig Bellamy takes a seat at his desk and connects his laptop to a projector showing its contents on the opposite wall, the desktop background barely visible behind a maze of files and folders.
The Wales head coach whizzes through a few clips – every single training session he has ever conducted is there – and reels off some of the statistical indicators of Wales' improvement during his year and a half in charge.
It can be hard to keep up.
Behind him are two framed Wales shirts and a framed photo of the late Gary Speed, his friend and former team-mate and coach, during his time as Wales manager.
Other than a copy of Bellamy's autobiography on the desk, there is little else decorative in this neat, sparse office at Dragon Park.
Bellamy chooses to work at Wales' national development centre on the outskirts of Newport because, in his words, this is a football place.
The Football Association of Wales may have its headquarters in the Vale of Glamorgan but, outside of international camps, that is as much to do with matters off the field – from finance and marketing to grassroots administration – as it is the elite game.
Here, it is all football, just as Bellamy likes it. Coaches and analysts pop in occasionally but, in the main, he is left to it.
"Socially I can be very awkward – not on purpose – but when it comes to football, I'm really open and happy," he says.
"If a person wants to stop me in the street and talk football, unfortunately you can't get rid of me."
Happily, that becomes clear as this conversation morphs into a four-hour epic, rich with unexpectedly heartfelt and humorous detours.
In an exclusive interview where Bellamy grants BBC Sport Wales rare access into his working methods and outlook on life, this is a glimpse inside the mind of a man who has been described as a football "genius".
It is a wet and windy January morning in Newport, and Wales do not have a fixture for two months.
Some international managers might view the long gaps between games as a chance to unwind. Some do not live in the country they manage, while others have additional jobs.
But Bellamy is consumed by football, and his work as Wales head coach is an obsession.
"I do way more than I need to," he says. "But what I've learned is to not get caught up on it.
"It's inevitable changes are going to happen between now and the game, so I try not to let it break my heart when it happens."
The 46-year-old has always watched an extraordinary amount of football, as demonstrated by his encyclopaedic references.
Montenegrin journalists looked on wide-eyed as Bellamy used a pre-match news conference in Podgorica in 2024 to talk about Yugoslavia's Under-21s of 1990 as much as Wales' Nations League match there the following day.
Bellamy watches hours of opposition analysis in his office, studies his own team's matches and training sessions, and then there is the football he watches at home.
Does he ever switch off?
"Funnily enough, last night I was watching a film about the Balkans war," he says.
Wales host Bosnia-Herzegovina in a World Cup play-off semi-final on 26 March.
"I need to see who they are, what they come from," he adds. "I've done the same with Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein. I need to know who they are as well.
"That's just for me. That's not going to give me any ammo. Where's the manager born? Were they involved in a conflict? Where's his mindset?
"I love history. History, geography, football. They all fit in - they're my three favourite things. It's how I relax.
"I get a better understanding of people and a completely different respect for them off the back of it as well."
'I need to keep my mind busy'
By his own admission, Bellamy needs to keep his mind occupied.
He misses the day-to-day consistency of club football but, as this is his first senior managerial role, do the extended quiet periods of international football offer him some valuable time to take a breath, decompress and analyse?
"Yeah, it definitely gives you that, and that's a huge advantage," Bellamy says. "Not working every day, I knew was going to be challenging.
"When I sat down with my partner and we discussed it, our first conversation was: 'How are you going to cope?' To me, it was how can I make it work? I'll do more.
"I probably say 'yes' to a lot of things I don't need to do, but I need to keep active and it keeps my mind busy. I need my mind to be busy.
"From January to March, I need every day, whether I'm at Spurs for a couple of days then Man City for a couple of days, Hong Kong.
"I'm nipping back and forth, like one minute I'm in Wrexham, back, then I've done a talk up in Bangor two days later, back, then a talk somewhere else – boom, boom, boom," adds Bellamy, who lives in Cardiff.
"You'd think I'd be better off just staying there for a few days but with two young kids it's very difficult at times."
He admits he finds it "difficult" to switch off but that's where his family helps him.
"I find switching off is having two young ones - their moments are their moments, then you're all in," he says. "Whether it's Ken and Barbie, Beauty and the Beast, playing with dolls or whatever.
"My daughter really enjoys me playing with her, which I really like. She'll wake me up in the morning to play before she goes to school and, as soon as I pick her up from school, it's playtime. My youngest boy's getting a little bit jealous of that now as well!
"They're really important moments for me, and my partner as well, so I try to be present and listen to every conversation, no matter what it is."
Craig Bellamy (right) has won eight, drawn four and lost four of his 16 matches as Wales head coach [Getty Images]
A mellower Bellamy
Bellamy the coach is a different person to Bellamy the player.
His evolution from snarling, combustible forward to considered, methodical manager has surprised some people who may not have followed his career as closely once he had retired.
The inner fire and determination remain, but he is mellower, more mature these days.
"Sometimes as a player, I think you can just go into your own world because you're basically in a fight to survive," Bellamy says.
"You are constantly fighting, thinking your club might buy someone or they might sell you. That brings out a really competitive side to you that's not always easy to switch off. This is different."
Bellamy was only 17 when he had the first of three children with his former wife. He wrote in his autobiography that they had split because she had "enough of the absentee husband, enough of the selfishness and the black moods".
Having suffered from depression, Bellamy sought help. These days, he better understands his own mind, and his relationships with others.
"Make sure you listen because everyone dedicates enough time to you," he says.
"My partner and I both made this decision [of taking the Wales job]. We both sat down, looked at the options and she reminded me: 'Don't be moaning, don't be thinking I should have done this or that. You commit and we're all in.' And we have been. I've loved it.
"This moment has been our moment - we've done it as a group of people. I've been able to share something with people I love."
The idea of being present is important to Bellamy.
When he first took the Wales job in July 2024, he said he would not be here for a long time, a clear nod to a future in club management.
Many people, even his employers, thought that meant Bellamy could leave after the 2026 World Cup campaign, even though he is contracted until 2028.
However, the prospect of leading Wales at Euro 2028 – which they will co-host with England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland – is so enticing that Bellamy feels he cannot walk away yet.
"I know when it happens [that I leave] I'll be like, 'I wish I was back there', so don't wish it away," Bellamy says.
"Very few people get this opportunity so enjoy every second of it because it's not here forever. I don't think anyone would want me here forever! So I try to relish it.
"Even if I left tomorrow, I'd look back like, 'Wow this was amazing'. Why not live it? Every day is the best job in the world, keep reminding yourself of that."
Bellamy's 'buzz' of chasing his World Cup dream
There was a spiritual pull for Bellamy returning to Wales.
Born in Cardiff, he spent most of his playing career outside of his homeland, representing the likes of Liverpool and Newcastle.
As a coach, Bellamy followed Vincent Kompany to Anderlecht and Burnley, describing his time with the now Bayern Munich boss as an "education".
The former Manchester City team-mates remain good friends and speak frequently, but Bellamy felt it was time to become a head coach in his own right when his country came calling.
Despite only being an assistant to Kompany at Burnley, Bellamy took a substantial pay cut to take charge of Wales.
This, however, was a job like no other. As well as the obvious emotional ties, Bellamy had unfinished business.
He never got the chance to play at a major international tournament but, as head coach, he aims to put that right by qualifying for this summer's World Cup.
"You always have that buzz of chasing something, like I want qualification, I want to be at major tournaments," Bellamy says.
"But how do we do it? I've got loads of flaws, but the team needs to play with intensity, play with balls.
"As long as you have belief, that's the motivation. That's why you do so much work, why you look at opposition.
"As a footballer for Wales, I didn't really feel belief, I just felt hope. Italy [when Wales won 2-1 in 2002 in a European Championship qualifier] was different because we took the game to them. We were brilliant but there weren't many nights like that."
Bellamy scored the winning goal when Wales last faced Italy in Cardiff, a momentous occasion at a sold-out Millennium Stadium.
The teams will meet again if they win their respective World Cup play-off semi-finals on Thursday, with the final to be played at Cardiff City Stadium the following Tuesday.
Much like Bellamy himself, Welsh football is unrecognisable from that memorable night 24 years ago.
Having been absent from major tournaments since the 1958 World Cup, Wales not only qualified for Euro 2016 but reached the semi-finals in France, three years after Bellamy retired.
They followed that by getting to the knockout stages at Euro 2020 and then qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
Bellamy wants to build on that success – and take his country to new heights.
"Euro 2016, that moment was like, 'We are here'. That gave belief and I want to carry that on," he says.
"We do punch well above our weight but that's where we want to be. We need to do it continuously. I like expectations.
"This is what it takes to be a Wales player. To wear this shirt, these are the qualities you have to have. I believe we have a chance to consistently be at major tournaments."
With that, Bellamy turns back to his laptop. The cursor hovers over files labelled 'Italy' and 'Northern Ireland' – Wales' potential play-off final opponents – and then back to 'Bosnia'.
Whether or not Wales get to the World Cup this summer, it will not be down to a lack of preparation.
March is exciting to college sports fans for so many reasons. One of those is because of the NCAA gymnastics championships.
A field of 36 is selected for postseason action with four teams ultimately competing for the title in Fort Worth. Along with the top teams in the nation, individual specialists will compete for titles throughout the bracket.
Oklahoma is often the team to beat, and that is true once again this year. The Sooners enter the postseason as the reigning national champions, claiming their seventh title last year. However, it was Florida who claimed the SEC Championship this season in a stunning finish.
Will the Sooners earn their second straight win? Or will LSU, UCLA or even Alabama return to the top of the podium?
The action begins now as teams are selection for regionals. Here's how to watch the NCAA gymnastics selection show with TV channel and start time information.
The NCAA gymnastics selection show will be broadcast on ESPNU. Viewers can also live stream the show on Fubo.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
NCAA gymnastics selection show start time
Date: Monday, March 23
Time: Noon ET
The NCAA gymnastics selection show will begin at noon ET on Monday, March 23.
George Holley was born at Seaham Harbour in 1885 — a time when the club he would later play for in Sunderland AFC was only six years old and the Football League was yet to exist.
In an era where the future of many of his school friends would encompass a lifetime in the pits of County Durham, Holley’s path was to be football.
Playing for local Seaham teams in non-league football, he was spotted by Sunderland’s scouts and signed in 1904 as an eighteen-year-old. He soon made his debut away to Sheffield Wednesday in December 1904, scoring in a 1-1 draw, and followed that up by scoring the opening goal on his home debut during a 3-2 win over Preston North End just a few days later.
Holley was off and running, and in a glimpse of what was to come, he scored ten goals in just sixteen appearances for a Sunderland side that finished in fifth place in the First Division. That haul of goals in his debut season left him as the club’s leading scorer for 1904/1905.
Then-Sunderland manager Alex Mackie had brought the First Division title back to Wearside in 1902 and handed Holley his debut, but by the time his debut season had come to an end, Mackie resigned.
This opened the door for the manager who was to become synonymous with Holley’s career from that point — the legendary Bob Kyle.
Sunderland had consistently been one of the top teams in the country under Mackie, yet struggled for the first few seasons of Kyle’s reign. However, this didn’t prevent Holley from developing his goalscoring skills though. By 1908 he was the club’s leading scorer, with twenty goals in all competitions, and until 1913/1914, he was our leading scorer for five out of seven seasons.
Holley was a prolific inside forward who hit twenty goals in a season on four occasions, which included eleven hat-tricks and 159 goals in total. He was a skilful player who could run with the ball and was a lethal finisher to boot.
5 December 1908, St James’ Park, Newcastle.
The home team would be crowned Football League champions that season, but just over seventy years before another Seaham-born player was to enjoy arguably his finest hour in a Sunderland shirt at St James’ Park, Holley was about to have one of many.
With the game level at 1-1 at half time, he put Sunderland ahead two minutes after the restart and within twenty minutes had registered a hat-trick.
He and his Sunderland teammates repeatedly ran riot against the Newcastle defence and by the seventy-seventh minute, the Lads were 1-9 up, after which the score remain unchanged until the final whistle.
Over a century later, it remains our biggest win registered in the Football League, and this was the season that Bob Kyle’s team started to show the rest of the country that they had something about them, eventually ending the season in third place in the league.
Further third-place finishes followed, with Holley now breaking into the England team, and he hit eight goals in just ten appearances for the Three Lions — the most any player has scored for England while playing for Sunderland.
There was more to come for Holley and Sunderland in 1913, and after a shocking start to the season, the side began to win, win and win again, ending the season as Football League champions for the fifth time. This was not all, because before the title had been secured, Sunderland also reached the F.A. Cup Final.
Despite being granted the opportunity to win the first part of what would’ve been an incredible league and cup double, Holley had been injured in the weeks before the final.
He was due to miss the final itself, but his replacement Walter Tinsley had an attack of nerves on the big day. Thus, with his knee bandaged and ankle strapped, Holley started the game against Aston Villa at Crystal Palace, which Sunderland lost 0-1.
Holley then returned for the final three league games after the final — in which we secured the victories needed to bring the league title back to Wearside — and he was our leading scorer during the following season. He was still only twenty eight years old when the First World War broke out, and just as World War Two curtailed the careers of many of the biggest names in our history, it was also very much the case for Holley.
He was a prolific scorer, and only three other players have scored more goals for Sunderland: Dave Halliday, Charlie Buchan and Bobby Gurney. If he’d been able to keep on playing at his peak, there’s chance that he could’ve reached a total that would’ve even been beyond the reach of Gurney.
He was one of the best and most important strikers in the club’s history — local born and scorer of a hat-trick in the biggest league win registered by Sunderland at our greatest rivals.
It doesn’t need to be said that O’Nien made a significant mistake in the first ten minutes and that his error led to a really soft chance being offered to Tyneside’s ‘Princess Diana’ — and to be fair to her former Royal Highness, she took the chance very well.
O’Nien tried to beat the press with a firm clearance upfield and in trying to put his foot through it, he messed up. The lad knew it straight away and tried his best for the rest of the game to make up for it — and for me he did so, with some very important interventions to keep us in the mix.
He’s been with us during our darkest years, and cocked up yet took it on the chin in post-match interviews. Fair play — and the most important thing is that we learn during this first season back at the top level, and we certainly did so when we got back out for the second stanza.
He and Omar Alderete were imperious in the second half, and whilst a 0-2 win would’ve been lovely without that unforced error, to come back from a soft goal made the whole day even sweeter.
An immense second half display from the Lads
We did well to get into the changing rooms only one down, with the hosts hitting the post with the goalkeeper beaten later in the first half, but it has to be recognised that the step change in performance between the two halves was like night and day.
It was easily seen welcome for all Mackems both in the ground and watching from home that we weren’t having a similar forty five minutes. It was almost symbolic of the battle between good and evil — which in many ways this was a representation of.
A so-called elite team, sponsored by a very wealthy but very questionable ownership had one over on the supposed ‘small club’ from down the road after the first half — yet this supposedly inferior outfit wasn’t willing to sit back and take it any more.
Instead, they came out for the second period more hardworking, more determined, more energetic and not willing to give anything less than 100%, which was all the fans expected.
We scrapped and battled and showed that we were equal to the so called ‘richest club in the world’, and less than an hour into the tie, Chemsdine Talbi tapped in from close range after a wonder save stopped him from finding the top corner before the half hour mark.
Sunderland weather various storms after the break
It’s true that the Mags had a goal chalked off in the last twenty minutes, but there was a player both clearly offside and shoving the goalkeeper around the line — both of which were enough to deny the local Neanderthals a lead at a pivotal point in the game.
Before VAR even intervened, the referee had blown up for a foul, much to the happiness of the red and white hordes who’d navigated their way past flying bottles and all sorts of violent threats in order to get to the game.
To add further shame to the Newcastle role of dishonour, the lads in red and white had to experience unacceptable racial abuse.
Let’s be clear: Lutsharel Geertruida was one of many on the pitch who isn’t of English and/or white heritage, but he was clearly the nearest target that the rattled, naive, stupid and unacceptably bigoted fans in that part of the ground could have a pop at. It was utterly disgusting and ignoring stripes of red or black, we simply have to hope that such morons don’t get back into any football stadium again.
This is the 21st century, for goodness sake. Some people need to grow the hell up and sort out the hate they have for their fellow man — which has no place in any ground anywhere in the world in 2026.
Is Brian Brobbey the best #9 we’ve had in a while?
With no major difference between two sides in the last twenty minutes, with both teams in poor form and missing a number of their starting elevens, it almost felt like destiny that someone would have to step up to make a difference.
That difference was made with a combination of a late-appearing Enzo Le Fée and the man-mountain that had battled with the Newcastle centre backs in black and white all day — one Brian Brobbey.
After a great break, Noah Sadiki fed Le Fée, who headed for the byline and managed to slot a cut back through the legs of the Geordie defenders for Brobbey to slam his second effort past Aaron Ramsdale after his first effort was well-blocked.
The limbs in the top level were epic and the noise in my own front room with my son, my future son-in-law, and the rest of my wonderful family was ear splitting — and the ‘Til The End socks on my feet twitched with every thread of their weaved magic.
We’d done it again and although a decent portion of time was added on for injuries and other interruptions earlier in the game, the Lads held on for another win on Tyneside.
Despite all the challenges, we’d taken a team made up of many second-string players in key positions and secured a double over our closest and nearest foes from barely a dozen miles up the coast.
Final thoughts…
Before this game, I sent a message to my lad, and he said “Dad, if we win this game, my season will be complete” — and I agreed wholeheartedly with this sentiment.
We’ve stayed up and have come so, so far, but this isn’t like any other game for any Sunderland fan. This is one of the two fixtures we’ve waited almost a decade for, and we haven’t only won the home tie with a somewhat lucky own goal — we’ve come from behind at their place and done the double with a 1-2 win on Tyneside.
These are memories we can all treasure and are almost on the level of cup wins. Remarkable events in North East football, and the position we’re in, with over forty points by March, is something that dreams were made of back in the summer.
Adding to that a double over the Geordies, elevation back to eleventh in the league and being only three points away from European competition for next season? That’s the stuff that dreams are made of already, and I can’t imagine what we may do with the rest of this season.
The future is bright, and no matter what others say (including an expectedly elusive Alan Shearer come Match of the Day on Sunday evening), the future is certainly looking more red and white than monochrome.
Of that we have no doubt — and good luck with your next role, Eddie.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MARCH 22: Granit Xhaka of Sunderland celebrates victory as Yoane Wissa of Newcastle reacts after the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James' Park on March 22, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Want to have your say on all things Sunderland? Drop us a line and we’ll publish your views! RokerReport@yahoo.co.uk
Dear Roker Report,
Yes, yes, yes!
Watching Sunday’s game from the comfort of home, I felt so proud of the Lads for their performance and togetherness
Looking at our starting eleven, we were — including the goalkeeper — missing four players from our usual defensive set up.
Unfortunately that was exposed early in the game and a lesson to be learnt, but how the lads responded was full of inspiration and in my opinion, we were the more committed team and most likely to win the game — in other words, we were the better team throughout and deserved the three points.
The most pleasing aspect of the win was the spirit shown. We moved the ball quicker, had a focal point and wherever possible, we got a shot away, which is something that’s been lacking in our home games.
The squad does need improving but we must remember that it’s our first season back in the Premier League. We’ve achieved our first goal in survival and next year, we push on.
Nice to see Luke O’Nien and Chris Rigg leading the applause at the end.
Six points off the Geordies this season….happy days!
Haway the Lads
Mark
Dear Roker Report,
Well done to one and all.
Beating the black and white shite in their own shit tip.
Haway the lads!
Rob Brown
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Mark and Rob. Thank you for your letters.
I’m writing this reply some seven hours after the game finished and I must admit that I’m still in a state of shock at the fact we turned it around and were able to complete a frankly astonishing league double over Newcastle for 2025/2026.
I feared the worst after we went 1-0 down but after an underwhelming first half display, we were completely rejuvenated in the second half and I don’t think it’s a stretch to claim that we were the better side by a distance. We showed immense heart and fortitude, and it was fitting that the goals were scored by two players who turned up big time: Chemsdine Talbi and Brian Brobbey.
A memorable day and the perfect way to head into the international break, with everyone on a high and absolutely buzzing to have seen off the Mags in their own backyard!
The Punjab Kings enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in IPL 2025, emerging as one of the most consistent teams of the season. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, they topped the league stage and advanced to the final, marking their first title clash after 2014.
For the IPL 2026 season, Punjab Kings (PBKS) built upon a strong retained core by adding four players in the mini-auction, including Australian all-rounders Ben Dwarshuis (Rs 4.4 crore) and Cooper Connolly (Rs 3 crore), aiming to strengthen their bowling and middle-order.
Here is the Punjab Kings strongest predicted playing XI for IPL 2026:
Prabhsimran Singh (WK): Prabhsimran Singh delivered a breakout performance in IPL 2025, emerging as a leading, consistent opener for Punjab Kings. He scored 549 runs in 17 matches averaging 32.29 with a 160+ strike rate. He will continue with his opening role and wicket-keeping duties.
Priyansh Arya: Priyansh Arya had a sensational debut IPL 2025 season for Punjab Kings, scoring 475 runs in 17 innings at a blistering 179.24 strike rate, setting the record for most runs by an uncapped debutant. He will partner with Prabhsimran at top.
Shreyas Iyer (C): Shreyas Iyer was acquired by Punjab Kings for a whopping Rs 26.75 crore and he delivered accordingly leading the Punjab side he took the team to final after 11 years and had a breakthrough season with 600-plus runs. He will anchor Punjab at no.3.
Nehal Wadhera: At no.4 Nehal Wadhera has a built a respectful reputation. In IPL 2025, he scored 369 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 145.84, including standout fifties against Rajasthan Royals. Nehal Wadhera will be crucial in middle overs.
Shashank Singh: Shashank Singh is a proven finisher for Punjab Kings in recent years, he scored over 350 runs across the season, featuring prominently in their run to the final, including a 61*(30) knock in the summit clash vs RCB, though PBKS fell six runs short.
Marcus Stoinis: Marcus Stoinis had a mixed 2025 IPL season with Punjab Kings (PBKS), often playing as a late-order finisher at No. 7. While having a relatively quiet season, he shone with a key 44* off 16 balls against Delhi Capitals. He will aim to bounce back this season.
Marco Jansen: In IPL 2025, Marco Jansen was a standout performer for the Punjab Kings (PBKS), who acquired him for Rs 7 Crore at the auction. In 2026 his pace and will be vital for Punjab alongside his lower-order hitting.
Azmatullah Omarzai: Azmatullah Omarzai was acquired by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for INR 2.4 crore in the 2025 IPL auction. During the 2025 season, he established himself as a key all-rounder for PBKS. His role will be important in the squad.
Xavier Bartlett: Xavier Bartlett joined Punjab Kings last year as a replacement of Lockie Ferguson in mid season who was ruled out due to injury. As he is in for full season his role increases in absence of Ferguson.
Arshdeep Singh: Arshdeep Singh is the key bowler for Punjab Kings especially in the powerplay, Last season he was the leading wicket-taker for Punjab with 21 wickets.
Yuzvendra Chahal: Yuzvendra Chahal had a significant 2025 IPL season for Punjab Kings (PBKS) after being bought for Rs 18 crore, claiming 16 wickets in 14 matches. The 2026 season might see the comeback of IPL's highest wicket-taker.
Impact Sub Vyshak Vijaykumar/ Harpreet Brar
Punjab Kings may go either with Vyshak Vijaykumar or Harpreet Brar as Impact player depending upon the situation of the pitch and requirement of the management.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - January 6: Peter Reid, Sunderland Manager celebrates after the FA Cup match between Manchester United and Sunderland at Old Trafford on January 6, 1996 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Mayhew/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ah, the summer of 1996 – what a time to be alive.
Euro 96’, three lions on a shirt, the mags had just blown their chance of winning the FA Carling Premiership, and Sunderland had won Division One to get back to the top flight when nobody expected them to.
It came from nowhere, and as Bobby Saxton emotionally said on the day we lifted the trophy, “money can’t buy this”.
Almost exactly twelve months earlier – the 24th March 1995 to be exact – Sunderland were in trouble. Mick Buxton’s side travelled to Oakwell to take on Danny Wilson’s Barnsley with a side that included two new signings, Brett Angell and Dominic Matteo, but we lost 2-0.
In the aftermath of the defeat, it not only left us close to the drop zone that would head to the third tier, but it turned out we could potentially face a point deduction due to the Matteo transfer not being completed correctly before he put on a shirt.
Oh, and Buxton was sacked after the game as well – never a dull day.
In a departure from the strategy that saw the three previous managers being appointed from the existing backroom staff, the board went all out and brought Peter Reid in a deal that initially only covered the final seven games of the season.
Optimism spiked immediately, and not only did the results keep us up, but the Matteo thing magically went away as well. Which meant that in the summer of 1995, we could hand Reid a two-year contract and start again.
Rumours swirled during the summer that Reid might tempt ex-England teammates like Chris Waddle to come to Roker, but in the end, it was just Paul Bracewell who joined as player-assistant manager and John Mullin who arrived from Burnley.
Nobody quite knew what to expect with just a couple of players arriving, and consolidation in Division One would have been seen as a success. When we won just two of the first seven league games – and were knocked out by Third Division Preston in the League Cup first round – you might have thought alarm bells were ringing, but that wasn’t the case.
It was obvious to see the improvement in the side, and they were getting better with each time they took to the pitch. By October, we occupied a play-off place, and in mid-December we went top of the league by beating leaders Millwall 6-0 at Roker (incidentally, Millwall went on to be relegated). But after this, we won just one in nine.
A win against Ipswich Town in mid-February got things back on track, and Reid’s side didn’t look back. Seven more successive wins followed, which included a 3-0 victory over title chasers Derby County at Roker. Things were taking off, with Daydream Believer being sung on the terraces and then released as a record with new lyrics directed at Reid.
We’d also picked up a kid from Blackburn to play in goal and found he was pretty good as Shay Given kept six clean-sheets in seven games ahead of Graeme Sharp’s Oldham visiting Roker on this day in 1996.
The Latics came with a game plan, which was to place every man behind the ball and frustrate Sunderland. Craig Russell and Paul Stewart began the game up front, but as the sides went in for the break, Reid swapped Stewart for Michael Bridges, who was breaking through spectacularly, but Oldham were still keeping us at arm’s length.
Russell made way for Lee Howey with around twenty minutes to go, but with less than ten minutes to go, it took a set piece to split the two sides. Martin Scott’s free-kick finally beat Paul Gerrard in the Oldham goal at the Fulwell End to make it eight wins on the bounce, and three more were to follow as the Lads marched to the league title and the Premier League.
Saturday 23rd March, 1996
Division One
Sunderland 1-0 Oldham
[Scott 81’]
Roker Park
Sunderland: Given, Kubicki, Melville, Ord, Scott, Agnew, Bracewell, Ball, Gray, Russell (Howey), Stewart (Bridges)
Chris Rigg of Sunderland during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St. James's Park in Newcastle, United Kingdom, on March 22, 2026. (Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Calum Mills says…
Battling Brobbey!
He was unbelievable and unplayable.
He was being pulled from pillar to post by Dan Burn, but he held firm — winning headers, second balls and running down the channel when required.
A proper number nine, and his movement for that second goal was top notch and after we’ve struggled in front of goal in recent weeks, his return and derby-winning goal was more than welcome!
Chris Rigg and Habib Diarra catch the eye
Played out of position and up against Lewis Hall, I thought Rigg was excellent.
His link up play with Habib Diarra was great and he also tracked back to support Lutsharel Geertruida. You can also see that he’s desperate to score his first Lads Premier League goal as well — which I hope happens before the end of the season!
As for Diarra, that was up there with one of his best games.
Direct when running with the ball and tenacious off it, he’s come in for some stick in recent weeks but in such a high-profile game, he showed his worth and it was summed up for me when he lost it just inside their half but tracked back and won it outside our box.
Hopefully this is the first of many more quality performances!
Melker Ellborg struggles
I know he’s new to Sunderland and to this league, but my God, he scares you.
He’s been closed down two or three times in his short Lads career and every time he pushes the ball to the side before clearing it, I wince.
He’s got to be quicker with his feet…but WE BEAT THE MAGS AGAIN!!!!
A game tainted by alleged racist abuse
Absolutely zero time for anything like this, with Romaine Mundle and now Lutsharel Geertruida being subjected to it.
It’s abhorrent and hopefully the culprits are found out, banned from attending future games and jailed.
John Wilson says…
Red and white resolve
What absolute resolve and determination.
Backs to the wall at times, you could feel the tension and nerves through the TV. The injuries and the team we had to put out — if we’re honest — left many a little deflated and hoping against hope.
After Luke O’Nien’s error, it looked even more difficult, but not to worry. To a man, we stood up to be counted.
At the end, with the victory secured, O’Nien broke into tears such was his relief and dedication to this club. A great team effort, showing guts and heart.
Brian Brobbey stands tall
He was our outlet; he gave their defence a major headache all afternoon and he deservedly got his goal after a calm, cool assist from Enzo Le Fée.
So pleased for the guy — whose nightmares from the past have been buried and is thriving for us.
Sunderland’s goalkeeping troubles
Nobody likes to single anyone out — especially as Melker Ellborg is young, will grow in stature and experience — but he’s been thrown in at the deep end due to Robin Roefs’ injury and in truth, he isn’t quite ready.
His kicking is very suspect and his lack of height and power in the box puts the defence under pressure.
It’ll come good, but he gave me the jitters every time.
The ugly side of football rears its head again
You’d think enough had been said on this subject.
Idiots should try to curb what kind of language comes out of their mouths. It’s not like there aren’t plenty of other expletives that can be used, and I hope the culprits are identified.
The police seemed to get it wrong as they escorted the Lads fans to the ground, where fighting broke out.
The clips I’ve seen seem to show comparatively little presence. For the home game, the visitors all arrived by coach, so why were the same arrangements not made?
Lars Knutsen says…
Sunderland go ‘til the end once again
This team never knows when it’s beaten.
Despite a discouraging start, we gradually worked our way back into the game, and were much less tense in the second half.
Once we scored from Granit Xhaka’s corner, I knew we wouldn’t lose this match. We clearly missed the seven players who are absent through injury but the team spirit lives on though despite these absences — and this performance was another tactical feather in Régis Le Bris’ hat.
Two away goals!
This hadn’t happened since we won at Chelsea in October.
Both goals were based on tenacity, but also skill. To have the coolness to put together such productive moves away at our arch-rivals was remarkable. OK, we could see that the barcodes were tiring, but they were both excellent goals.
I loved the dangerous ball in from Trai Hume for the first, and Enzo Le Fée showed his class by squaring for Brian Brobbey to claim the winner.
Rigg comes of age
At eighteen years old, Rigg was thrown into the cauldron known as St. James’ Park for this attritional derby.
He gave a really good account of himself, and contributed to several of our twenty four shots on goal. He’ll remember this day for the rest of his life — in the team on merit and performing excellently.
An iffy Sunderland start
Ten minutes in, we made a clear mistake at the back and the ball fell to Anthony Gordon, who slotted it home.
On the upside, both Melker Ellborg and Luke O’Nien recovered well to perform well for the rest of the game. The bad start affected us for the first half hour; the press wasn’t intense enough and our passing wasn’t incisive enough.
Once Chemsdine Talbi had come close to a spectacular finish into the top corner, it heralded a much better game from the Lads and in the end, we were deserved winners.
Mark Wood says…
A superb comeback victory!
Our second half performance summed up what this Sunderland team has been all about this season.
Only Aston Villa have won more points than us from losing positions and once Chemsdine Talbi equalised, I felt we were knocking on the door all the way ‘til the end.
Noah Sadiki’s shot was an inch from a deflection and could’ve gone in, whilst Brian Brobbey’s winner was nothing less than we deserved and Newcastle — it has to be said — had nothing to offer in the second half.
“…And he’s Sunderland’s number nine!”
Brian Bobbey terrorised the home rearguard all afternoon.
He didn’t let them settle, competing for every ball that went up to him and turning and leaving them in his tracks — and it was apt that he scored the winning goal to crown a performance which was as good as I’ve seen from him all season.
After his return from injury, he looks back to his best.
A massively important victory
After our recent results looked like they were tapering off in the second half of the season, I wasn’t confident of getting much before the game — and that confidence shrank even more after our disastrous opening.
But with echoes of Peter Reid’s consecutive 1-2 wins at St James’ Park, we dug deep and added yet another famous win.
They’ve been waiting ten years to put us in our rightful place as they see it after our ‘six in a row’. Well, guys, we’re back…and they still haven’t managed to put us down!
An eventful afternoon for Luke O’Nien
I thought we were in for a long and painful day after his attempted pass out from the back led to Newcastle’s opener, but I’m not going to moan about it — just put it to bed and move on.
He’ll know himself and he doesn’t need any extra noise to remind him about it. It’s to say after the game went in our favour and it didn’t actually effect the outcome in the end, but irrespective of how the game turned out — win, lose or draw — I would’ve said the same.
Abhishek Sharma entered the ICC Men's T20 World Cup as the No.1-ranked batter, expected to dominate with his aggressive strokeplay after a breakthrough 2025 season. However, the tournament turned into an early struggle for the 25-year-old, who began with three consecutive ducks and added a few more low scores, leading to criticism and questions over his place in the XI.
Despite the poor start, Abhishek found his rhythm at a crucial stage. A composed 55 against Zimbabwe in the Super 8s hinted at a turnaround before he delivered when it mattered most. In the final against New Zealand, he smashed a 21-ball 52, putting on a 98-run opening stand with Sanju Samson to set up India’s title-winning victory. Having entered the tournament as the top-ranked batter, it was a campaign that tested both his methods and temperament before ending on a high.
In an interaction with TOI, his long-time childhood friend and Punjab teammate Nehal Wadhera opened up on Abhishek’s journey, recalling how his talent was evident from a very young age.
“Abhishek and I have been playing together since Under-14. So, yes, Abhishek definitely had those hitting skills from the start,” Wadhera said.
He went on to recount a memorable Under-16 game that underlined Abhishek’s ability to perform under pressure.
“I still remember when, in the Under-16 state tournament, he was captaining us. Him, me, Shubman, Prabhsimran, Naman Dhir — every one of us was together, and we won the championship that year as well. There was a game against Gujarat where we were chasing 410 on a turning track on the last day. Abhishek and Shubman chased it down. I think one made 150 and the other made 180. We always knew what he was capable of.”
Wadhera emphasised that the aggressive batter the world sees today is a result of both natural ability and sustained hard work.
“The game that we are watching now, we already knew about it. But he has definitely worked on it. How he has maximised the opportunities in the powerplay is really commendable. All thanks to Yuvraj Singh and his father, who coach and mentor him.”
From watching Abhishek’s rise, Wadhera has also built his own path in the IPL, growing steadily as a dependable middle-order batter.
Learning from Ricky Ponting
Wadhera spoke about the impact of head coach Ricky Ponting at Punjab Kings, recalling his first interaction during a camp in Dharamshala.
“That was the first time I met him. He’s a very jolly person, always positive and always keeping the environment happy,” Wadhera said.
“When I was hitting boundaries and sixes, he was appreciating me. I even asked him about his mindset while playing international cricket and how he handled fast bowlers during his time.”
“For a head coach, maintaining a positive environment is the most important thing. I think he’s doing a really good job.”
Playing under Rohit Sharma
Wadhera began his IPL career with Mumbai Indians, making his debut under Rohit Sharma, an experience he still values highly.
“I was fortunate enough to make my debut under Rohit Sharma. He’s someone I idolised growing up. I’ll always be grateful. I really enjoyed my time with MI as well, the two years I was there.”
Leadership of Shreyas Iyer
Now part of the Punjab Kings setup, Wadhera highlighted what sets captain Shreyas Iyer apart.
“He has a different aura. He encourages players to play freely, regardless of results. That gives a lot of confidence.”
He added that such freedom allows players to express themselves fully and carry their domestic form onto the IPL stage without fear.
Wadhera’s own IPL journey reflects steady growth. He made his debut in 2023, scoring two half-centuries in his first season. While opportunities were limited in 2024, he still made an impression with a 49 off 24 in his comeback match.
After being released ahead of the 2025 Mega auction, he attracted interest from multiple franchises before Punjab Kings secured him for INR 4.20 crore. He justified that investment by scoring 369 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of over 145, playing a key role in the team’s run to the final.
Looking ahead, Wadhera remains firmly focused on collective success rather than personal milestones, especially after Punjab Kings fell agonisingly short last season.
“There are personal goals, but I’ll speak about them once they are fulfilled. The only goal right now is to win the trophy.”
Having missed out on the title by the narrowest of margins — a six-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final — Wadhera is determined to go one better this time. With a settled core, clearly defined roles and strong backing from the management, Punjab Kings head into IPL 2026 with renewed belief as they aim to turn last year’s heartbreak into silverware.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MARCH 22: Nordi Mukiele, Enzo Le Fee and Noah Sadiki of Sunderland celebrate after winning the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James' Park on March 22, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images) | Getty Images
An absurd game of football, played out in two halves that could scarcely have been more contrasting, but another local derby that ended with yet more Sunderland jubilation and another dose of Newcastle heartbreak as the Lads showed defiance, desire and seemingly limitless persistence to turn around a 1-0 half time deficit and complete what seemed like a highly unlikely league double over our black and white neighbours.
Did anyone see this coming at 10:45am, when the team sheet was released and what can only be described as a very makeshift Sunderland team was tasked with downing the hosts on their own patch? How about at 12:10pm, after some sloppy defensive play allowed Anthony Gordon to steal in and open the scoring for the hosts?
In one horrible moment, Luke O’Nien found himself cast as the fall guy and Melker Ellborg hadn’t exactly covered himself in glory either, but from the depths of despair came yet another red and white revival as goals from Chemsdine Talbi and the immensely impressive Brian Brobbey left the Mags stunned and the travelling Sunderland fans in the throes of ecstacy.
They just can’t beat us in the league, can they?
No matter who’s managing them, the players they field or the tactics they deploy, Newcastle just can’t seem to find the formula needed to get the better of the lads in red and white.
Indeed, such was the sheer feeling of elation at extending our unbeaten run in derbies that all of the negatives from this one were rendered meaningless. Was Ellborg shaky? Yes. Can we develop a greater goal threat? Absolutely, but the fact is that winning is all that matters in such affairs, and how you get there is immaterial.
Two scrappy goals, yes, but goals nevertheless. Late sucker punches for the Mags as Talbi and Brobbey never stopped battling, never stopped chasing and eventually wrote their own chapters in the history of this fixture.
Chris Rigg — mocked by Newcastle fans on social media as hardly the kind of player to strike fear into their defence after their struggles in Barcelona — was superb and O’Nien eventually recovered from his early error to steer his side through to the end: resilience, professionalism and composure personified.
Newcastle, for their part, will doubtless be attempting to kick themselves (and probably missing) as they rue yet another league derby that somehow slipped from their grasp.
For all of their attacking threats and the undeniable class of the marauding Lewis Hall, they seemed to lose their way after half time and despite the absence of so many of our frontline players, Sunderland proved that as long as you can stay in the game, keep doing the right things and never giving up the chase, turnarounds are always possible.
The ramifications of this result may well carry over and cut deeply into the North East footballing landscape.
For Eddie Howe, the need to get that Uncle Moe’s Family Feedbag smile painted on with industrial-grade Dulux will be urgent, so intense will the scrutiny and pressure be in the coming days as the league pauses for international action. Losing derbies under any circumstances is unpalatable, but losing two in one season after such heavy Saudi-backed spending in the summer? Unthinkable.
For Régis Le Bris, on the other hand, it was a quite astonishing league double and another remarkable success story for the unflappable Frenchmen. It seems that every time he or his players are questioned, they summon the fortitude needed to dig out a result — and his place in our history books is now secured.
This probably isn’t the most articulate or maybe even grammatically coherent edition of Matchday Musings I’ve ever written, but do you know something? On this occasion, I don’t really care.
Football is a game of emotions and mine are currently as highly-charged as they’ve been all season. We’re back in the big time, we’re on course to break the fifty-point barrier and we’ve just seen off Newcastle on their own patch when it looked for all the world as though this might’ve been one game too far.
Days like these are what it’s all about. Winning in such gutsy fashion is often sweeter than blowing teams off the park with slick football — and Sunderland showed that when it matters, when pride is at stake and regional dominance is on the line, they’re still the top dogs in this part of the world.
Mar 22, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd celebrates after defeating the Utah State Aggies during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
SAN DIEGO—Arizona closed as either an 11.5- or 12.5-point favorite against Utah State, depending on where you got your line, and won by 12. But despite leading the entire game, the Wildcats were pushed to the limit.
“They create a lot of adversity, switching defenses and they kind of throw you out of your rhythm on offense a little bit,” UA coach Tommy Lloyd said. “We weren’t as good in the second half of getting the ball inside and just obviously had too many turnovers. They amped up their pressure and their press, so I’m going to give them credit.”
Arizona struggled to put the Aggies away until late, mostly because of turnovers, but thanks to playing from in front kept the lead all night.
“You hang in there, hang in there,” Lloyd said. “You have a little lead you just need to make one or two plays in a timely fashion, and then you can kind of ride the game out. And obviously Brayden’s 3 was pretty big time. And then JB had some great drives and foul pressure down the stretch of that last 10 minutes. And I thought Koa was really special in the second half and had to deal with some foul trouble.”
Our game recap can be found here. Below is what Lloyd, Jaden Bradley, Brayden Burries and Koa Peat said after the victorry.
Lloyd on struggling with Utah State’s press: “For sure, it got us back on our heels a little bit. I just think our guys gotta do a little bit better job of figuring. And I was kind of negotiating my timeouts in my head. How I wanted to manage it, what the point differential was. I trust our guys to find solutions all the time. And they kind of amped up the heat on their press a little bit. I don’t think our spacing was great. I think our initial thrust wasn’t great. And that’s something that, hey, it’s not easy to do. Everyone on the periphery thinks it should be easy to do. It’s not.
“And when you have a desperate team amping up the pressure, and the jump ball’s in their favor, and they’re aggressive, it’s hard. It’s hard. Our guys did a better job settling it down there the last couple minutes. But for sure, I mean, you know, they’re a pressing team. They press a lot. And they give you different variations of their press. Sometimes it’s soft. Sometimes it’s a harder press with early traps. They do a good job keeping you on your heels.”
On whether Utah State was underseeded: “I’m not a guy that gets into the weeds on all that stuff. But that’s a really good basketball team. I mean, if they were a 5 or a 6 seed, I wouldn’t have been surprised. If you win the Mountain West regular season and tournament, I mean, I think that’s a pretty powerful statement. And we felt it out there today. We felt it out there today. I mean, it’s a team that had no quit. And had no quit and they kept coming and they made timely plays and timely shots on both ends of the floor.”
On Burries being level-headed for a freshman: “I think Brayden’s a winner, and he has ultimate confidence. And it’s been a joy to coach him. You’ve hit the nail on the head: he’s a laid-back, kind-of-unassuming guy, but he has a killer in him. And that’s a beautiful attribute. There’s nothing wrong with being a great human being off the court and being a killer on the court. And he definitely has that combination.
“I honestly, when he had that ball in his hands at the end, I was trying to figure out ways—obviously I wanted it in JB’s hands—but when Brayden had that kind of that last possession that ended up kind of deep in the clock, I felt pretty good about it. I know he has an ability to make those shots and get good arc on them. And I also felt pretty good if we get it up and don’t turn it over we can rebound. I think we had 22 offensive rebounds, and obviously you know that’s a key component to our success as well.”
On if Burries ever gets riled up: “Yeah, I mean listen he’s a normal 19-year-old guy. He’s had moments where he’s had to learn. And even today, I had to kind of explain to him after the game, he picked up two unfortunate fouls. I probably maybe should have subbed him. He hit a 3 right away. And I’m thinking, okay, I’ve seen this act from Brayden, and he can get hot pretty quick.
“And we were kind of managing like a 10-point lead and for most of the second part of the first half. So I just didn’t I thought his foul was more valuable to keep him on the bench and save for three fouls for the second half if we had a lead. And I knew he was tough enough to me kind of taking his rhythm away from him. Because I just wanted to win the game. And I know he wanted to play, and I’m sure he could convince me that he could play without fouling.
“But crazy things happen in these games and I was just, my worst nightmare was he picks up his third and then early in the second half he picks up his fourth. Now it really hurts us. So I was kind of making a decision for the long run, trying to win the game. And I appreciate him hanging with it.”
On being calm on the sidelines: “ Look at my mentor. He’s pretty cool, calm and collected—Mark Few. So obviously when you’re with a guy for 22 years, you learn a lot by osmosis, just how he handles himself. And the other thing, I mean I think the most what’s really cool about coaching and basketball is there’s so many different styles. And I think the most important thing is just to be your authentic self.
“I don’t want to be a guy that’s constantly yelling and screaming and nagging. It’s just not kind of who I am. I want to coach to my personality because I think these players, they know truth. They know truth. And they judges of character these guys are. I think for me to have the best long term success with them is to be honest with them, have relationships and be myself. It’s not much more complicated than that.”
On the fan support: “Well, it’s important. I was thinking this morning I should have did a preemptive strike. We need our fans in these environments to be proactive. We don’t need our fans to be reactive and get nervous when the game gets tight. We know how bad our fans want it for us. So I was hoping they would come and participate. And I thought they did a really good job participating.
“And then hopefully we have even stronger contingent at San Jose. And they’re going to be there fighting and pulling us through every step of the way.”
On if 2 straight tourneys without a mid-major in the Sweet 16 is a problem: “That’s a really great question and a deep question. And we could probably go a lot of different directions with it. I think look where I came from. I came from a program that was a mid-major program and that made itself into a major, major program. And I think that parity is great for the game. But things change. And I think once finances become part of it, there’s going to be a breaking point for some of the lesser programs that just don’t have the finances, and I think that’s just an obvious statement.
“I mean, there’s lots of reasons I took the Arizona job. And one of them was kind of forecasting these changes happening, because right when I was getting the job, the NIL deal was rumored. Then it started in July. I figured Arizona’s a place that has a pretty strong, long basketball tradition, and they’re going to be excited to invest in basketball. And we have. So I’m thankful for where I am, but I think that’s a great question. I don’t have a great answer for you on how to fix it. So let’s just leave it at that. But that’s a great observation to you.”
On what needs to be improved moving forward: “I just think managing segments of the game when you have a lead would be great. What did we get up, 16, something like that, 16, 18? I mean, can you make the next run? And I know it’s so easy to say and hard to do. But sometimes if you can make that next run, get up to 23, 24, you can kind of break a team’s will. But that team hung with it today. They were impressive. They had answers for everything, and they hit a bunch of timely shots. And I’m sure they feel like they missed some timely shots or a call or two didn’t go their way. That’s how the game goes sometimes. I respected Utah State a lot going into this game and they did nothing but reinforce that for me.”
On Motiejus Krivas’ defensive improvement: “It’s massive. He’s been a game changer for us defensively. I know a lot of the analytic gurus out there have studied it probably more than I have. I just know I feel good when he’s on the court. He’s got great instincts. Mo stands for mobility at 7’2″. And he does a great job contesting shots up high. And he does a great job getting those short little rebounds that come around the basket. Those are really hard to get when you’re up vertical contesting and contesting a shot, to be able to to have good enough hands to get those rebounds.
“I need his jump hook to start going in a little bit more, so we’ll talk about that this week because I know he can be a force and really control these games at both ends of the floor.”
Bradley on Burries: “He’s very mature for his age, and for a freshman. You look at him, you would never know the score if he’s having a great game, if he’s having a rough game. Just kudos to him. He’s having a great season. Offensively, he’s a team’s worst nightmare, shooter from all three levels, can defend. He’s definitely a great piece to have.”
On staying calm under pressure: “Just trusting in my work. And I know my teammates believe in me. I got great bigs that can get me open with ball screens and duck-ins and all that stuff. And my teammates give me great space. Just trusting in my work and trying to get to my spots and make plays.”
Burries on playing in the Big 12: “I think it honestly helps us a lot. I think the Big 12 is one of the best conferences out there. It prepares us physically, mentally, through adversity and stuff because you’re playing a great team night in and night out. So just shout out to the Big 12.”
Peat on playing in the Big 12: “Obviously it’s huge for us. Especially last week, we had three tough games, back to back to back. And it definitely helped us leading into this tournament. The Big 12 is the best conference in college basketball. So definitely got us prepared for this moment.”
On his rebounding: “Honestly just trying to be like Tobe (Awaka), man. I look up to him. He’s a beast on the glass. And Coach is always on my butt about rebounding. So I was just trying to get on the glass today and stay active.”
Dec 31, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) shoots a three point shot over rCleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the first half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images
PHOENIX — Sunday’s win was a full team effort for the Phoenix Suns against the Toronto Raptors, and once again, Collin Gillespie’s shooting played a major role in snapping a five-game skid.
Now, he’s even closer to cementing his name in the Suns’ record books. The question is no longer if he’s having a strong season — but whether this ranks among the best shooting seasons in franchise history.
Dec 31, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) shoots a three point shot during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
Explained: Why Barcelona players wore Ronaldinho jersey prior to Rayo Vallecano match
Barcelona won their final match before the international break, as they defeated Rayo Vallecano 1-0 at the Spotify Camp Nou. It was a nervy afternoon for the Catalans, although Ronald Araujo’s first half header was enough for them to secure the three points.
Prior to the match kicking offer, Hansi Flick’s squad all turned up at the stadium wearing the iconic 2005-06 jersey with Ronaldinho’s name worn on the back. The posts Barcelona published on social media were warmly received by the club’s supporters, although not many were familiar with the reason for this.
According to Marca, Barcelona officials had their players wearing the 2005-06 jersey as a replica version went on sale in the club shop after the Rayo match ended. As for the decision to emblaze Ronaldinho’s name on the back, it was partly due to the fact that he was the most iconic player from that season, and also because he celebrated his 46th birthday earlier in the weekend.
Given that Barcelona are still struggling a lot with financial issues, club bosses are determined to keep money coming in. The return of an additional 17,000 supporters to home matches has helped boost matchday revenue, but more is needed to ensure that a return to La Liga’s 1:1 rule will be possible by the time the summer transfer window opens at the start of July.
Plenty of work still needed for 1:1 return
In the event that Barcelona do make their eagerly-anticipated return to the 1:1 rule, they would be able to spend more money on new players – which will be needed this summer, given their plans to address the centre-back, left wing and striker positions. These club merchandise sales will help them keep moving in the right direction, although more will need to be done to ensure that sporting director Deco will have a lot more to work with come July.
Adam Jiricek continues to play at better than a point per game clip this season for Brantford of the Ontario Hockey League.
But for the first time since early January, the first round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft (No. 16) by the St. Louis Blues prospect, the defenseman has scored in back-to-back games, and put up five points in total.
Jiricek started things off with a goal and two assists in a 5-2 win at home against Niagara on Wednesday, before helping the Bulldogs claim the OHL's regular-season championship on Friday with a goal and an assist in a 6-5 win over North Bay:
The Bulldogs, who finished the regular season with 106 points (48-10-8-2), sat Jiricek on Sunday in a meaningless season finale, so as they heads to the playoffs, Jiricek finished the regular season with with 59 points (19 goals, 40 assists) in 55 games and a plus-31 rating.
In his final 12 games played, Jiricek collected 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) and gives Brantford of making a long run in the OHL playoffs and perhaps move on to the Memorial Cup May 22-31 in Kelowna, British Columbia.
* Adam Jecho -- The 2024 third-round pick helped the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League end their season with a bang, a three-game winning streak, and the forward had a hand in all the wins.
He had a goal and an assist in a 5-1 win over Calgary last Wednesday:
Jecho assisted on what turned out to be the game-winning goal Firday in a 2-1 win over Lethbridge, then scored his 10th goal of the season in a 7-1 thumping of the Hitmen again in Sunday's regular-season finale:
The Oil Kings finished third in the Eastern Conference (45-18-3-2) and will open Round 1 of the best-of-7 against Saskatoon.
Jecho finished the season with 36 points (10 goals, 26 assists) in 47 games, a season dealing with injuries, including a hand injury that forced him to miss the 2026 World Junior Championship.
* Will McIsaac -- The 2024 fifth-round pick and defenseman first made news this past week when he announced his intentions to attend the University of Connecticut next year, then helped his current squad, Spokane of the WHL, reach the WHL playoffs on Saturday when the Chiefs ripped Tri-City, 6-1, and McIsaac scored in that game that gave him a four-game point streak (one goal, four assists).
McIsaac, who finished the regular season with 34 points (eight goals, 26 assists) in 66 games, helped the Chiefs gain the sixth and final seed from the Western Conference (36-30-2-0).
* Dmitry Buchelnikov -- The 2022 second-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings, acquired in the trade that sent defenseman Justin Faulk to Detroit on March 6, (4:20 mark) scored last Monday for CSKA Moskow in a 3-2 loss to Sibir Novosibirsk, facing fellow Blues farmhand Mikhail Abramov:
The 22-year-old finished the regular season with 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists) in 44 games and positioned CSKA as the fourth seed in the West against Matvei Korotky (2023 seventh round) and SKA St. Petersburg, starting on Monday.
Other KHL playoff matchups have Eastern Conference matchups and sixth-seeded Traktor (Arseny Koromyslov, fourth round, 2022) against No. 3 Ak Bars starting also on Monday, and top-seeded Metalurg (Mikhail Fyodorov, fifth round, 2025) taking on eighth-seeded Sibir starting Tuesday.
* Dylan Peterson -- The 2020 third-round pick highlighted Springfield of the American Hockey League on Saturday when the forward scored twice in a 5-3 win at Belleville.
He would score Springfield's second shorthanded goal of the first period for a 2-0 lead and it was a beauty:
— Springfield Thunderbirds (@ThunderbirdsAHL) March 22, 2026
* Aleksanteri Kaskimaki -- The 2022 third-round pick scored the opening goal on Saturday, this shorthanded, backhand effort to give him 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists) in 53 games:
— Springfield Thunderbirds (@ThunderbirdsAHL) March 21, 2026
* Juraj Pekarcik -- The 2023 third-round pick also got in on the fun Saturday with a goal and an assist, including this backside goal for 31 points (nine goals, 22 assists) in 59 games this season:
— Springfield Thunderbirds (@ThunderbirdsAHL) March 21, 2026
* Ralph's season continues, Mayich's ends in NCAA -- Colin Ralph moves on, while fellow defenseman Matthew Mayich saw his season end.
Colin Ralph and Michigan State will have their season continue when the Spartans (25-8-2), seeded third, play in the Worcester, MA Regional and will take on No. 14 Connecticut (20-12-5) on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2.
As for Mayich and Clarkson University, who upset No. 7 Quinnipiac last weekend winning that series 2-0, had their season end at 18-17-3 with a 4-0 loss to Dartmouth College (23-7-4) on Friday in the ECAC semifinals in Lake Placid, N.Y.
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The first weekend of the NCAA tournament is in the books, and there are, of course, distinct winners and losers.
Among the big winners are the Big Ten and John Calipari, who’s guided Arkansas to its second Sweet 16 in his second season as head coach. Kentucky, meanwhile, is headed home.
As for future lottery pick Darryn Peterson, he didn’t exactly make the final impression at Kansas that NBA executives were hoping to see. Let’s take a look at the biggest winners and losers from the first two rounds of tournament play:
Winner: John Calipari
John Calipari’s exit from Kentucky marked a seismic shift in the college basketball landscape.
The game’s winningest program parted with one of the most successful coaches of his his era, who’d opened up a pipeline of elite talent to Lexington and led the Wildcats to a national championship.
But a prolonged lack of tournament success that included a nine-year Final Four drought made the relationship untenable. And the two parted ways after a first-round exit in the 2024 NCAA tournament.
With Darius Acuff Jr., John Calipari and the Razorbacks are a threat in the Sweet 16.
Wesley Hitt via Getty Images
Fast-forward two years, and Calipari’s winning the breakup. Calipari took some of his talent with him to his new job with SEC rival Arkansas and led the Razorbacks to the Sweet 16 in Year 1. Now he’s got Arkansas back in the Sweet 16 with a star point guard in Darius Acuff Jr. leading the way as arguably the best player in the tournament through two games.
A future NBA lottery pick with top-5 upside who was named first-team All-America as a freshman, Acuff is going scorched earth in tournament play. In wins over Hawaii and High Point, Acuff’s averaged 30 points, 6.5 assists and 1 steal per game. He’s shooting 49% from the floor and 5 of 11 (45.5%) from 3. He’s the kind of talent Kentucky came to take for granted during Calipari’s reign.
Presumptive lottery pick Darryn Peterson entered the tournament with a chance to cement his spot atop NBA Draft boards and answer the questions that have dogged him throughout his freshman campaign at Kansas.
With Kansas’ underwhelming loss to St. John’s in the second round, the questions surrounding Peterson remain intact, and his spot at the top of the draft is anything but certain.
Peterson’s tournament was a microcosm of his turbulent regular season at Kansas. In the first round, he reeled off 10 straight points and flashed his prowess as an elite three-level scorer as Kansas opened a 26-point lead against Cal Baptist.
Darryn Peterson's time at Kansas is almost certainly done. Will he be the No. 1 pick in June's NBA Draft?
The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images
But as Cal Bapist cut that lead to 6 points late in the second half, Peterson disappeared down the stretch. He hit a floater with 5:43 remaining for his 28th point and didn’t score again. In fact, he was barely involved in KU’s offense and didn’t touch the ball on repeated trips down the floor as Cal Baptist cut its 66-52 deficit to 66-60 in the final minutes.
Kansas survived the upset bid, setting up Sunday’s game against St. John’s. Peterson once again led the JayHawks with 21 points. But there were times in the game where he wasn’t involved in KU’s offense. And then came the final play, where Peterson, a strong defender, didn’t help as Dylan Darling knifed through the Kansas defense virtually unchallenged for a game-winning layup at the buzzer.
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 22, 2026
That’s likely the final image of Peterson’s college career. And it’s not a flattering look.
-Jason Owens
Winner: Betting favorites
A lack of upsets in the NCAA tournament has been very good business for people betting the favorites.
Favorites went 16-0 in the first round on Friday, and that luck continued into the second round. Yes, No. 11 Texas beat No. 3 Gonzaga to give us a true upset, but even some games that looked like upsets really weren’t.
No. 6 Tennessee closed as a slight favorite over No. 3 Virginia. The same can be said for No. 5 St. John’s, which was a 3.5-point favorite over No. 4 Kansas.
There are myriad theories for why favorites have done so well this year — with NIL budgets being a leading thought. Will that run continue in the Sweet 16 and the Elite Eight? We’re not so sure. The gaps between teams in the next rounds will be significantly smaller.
-Nick Bromberg
Loser: West Coast Conference
The days of the West Coast Conference getting three NCAA tournament bids are probably over. And they’re disappearing with none of the three WCC teams in the tournament making it past the second round. Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s and Santa Clara all made the 2026 men’s tournament.
But the Gaels lost to No. 10 Texas A&M in the first round, and No. 10 Santa Clara was beaten in overtime by No. 7 Kentucky on Friday after Otega Oweh’s incredible buzzer-beater to send the game to overtime. The No. 3 Zags scuffled a bit against No. 14 Kennesaw State, but that’s the only win the WCC got.
Gonzaga coach Mark Few's last NCAA tournament representing the WCC ended in an upset second-round loss.
Soobum Im via Getty Images
Saturday night, Gonzaga was upset by a No. 11 Texas team that started its NCAA tournament in the First Four. That was the final game that Gonzaga will play as a West Coast Conference team.
The Bulldogs are off to join the remodeled Pac-12 in 2026-27. And much of the WCC’s luster will go with them. Gonzaga being one of college basketball’s preeminent powers has done a ton for the conference over the last two decades. 2026 was just the fourth time ever that the league got three NCAA tournament teams. And all four of those instances came in the 2000s.
-Nick Bromberg
Winner: Big Ten
The Big Ten entered Sunday with the state of its NCAA tournament already assured, having secured four of the bids available in the Sweet 16.
Then it added two more, including one with the biggest upset of the tournament. Purdue secured the conference’s fifth Sweet 16 berth with a 79-69 win over Miami early Sunday. And 9 seed Iowa roared into the tournament’s second weekend with a stunning upset of 1 seed and reigning champion Florida.
TRIPLE FROM ALVARO FOLGUEIRAS GIVES IOWA THE LEAD WITH UNDER 5 SECONDS 🤯
Not only will none of the three programs add to their combined tally of 18 NCAA championships. But they’ll each leave the tournament with some level of uncertainty around their head coaches.
And Hall of Fame Kansas coach Bill Self said after Sunday’s loss that “I haven’t decided” if he’ll return to coach the Jayhawks for a 24th season. His legacy that features two NCAA titles is secure, and Self — 63 and battling ongoing health concerns — wants to consult with his family before deciding his basketball future.
It’s a critical juncture for all three programs and one where the decisions of the coming days and season will dictate their futures.
-Jason Owens
Winner: Texas
By most accounts, the Longhorns weren’t supposed to still be here.
Texas snuck into the NCAA tournament as an 11 seed and was relegated to the First Four as one of the last four at-large teams selected for the tournament field. Three wins in five days later, and Texas has crashed the Sweet 16 as the only double-digit seed remaining in the field.
A power program with plenty of backing, it’s a stretch to call Texas a Cinderella. But it’s certainly an unexpected arrival to the tournament’s second weekend.
No. 2 seed Purdue would be wise to not take the Longhorns lightly next weekend. Gonzaga, a 3 seed, found out the hard way that Texas is hitting its stride at the right time.
For 40 minutes, Washington looked as though it would author a Cinderella story.
Facing off against projected top-five WNBA Draft pick Olivia Miles, the Huskies led for 24 minutes and 14 seconds on Sunday against No. 3 seed TCU in Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, threatening as early as the second quarter with a 14-13 lead against the Horned Frogs. They led by as many as 10, when they went up 27-17 just before the half after a Yulia Grabovskaia layup.
They held that lead, despite foul trouble from Grabovskaia, leading scorer Sayvia Sellers, and freshman phenom Brynn McGaughy, until 3:57 remaining in regulation. Elle Ladine made a putback jumper, her only field goal of the game, to give Washington the lead back, but Taylor Bigby drew a foul on McGaughy and made both free throws to knot it back up.
McGaughy was fouled by Clara Silva on the next possession, but missed both free throws. Silva hit a layup to give TCU their first lead since the second quarter with 1:39 remaining. Sellers missed a three, then Marta Suarez missed a dagger for TCU before Silva blocked Sellers' layup attempt with 20 seconds to go. The ensuing inbounds play found McGaughy, who finished over three Horned Frogs on a layup that rolled all the way around the rim with 14 seconds to go.
Miles missed a step-back three to send the game to overtime, and it looked like Washington's Cinderella story may be etched in the history books.
But TCU ripped off a 7-0 run to begin overtime that was not stopped until Sellers converted an and-one to bring it back within 4. Avery Howell hit a three to cut the lead to one, but TCU answered with two more layups.
Sellers made a floater in the key to bring it within one possession, then Washington managed to force a miss from Miles. With fouls to give, TCU disrupted Sellers' offensive flow on the final possession, but an inbounds play with 6 seconds to go got to McGaughy and gave Sellers an open look off of a dribble hand-off.
Final
UW - 59, TCU - 62
— Washington Women’s Basketball (@UW_WBB) March 23, 2026
It wasn't meant to be for Washington on Sunday night.
Sellers' three fell to the right of the basket, and the ensuing rebound caromed away from any Washington players as the final buzzer sounded.
TCU 62, Washington 59.
Sellers and Miles led the game with 18 points apiece, a fitting duel between a guard who may very well end up in Seattle on the city's WNBA team next month and one who will power the Huskies as a senior leader next season. Miles had 10 rebounds and 8 assists as well, while Sellers had 6 rebounds and a team-high 5 assists.
Silva had 16 and 8 rebounds for TCU, with Taylor Bigby adding 15 points after her career night in the first round.
Howell had 14 - 11 in the first half, none on only one shot attempt in the second half, and that single three in overtime - after putting in 30 on TCU's floor in the first round against South Dakota State. McGaughy had 13 despite battling through 4 fouls, and Hannah Stines added 10 in her final game in a Huskies uniform.
Washington will return Sellers, Howell, and McGaughy next season, as well as sixth woman Devin Coppinger, who should be the early favorite to start in Stines' place as the 3-and-D guard. They'll need to find someone to replace Ladine, who averaged 17 points per game as a junior but struggled in her final college season, and Grabovskaia, who was a crucial defensive piece and set up many of Sellers' threes off handoff actions this season.
The Huskies have made progress in every season under head coach Tina Langley. They have four-star forward Nina Cain and Australian U19 point guard Sienna Harvey already on the team as reserves who could step into bigger roles. Four-star recruit Amayah "Sunshine" Garcia could factor into the equation as well. The future for Washington women's basketball is brighter than it's been since 2017, the last time this team won an NCAA Tournament game.
But on Sunday night, all Washington left Fort Worth with was a glass slipper that didn't quite fit.
Murphy (17-1-1) and Evloev (20-0) put their undefeated records on
the line in the main event at
UFC London on Saturday. The fight was a technical masterclass,
which had fans and pundits divided on how to score it. Evloev
eventually earned a majority decision win despite getting penalized
a point in the fourth round due to a low blow.
Murphy congratulated Evloev in his post-fight Octagon interview,
while also calling for the Russian to get the next featherweight
title shot. However, Murphy is seemingly having second thoughts
after rewatching the fight. Not one to talk much, the Englishman
posted a laughter emoji upon rewatching the fight.
A Jab at the Judges?
“Just watched the fight back,” Murphy wrote on X. “Congrats to
[Evloev] either way.”
Evloev’s win over Murphy received mixed reactions from fans and
pundits alike. However, when asked about the controversial
scorecards, Dana White said that he saw no controversy.
Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi cruised to victory at the Brazilian MotoGP on Sunday for his fourth consecutive win, and now leads the championship standings.
The 27-year-old Italian, starting second on the grid, quickly grabbed the lead and never looked back for his second win of the year after his triumph at the season-opening Thailand Grand Prix earlier this month.
Jorge Martin made it an Aprilia 1-2, and VR46’s Fabio Di Giannantonio held off defending MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez down the stretch to claim third.
Adjustments made
Bezzecchi said he and his team were forced to dig deep after struggling during Friday’s rain-hit practice.
“It was a tough weekend. It was super tough on Friday. We started in a bad way, and it was difficult to keep the motivation super high,” Bezzecchi said.
“But the guys did a wonderful job, and I pushed myself over the limit to try to compensate everything I could, and at the end, we found the way to make the bike in a fantastic way.
“I adjusted some details on my riding, and from this morning, I felt better, so I said, ‘OK, maybe I can try to fight.’ It was an amazing race. I’m super happy.”
With the win, Bezzecchi overtook KTM’s Pedro Acosta and now leads the championship standings by 11 points.
Bezzecchi dedicated the victory to his friend Roberto Lunadei, a 42-year-old mechanic who died in a road traffic accident last week.
Bezzecchi in action during the race [Adriano Machado/Reuters]
Track concerns
The race distance was cut from 31 laps to 23 amid track degradation concerns and scorching temperatures in Goiania, a change that was only announced just before the start of the race.
Saturday’s sprint race was delayed by more than an hour as officials carried out urgent track repairs after a large hole was discovered near the starting line.
The competition at the Ayrton Senna Circuit marked MotoGP’s return to Brazil for the first time since 2004.
MotoGP action now shifts from South America to North America, with the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, on March 27-29.
Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez (#93) finished fourth at the Brazilian MotoGP [Evaristo Sa/AFP]
MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) – After winning gold in Madison with Reedsville, Head coach Ron Prochnow became just the third high school basketball coach in Wisconsin to win a boys and girls state basketball championship (Reedsville boys, 2026 – Augusta girls, 1996).
I chatted with Ron shortly after he hoisted the gold ball at the Kohl Center. Click the video above to listen to my full conversation with Reedsville’s Head coach.
TRANSCRIPT:
FOWLER: Coach, state champions. When you hear that, what does that mean to you?
PROCHNOW: Very special. Very special for the regional community and everything about it that way. Special for these kids as well. They’ll always be champs, you know. Not everybody gets a chance to be here, much less play two games and win it. And to do it with my family, with my two sons—that’s very special.
All these guys are so tight. I’ve been with them since third grade, coaching them through all the youth stuff—Saturday mornings, Sunday mornings. On a personal note, to win a boys title is exciting for me. I was here 30 years ago coaching girls, and we won the ’96 girls title.
To be here 30 years after that—I was 27 then and I’m 57 now—I feel very fortunate to stay in the profession, stay healthy, and still be excited to keep doing it.
FOWLER: The mantra was “go 1-0, then go 2-0, then go 3-0.” Did you envision yourself playing on this stage when you were racking up regionals and sectionals?
PROCHNOW: A little bit, because we talked it backwards. When we started practice before regionals, we started with what would have been game seven. I told them, “That seventh game is nuts. There’s a light show, you’re going to get a ball.”
Then we worked backwards. Game six—you’re playing to get a ball. That was yesterday’s mantra. Game five—you’ve got to get to the sectional final. And we kept going all the way back to game one.
I told them, you’re not allowed to talk about anything other than game one, because you can’t get to game seven without winning game one. I thought the kids did a really good job staying grounded and not looking too far ahead.
And honestly, I think we were losing in all four of these last games. We were down today, down against Lutheran, down at half against Tigerton, and Elkhart Lake jumped on us early. So we just had to keep playing, find a way to come back, and get it done.
FOWLER: Going off that, you were down in every game. Talk about the adversity your team faced and how resilient they were to overcome it.
PROCHNOW: Yeah, absolutely. I think our regular season helped us. We played a really tough schedule—Darlington, Reedsville, Manitowoc Lutheran, Howards Grove—traditionally strong programs.
Those losses helped us. There’s no way we were going undefeated with that schedule. We faced adversity throughout the season, and it exposed some weaknesses—especially defending in the post.
Even this weekend, points in the paint were against us. But in transition, we were really good. I think we only gave up two transition points today and maybe none yesterday. We didn’t give up easy points, and we created a lot ourselves. That’s a big reason we ended up where we did.
FOWLER: After winning 27 games in the regular season, what was it like coaching in these two state games?
PROCHNOW: It’s strange because they’re totally different. For the semifinal, we had four or five days to prepare for Sheboygan Lutheran. I did a little work on the other teams, but most of the focus was on them.
Then we win that game, and within less than 24 hours, we have to prepare for a new opponent. We finished around mid-morning, and by noon we’re figuring out a whole new game plan for an 11 a.m. tip the next day.
So one game you have five days, the next you have less than one. Totally different situations. But I thought all the games in Division 5 were great. Everyone played hard, and we did enough to win two of them.
FOWLER: You mentioned your mantra: “play hard, have fun.” Where did that come from, and how has it helped your team?
PROCHNOW: It actually came from the kids. We’ve always had something posted above the locker room doors—one for practice, one for games. This year, they chose “play hard, have fun.”
They said they’ve been doing that since they were little, so why stop now? And they’ve stuck with it.
We’ve got four seniors, so they’re mature. They’ve been through the ups and downs, and they’ve done a great job leading the younger guys. We had a few sophomores who played a lot this year, and the seniors really brought them along.
I’m not going to worry about next year yet. I’m going to enjoy this one for a couple of months, and then we’ll turn the page in June.
FOWLER: You said it means a lot to coach your sons. How special is it to win a state championship with them?
PROCHNOW: It’s very special. I even brought my youngest along—he was our water boy. Just to have him be part of it.
Winning a state championship is always special. But when your sons are on the team and contributing like they did, it makes it even more meaningful.
I’m not just doing it for them—I do it for the school and all the kids. I hope I’ve helped everyone along the way. I’ve been coaching 34 years, and I had kids later in life, so instead of coaching my kids in my 30s, I’m doing it in my 50s. That’s just how it worked out.
FOWLER: If you had one word to describe this team, what would it be?
PROCHNOW: Special.
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FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 22: The Washington Huskies huddle before the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament game between the Washington Huskies and the TCU Horned Frogs at Schollmaier Arena on March 22, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Aric Becker/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images
UW lost to TCU in the second round of the NCAA Tournament tonight to TCU in OT, 62-59. Sayvia Sellers got the ball left with a few seconds left and got a good look at a 3 point shot and didn’t make it.
My notes are gibberish because I was so nervous during the game, but UW was up 9 points at half over #3 seed TCU. Avery Howell had 11 points going into halftime and UW held TCU to 6 points in the 2nd quarter. Olivia Miles, who averages 36 ppg, only had 4 points at the half. In other words, things were looking bright and shiny for UW going into half.
UW has tended to disappear in the second half of games and they played better this third quarter than in other close games this year. TCU was able to eek out a few more points per quarter than UW, causing the game to go into overtime.
TCU went on a 7-0 run to start overtime, making things look grim for UW. However, UW pulled themselves together and tied it up. TCU went up again by 5 and UW didn’t back down, getting back to within 3. After calling a timeout, UW ran a play to Sayvia Sellers and she got a clean look at a 3 pointer on the right side of the court. Missing it, UW’s post-season run came to an end.
Some thoughts:
I don’t know who to lodge my complaint to, but I think it’s tremendously unfair that in the Women’s Tournament the #1-#4 seeds host the games. This led to Iowa hosting a game in their un-airconditioned gym that was 83 degrees. This led to TCU hosting this game when they haven’t lost a home game in 43 games, the longest in D1 right now. If this game were hosted at a neutral site, the crowed with be cheering for the underdog, UW.
Not sure how Elle Ladine played this last game of her college career and only had 2 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals.
Not sure how Avery Howell only had 3 points in the second half after burning up the gym in the first half.
Sayvia Sellers got a quiet 18 points, but still had her usual 5 assist to 4 turnover ratio.
Brynn McGaughy had 13 points and only 3 rebounds.
I NEED Tina Langley to get over her “if you have 2 fouls in the first half, you sit” rule. It’s so old school and the refs called stupid fouls and she still made her players sit in the 2nd quarter, when she could have had them in and had a chance to run up the score (McGaughy and Sellers both had two legitimately bad calls against them and therefore they weren’t allowed to play). I think it’s different if your players are hacking people and out of control, but what happened tonight was not that.
I really loved this team and as I’ve mentioned a million times, Hannah Stines is my favorite (10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals) and I’m so sad she will graduate. She did all the little behind-the-scenes things to make the team run.
Stoked to have Brynn McGaughy around for the next three years and Avery Howell for the next two year. McGaughy is a very smart player and will only grow in her game because Langley has shown her ability to grow talent over her tenure. Howell has one of the quickest 3 point releases I’ve seen in awhile and she upped her leadership of the team during this post-season.
This was a big step for the program. I’m excited for next year.
The Seattle Mariners are locked in heading into the 2026 regular season, as they will be looking to get over the hump after coming up short in the ALCS last year. Cal Raleigh is coming off a huge 2025 campaign in which he finished second in the AL MVP voting to Aaron Judge, and there’s no reason to believe that he’ll be slowing down much after smacking 60 home runs and driving in 125 runs in a bonkers 9.1 fWAR season.
But of course, playing behind the dish is the most demanding defensive position in baseball, and it’s hard to fathom how Raleigh is able to crouch for most of the game and still be one of the most menacing power hitters in all of MLB. The Mariners have to give him a break here and there, and this is where backup catcher Mitch Garver, a former World Series champion and Silver Slugger winner, comes in.
It didn’t look as though the Mariners would bring Garver back. But Raleigh trusts him as a locker room voice, and the team brought him back in February on a minor-league deal that will pay him $2.25 million if he makes it to the majors at any point in the season, which it looks like he will.
Garver could not be any more thankful that Raleigh thought of him in this manner, and he expressed his gratitude towards the Mariners star.
“It means a lot that he would want me to come back and be there for him whenever he needs to take a breather. So, I’m happy to do it. Happy to just put on the gear and catch guys when they need me the most and couldn’t be happy to be where we’re at,” Garver said, per Daniel Kramer of MLB.com.
Garver has struggled mightily over the past two seasons. Spring Training hasn’t been very kind to him either. But Raleigh wanted him back for a reason, and the Mariners could very well find a use case for Garver’s leadership throughout the 2026 season.
Note: my usual format (citing examples for each attribute) does not display well on the site. Please click this link to access them.
Positives
A natural runner with the ability to set up blocks and the vision to make the most out of a high percentage of his runs.
Makes the decision to accelerate quickly and possesses excellent burst through the line of scrimmage.
High-level spatial awareness and loose hips allow him to freeze defenders in 1-on-1 situations in the open field.
Not a burner, but his game speed is faster than timed speed, which helps to explain how he averaged a touchdown every 9.2 offensive touches in 2025.
Despite catching no more than six passes in any season, he appears to be a natural receiver who uses good technique to catch the ball.
One of the best kickoff returners in college football with three TDs on only 22 career returns (career 36.1-yard return average - the highest career mark of any FBS player with 20-plus career kick returns since at least 2000).
Negatives
Although lighter backs have fared better recently than they used to, his 203-pound frame makes him somewhat risky from a durability perspective.
Occasionally flashes some power but lacks the lower body strength to run through direct contact or drag defenders very far.
Contact balance was good at times but inconsistent overall.
Was not utilized very often in the passing game in college (15 catches on 18 targets in three seasons).
All three of his fumbles (two lost) in 2025 came near the goal line; four career fumbles means he averaged one every 74 career touches.
Logged a meager 87 pass-block reps in this career - including just 39 in 2025 - and his PFF pass-block grade declined each year.
Bottom Line
How much should evaluators value "natural running ability" and proven well-roundedness? There may not be another running back who is a more natural runner than Price in this draft class. His ability to work in space and set up blocks is exactly the type of thing that coaches dream about at the position. What he lacks in elite speed, he makes up for with great initial burst. Price also serves as a great reminder that players do not necessarily need to be track stars in order to be big-play threats; he returned a kickoff for a touchdown once every 7.3 attempts over his career and scored a touchdown every 9.2 offensive touches in 2025. That kind of efficiency happens for a reason: he understands what he has to do to maximize his opportunities.
Regardless of whether he had the relative misfortune of being overshadowed by teammate Jeremiyah Love, it is hard to make a case for any player to be a featured back in the NFL when he never proved he could be one in college. Despite being highly productive with his 295 career touches, an average of less than 100 touches over three years and no more than 15 touches in any game makes him a risky bet. Even if evaluators focus on the fact that he appears to have good hands, they cannot overlook his ball security issues or lack of pass-blocking reps. Price is a good inside runner - thanks in large part to his vision - but he is not particularly powerful. That means he could begin his NFL career as his team's most natural runner who is limited to special teams because he isn't the best option at the goal line, on third down or to close out games (because of his fumbling issues). Price should eventually carve out a complementary role in a backfield because his strengths as a runner typically carry over from the college game to the pros. At this point, however, there are too many question marks in his game to consider him anything more than a complementary back.
From the opening tip to the final buzzer inside Benchmark International Arena, the Crimson Tide looked like a team on a mission, rolling to a dominant 90-65 win and punching their ticket to the Sweet 16.
And let’s be clear: this team was hot.
Alabama came out with energy, confidence, and an edge, building a commanding 49-25 lead by halftime.
It wasn’t just a run… it was a statement.
Every possession felt intentional.
Every shot felt like it was going in.
Texas Tech simply had no answer.
With Aden Holloway unavailable, questions swirled about where the scoring would come from, but if anything, that absence brought out the best in this team.
The veteran guard poured in a team-high 24 points, knocking down six shots from beyond the arc and setting the tone for Alabama’s offensive explosion. But he wasn’t alone. This was a full-team effort.. the kind that defines championship-level groups.
Houston Mallette was on fire as well, providing a huge spark with his shooting and energy. When Alabama gets multiple guys going like that, they become one of the most dangerous teams in the country, and Texas Tech found that out the hard way.
As a team, Alabama shot an incredible 19-for-42 from three-point range.
Let that sink in.
That’s not just good, that’s overwhelming.
That’s back-breaking.
That’s the kind of performance that ends seasons.
But beyond the numbers, what stood out most was the mindset.
This team played loose, confident, and connected.
They defended with intensity, moved the ball unselfishly, and fed off each other’s energy all night long.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Alex Freeland against the Seattle Mariners during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale.
ANAHEIM, Calif. – The surprise wasn’t that the Dodgers had a difficult roster decision at the end of camp — it was how they chose to resolve it.
Manager Dave Roberts didn’t shy away from the weight of the call Sunday morning, labeling it “the toughest decision this spring.” And in a clubhouse filled with established stars and versatile depth pieces, it was rookie Alex Freeland who emerged on the right side of that decision.
The Dodgers optioned Hyeseong Kim to Triple-A Oklahoma City, clearing a path for Freeland to break camp with the big league club — a move that, on paper, might raise eyebrows but inside the organization followed a clear line of reasoning.
Roberts framed the decision less as a verdict on talent and more as a matter of timing and opportunity.
“The driver is him playing six days a week,” Roberts said of Kim. “Logging a considerable number of at-bats which he wouldn’t get here.”
Kim’s spring was complicated by his participation with Team Korea in the World Baseball Classic, where, according to Roberts, mechanical inconsistencies crept into his swing. The Dodgers believe daily, multi-position reps — second base, shortstop, center field — in Oklahoma City will better serve his long-term development than sporadic usage in Los Angeles.
That left the door open for Freeland.
And while his .116 spring average hardly jumps off the page, the Dodgers insist the evaluation went deeper than results. Roberts pointed to Freeland’s at-bat quality and defensive consistency — areas where the club believes he’s further along right now than Kim. Kim posted a .967 OPS over nine games but went 1-for-12 in the WBC.
"I’m not blind to the fact that Alex didn’t have a surface line of production in spring, and Hyeseong did,” Roberts said. “But that’s some of the stuff that we evaluate.”
Roberts continued.
“I think the at-bat quality has been fine, he just hasn’t finished off the at-bats,” Roberts said. “Alex played a lot, didn’t have a great spring, but played great defensively.”
It’s a quintessential Dodgers decision — trusting the underlying process over surface numbers. Freeland, for his part, didn’t try to overanalyze it. His reaction was far more human.
“When Doc told me, I got the chills,” he said.
The 24-year-old described an offseason of growth, one that clearly resonated with the organization even if the Cactus League stat line didn’t reflect it. His reward: a spot on the Opening Day roster and a defined role. Freeland is expected to start against right-handed pitching, forming a platoon at second base alongside veteran Miguel Rojas.
“Start versus right-handed pitchers and play second base,” Freeland said of the message he received.
That clarity matters. For a young player breaking into a contending roster, knowing where you fit can be just as important as earning the opportunity itself.
Freeland’s first taste of that opportunity came quickly. Slotted ninth in the lineup Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels, he found himself in the middle of a 10-run third inning, drawing a walk in his second plate appearance of the inning and adding another free pass later in the game.
No hits — but again, the Dodgers aren’t fixated on that. They’re watching the at-bats. The defense. The poise.
In many ways, this decision says as much about the Dodgers’ confidence in their development system as it does about Freeland himself. Kim will get his chance — likely sooner rather than later — but for now, the organization is betting that everyday reps in Triple-A will accelerate his readiness.
Freeland, meanwhile, gets to live the dream.
“It means everything,” he said. “I’ve dreamed of this since I was a kid.”
For the Dodgers, the hope is that dream quickly turns into production — and that their toughest decision of the spring becomes one of their smartest bets of the season.
Alabama basketball downed Texas Tech in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, pulling the game away with a firestorm from behind the arc.
The Crimson Tide made 19 3-pointers to run away with the 90-70 win over Texas Tech on Sunday, March 22, and afterwards college basketball and the Crimson Tide faithful took to social media to react and celebrate. Alabama was led by Latrell Wrightsell Jr. with 24 points and Houston Mallett scored 15 points, all from behind the arc. Labaron Philon had 9 points, 12 assists and 6 rebounds.
Alabama will play Michigan in the Sweet 16 round on Friday, March 27. The game will tip off 6:35 p.m. CT on TBS.
Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports, Jax State athletics, the outdoors in Alabama and more for the Gadsden Times and USA TODAY Network. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@usatodayco.com.
Mar 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UConn Huskies forward Alex Karaban (11) reacts against the UCLA Bruins in the second half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
UConn men’s basketball took down UCLA in their Round of 32 matchup in Philly, 73-57, after a masterclass from Alex Karaban, who posted a career-high 27 points. The 2-seeded Huskies will play Michigan State in the Sweet 16 on Friday night in Washington DC.
Karaban was on from the start, finishing 9-for-16 from the field. Braylon Mullins got out of his shooting slump with 17 points. Tarris Reed Jr. followed up his monster first-round performance with 10 points and 13 rebounds. For the Bruins, Xavier Booker led the way with 13 points, and Dailey finished with 12 points. The stifling Huskies’ defense held Trent Perry to just 5 points on 2-for-8 shooting.
You couldn’t ask for a better game for a Karaban takeover. The captain had the best game of his career. He was more assertive than we’ve seen in the past, nailing triples left and making sure the Huskies responded to any UCLA run.
Jayden Ross also played a crucial role in the victory effort. He was everywhere on the floor, finishing with 11 points and a +/- of +15. His two three-pointers gave the Huskies momentum Sunday night in the first half.
Solo Ball went scoreless on 0-for-5 shooting and was a -10 overall. A majority of his shots were open looks; he just couldn’t get them to fall.
After missing the Furman game, Silas Demary Jr. came off the bench and played 22 minutes, finishing with 2 points and 4 assists. Malachi Smith got his second consecutive start, dishing out six assists and holding it down defensively as the Huskies did a good job against the Bruins’ talented perimeter players. Demary made his return at the 14-minute mark in the first half. Jaylin Stewart was also active Sunday after not playing since Feb. 21.
NEW: @RobDauster talks with @UConnMBB's Alex Karaban after his career night against the Bruins 👀
UConn started out slow, picking up two early turnovers to allow UCLA to hold an early lead. Karaban got UConn on the board with a dunk on a nice pass from Ball. Booker responded on the other end with an alley-oop jam from Dent. Reed attracted attention from Bruin defenders after his monster performance Friday night. The junior was getting double-teamed early on and sent a cross-court pass to Karaban, who nailed the first Husky triple of the night.
Solo Ball picked up two fouls before the midway point of the half. Jayden Ross once again filled his role, giving key defensive stops and creating extra possessions for the Huskies.
UCLA pushed ahead for an 18-12 lead before Karaban hit another triple to put him up to 11 points. He was the only one to make a field goal until the 7:39 mark as UConn started 2-of-10 from downtown. Mullins continued to struggle from deep, going 0-for-3 in the first dozen minutes, before he picked it up.
Ross hit a three-pointer to even the game at 20 and stayed hot, hitting another three to give UConn its first lead of the night. On the next UConn possession, he was fouled on a three and hit all three free throws, quickly reaching nine points. Booker was key to the Bruins’ first-half success, as he got out to a 12-point, 4-for-4 start.
Mullins got on the board on a smooth midrange jumper with 4 minutes to go. Dan Hurley was ecstatic seeing his freshman guard break the ice in what has been a pitiful last few games. Eric Reibe got crucial minutes early on as well, as Reed picked up 2 fouls. He was in the right spots on both sides of the court, a key reason why UCLA did not make a field goal for a 5-minute stretch.
On the offensive end, he had a sweet jam and a contested layup to get to 4 points. Mullins nailed his first triple of the tournament at the 2:40 mark after starting out 0-for-11 in the tournament. Hurley once again was hyped up after the play. Just a few minutes later, he buried another from a few feet behind the line to force a UCLA timeout.
The Huskies went into halftime with a 38-33 lead. Karaban, Ross, and Mullins helped them build the lead. The Bruin’s playmaking guard Donovan Dent was held in check at just 2-for-7 from the field. The nine UConn turnovers in that first half kept UCLA in the game.
UCLA started off the second half on a 6-0 run led by Trent Perry and Dailey to regain the lead. Karaban had to change his approach. He drove to the rim through traffic, which got him to the line and he made a pair of free throws. The senior captain stayed aggressive, willing the Huskies to victory as he scored their first eight points of the second half.
The Huskies opened it up with a jumper by Mullins to make up for the turnover and Karaban’s third three-pointer to take a 51-44 lead. The packed Xfinity Mobile Arena was electric, as the U-C-O-N-N chant from the fans as UCLA called a timeout. The defense ignited the run, as the Bruins were held to just 11 points in the first 10 minutes of the half. Reed hit his first field goal on a hook shot to go up 53-44.
Karaban extended the run to 14-0 as he hit his 4th triple from downtown, getting himself to a season high, 25 points. UCLA stopped the bleeding with a quick 5-0 run capped off by a Dailey triple, forcing Hurley to call a timeout after the Bruins went over six minutes without a field goal.
The 9-minute mark was pitiful for Ball; he missed an open three on the next possession and missed two threes with nobody near him. The second miss put the Bruins in transition as Dailey drove on Ball, who fouled the junior for an and-one, extending the UCLA run to 8-0, to make it a 58-54 ballgame. Hurley subbed Ball out for Smith, who traveled on his first possession on the court to really give the momentum to UCLA at the under-8-minute timeout.
Mullins was fouled on a triple and knocked down all three free throws to go back up 61-54. A UConn stop led to a transition flush from Ross, allowing them to go back up 9.
Karaban, on the other end, swatted Perry going up for a layup. Mick Cronin disagreed with the officiating and received a technical. Karaban hit both free throws to give him a new career high of 27 points as he encouraged Husky fans to get loud in the final minutes. Mullins got an easy layup after the technical, going up 13, good enough to make it a 9-0 run with 4 minutes to play. Reed got in on the action as Ross hit him while cutting, and he slammed it home, giving the big man his 12th double-double of the season.
UConn gets an unfortunate tip time; 9:45 Friday night, and the winner will face Duke or St. John’s in the Elite Eight.
The Los Angeles Dodgers completed Cactus League play on Saturday, and before they could begin their treacherous journey to a three-peat, they had to go through one more series against their crosstown rival, the Los Angeles Angels. In the end, the Dodgers prevailed 13-5.
Tyler Glasnow was the slated starter for the Dodgers and completed his final spring tune-up in dominant fashion.
In five scoreless innings, he struck out 11 Angels, only allowing one earned run, walked one, all on 81 pitches.
All 11 of Glasnow's strikeouts came via his curveball.
The Angels broke open scoring on both sides in the second inning.
Outfielder Jorge Soler caught Glasnow's only mistake of the evening, launching a 2-2 fastball down the middle for a solo home run.
Teoscar Hernández returned the favor in the third inning with a solo home run of his own off Angels starter George Klassen.
That would be just the beginning of what was to come, that's for sure.
Following the home run, Andy Pages, Shohei Ohtani, and Kyle Tucker managed to earn free passes and walk the bases loaded for Mookie Betts.
Betts was rewarded for his plate discipline, and the Dodgers took the lead, 2-1.
The Angels switched from Klassen and turned to Sammy Natera Jr. to escape the inning.
Freddie Freeman earned the same reward as Betts did by walking on a 3-2 count and extending the Los Angeles lead further.
The Angels inched closer to closing out the inning by striking out Will Smith, but Max Muncy received a free pass and log in the Dodgers' fourth run of the inning.
Hernández found himself back up again in the inning and earned two more RBIs by way of a two-run single to left field.
Pages extended the lead further by way of an RBI single and a great at-bat by Alex Freeland, loading the bases up again for Ohtani.
Ohtani delivered and cleared the bases with a double to center field.
The ball smoked off of Ohtani's bat, with an exit velocity of 117.1 mph, and that capped off a 10-spot for the Dodgers.
The Dodgers' offense was silenced until the sixth inning as Smith lined an RBI single to left field to put up run No. 11.
The Angels put a jolt on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the sixth inning.
After Mike Trout led off the inning with a single, Soler launched his second home run of the game and Oswald Peraza hit into a forceout at second to secure a four spot for the Angels.
James Tibbs III, who pinch-hit for Ohtani, hit his fourth home run of the Spring to center field to give the Dodgers a 12-5 lead.
The Dodgers capped off their offensive outburst of the night in the eighth. After a leadoff double from Santiago Espinal, Emil Morales drove him in with an RBI single.
It was a dominant win all around for the Dodgers, and they'll look to secure the series win on Monday at Dodger Stadium.
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TAMPA − Alabama basketball roared through Texas Tech with ease on Sunday, March 22, winning 90-65 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide was hot from 3-point range and played some of its best defense of the season against the Red Raiders.
Alabama will face No. 1-seeded Michigan in Chicago with a chance to reach the Elite Eight.
Here are some instant thoughts from the UA victory:
Alabama basketball talking points
1 ) Defense, anyone? For the second consecutive tournament game, Alabama's defense played with hustle and a physical edge that served it well. Texas Tech had just 12 points with 7:55 left in the first half, struggled to get second shots, and lost out on too many loose balls. From the 3-point line, Texas Tech shot just 34.4%. It's been a different-looking UA team defensively in Tampa, and coach Nate Oats will be hoping the same defense travels to Chicago.
2 ) The threes were coming from everywhere in the UA lineup. With its most accurate 3-point shooter, Aden Holloway, suspended after a felony arrest, the Crimson Tide got deep makes from seven different players in the first half. Nobody was hotter than Latrell Wrightsell, Jr., and Houston Mallette, who combined for 11 treys. It was an effectiveness-by-committee that was much needed in the wake of Holloway's suspension from school.
3 ) The rebounding problems that haunted Alabama for much of the season didn't manifest against the Red Raiders. Call it the March Madness Miracle. UA grabbed 47 rebounds to Texas Tech's 35. Midway through the first half, Alabama led 20-9. Texas Tech, not known for its rebounding prowess, couldn't take advantage of Alabama's biggest weakness.
Turning point
Give it to Noah Williamson, whose 3-pointer from the corner made the score 40-21 with under four minutes left in the first half. Sure, there was a lot of ball left to be played at that point, but there wasn't a more clear sign that the Red Raiders were in big trouble.
By the numbers
12 - Labaron Philon handed out a dozen assists on a night when his shot was off for Alabama.
What I liked
For weeks, Oats has been saying Taylor Bol Bowen is back on top of his game after recovering from a leg injury, but that hasn't often shown up on the floor. It did Sunday. The transfer from Florida State only scored five points, but impacted the game in other ways with high energy. Bol Bowen had five rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
What I didn't like
What's not to like? The Crimson Tide was too good against a quality opponent to pick nits. There wasn't even a second-half lull, which one might expect with a 24-point halftime lead. UA dominated throughout, and against a No. 5 seed, it was too impressive to find fault.
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.
In a back-and-forth affair, the Los Angeles Kings (28-25-17) ultimately faltered 4-3 in overtime at the hands of the Utah Mammoth (37-28-6) on Sunday evening at the Delta Center. The loss marks their third straight amidst a competitive push to secure a wild card spot in the Western Conference.
L.A. suffered its first defeat in franchise history to Utah after starting 4-0-0 against the club. Darcy Kuemper found himself defending the net in each of those games, posting a .915 save percentage and a 2.25 goals-against average.
On Sunday, however, he allowed four goals on 34 shots as the Mammoth picked up a third victory across their last four games. Lawson Crouse scored twice in the opening period for Utah, while Nick Schmaltz scored in the second period and later delivered the game-winner in overtime.
The Kings responded to each Mammoth score in regulation with one of their own, as Alex Laferriere and Quinton Byfield helped keep the game even in the opening frame. Laferriere tallied his 18th goal of the season after Byfield found him on the right side to convert a two-on-one opportunity.
Byfield scored unassisted just over two minutes later to re-even the game at two, collecting the rebound on an initial shot from Brandt Clarke and putting it home past Utah goaltender Karel Vejmelka.
Artemi Panarin had the third and final goal for the Kings on the evening with less than three and a half minutes remaining in the contest. He somehow snuck the puck through the defense of Vejmelka on a difficult shot from the right corner of the ice to send the game into overtime.
It was the 25th score of the season for Panarin, who extended his point streak to six games. He has also scored in three consecutive games, and his six career goals against Utah are the most by any player in NHL history.
Looking to snap a three-game losing streak, the Kings will return to action on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames, playing their second of a three-game road trip. Calgary sits in second-last in the Pacific Division (29-34-7), but has split the season series 1-1-0 with L.A. so far.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – No. 19/20 Ole Miss women’s basketball fell short in its Round of 32 matchup against No. 18/19 Minnesota, 65-63, Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.
The Rebels (24-12, 8-8 SEC) fell in dramatic fashion as the Golden Gophers (24-8, 13-5 Big Ten) made a last-second fadeaway jumper from the elbow as time expired.
Cotie McMahon’s historic season at Ole Miss ended with her reaching 703 points on the year. Against the Gophers, she scored 15 points and surpassed Ole Miss legend Peggie Gillom for the fourth-most points by a Rebel in a single season. She’s the first Rebel to break the top four in that category since 1985-86, when Jennifer Gillom set the program record with 742 points that season.
Sira Thienou was Ole Miss’ leading scorer with 18 points. She added five rebounds and two assists.
Minnesota’s Mara Braun and Amaya Battle led the Gophers with 17 and 14 points, respectively, and it was Battle who scored the game-winning bucket.
Ole Miss and Minnesota matched each other’s intensity early with defense headlining the first five minutes of the game. The game slowed with both teams recording three fouls before the media timeout. In that span, Ole Miss reached a 7-6 lead behind Christeen Iwuala and Thienou free throws. Thienou extended the lead with a corner three off a dish from Denim DeShields. However, Minnesota caught up and secured its first lead of the game with back-to-back buckets in under 30 seconds to end the quarter with the lead.
After early foul trouble, McMahon returned to the court in the second and kicked off the scoring with a 3-pointer. With her basket, she reached 693 points for the season, pushing her past Gillom. The Rebels used that momentum to come back within two points of the lead, but Minnesota’s Braun made consecutive 3-pointers to put the Gophers back up by five. Ole Miss closed the half on a five-point scoring run, but still trailed Minnesota, 32-29, with half the game remaining.
Debreasha Powe tied the game early in the second half by draining a deep 3-pointer to open the scoring. The Rebels retook the lead three minutes into the quarter after consecutive layups from Iwuala and Powe, the latter of which came off a fastbreak turnover from Minnesota. DeShields later hit a corner three, Ole Miss’ fifth of the game, to put the Rebels ahead by two possessions. After another exchange of triples, McMahon and Thienou made two layups for an additional cushion to put the Rebels ahead 54-46 with 10 minutes remaining.
Ole Miss played stout defense in the early moments of the fourth, forcing Minnesota to miss its first five shots before the media timeout. The teams both added two points in that time, the Gophers from the free throw line and the Rebels with a Thienou layup. McMahon would foul out with over four minutes to play, in which time Minnesota would mount a comeback. Braun tied the game with a 3-pointer with just over one minute remaining. The Gophers and Rebels exchanged layups, but Battle’s jumper from the elbow would be the game winner.
Ole Miss’ historic season concludes with a 24-12 overall record, its fifth straight appearance at the NCAA Tournament, its 15th-ever appearance in the tournament’s second round (third in four years), the fifth-most points by an Ole Miss team in a single season ever, and the sixth-most team 3-pointers made in a single season
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Nov. 13, 2009; Avondale, AZ, USA; NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Mike Skinner during qualifying prior to the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway. | Credits- Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Everyone loves a heated rivalry between drivers, as it adds some extra zest to their on-track battles. But sometimes, when the tensions reach boiling points, some lines can be crossed. Mike Skinner, taking Ross Chastain’s recent skirmish with Daniel Suarez as example, shed light on just that from experience.
Chastain and Suarez made contact in Las Vegas last Sunday, following which Suarez ran into his former teammate in the cooldown lap. After they left their cars, hands were thrown and they had to be separated by officials, before things turned too physical and got out of hand.
Fines were handed out, which is something that got heavily discussed by the community thereafter, with some, like Bubba Wallace, calling for a ‘right to defend one’s honor‘. Skinner, while talking to Frontstretch, admitted with a laugh that he himself paid a bunch of fines for fighting back in the day.
“I remember going to Homestead one year,” the 68-year-old narrated. “They called me into the trailer and said, ‘Hey! We need to get $10,000 from you.’ I am like, ‘Okay. For what?’ They said, ‘You know what. You got the fight there at Phoenix last race.’ And I said, ‘He shouldn’t have done what he did. And I probably shouldn’t have done what I did.”
Skinner had still proposed paying the fine the following week, but they wouldn’t even let him get to practice without paying it upfront. So, Skinner has some good experience in dealing with fights and penalties for fights. With all that wisdom comes his opinion that the line between allowing drivers to fight and fining them for it is a very thin one.
He continued, “It’s exciting. You don’t want the sport to get vanilla. NASCAR has to deep down inside, like it when this happens. But they can’t endorse it. They can’t say it’s okay. Because it’s not. It’s really, really good to see passion back in the sport. When somebody wrecks someone, they’re showing passion. That’s what we have got to keep in this sport.”
Skinnerbelieves that the emotion that a driver expresses is just a reflection of the passion he holds in his heart. In times like today, when not a lot of drivers are as hardcore or rough as the ones in the old days, such displays are a welcome sight. He used the example of someone calling Kyle Busch a ‘sore loser.’
He said, “Show me someone who is okay with losing, I am going to show you somebody who doesn’t win very much.” Skinner is a Truck Series legend who secured 28 wins and one championship (1995) across his career. He is currently employed with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio as a co-host and also mentors young drivers in the Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series.
The final spot in the Sweet 16 was decided by way of Alabama annihilation.
In the aftermath of No. 9 Iowa’s exhilarating upset of the defending champion Florida Gators, Nate Oats’ Crimson Tide (25-9) cruised to a 90-65victory over Texas Tech on Sunday night, providing plenty incentive for the majority of fans at Benchmark International Arena to head for the exits well before the final buzzer.
For the Alabama fans that stayed, the second half was more celebration than competition. The No. 4 Crimson Tide took a 24-point lead into the half and never came close to surrendering it.
Both teams reached the Round of 32 under fairly comparable circumstances. They were tested by mid-major challengers in the Round of 64 before dispatching them comfortably, and entered the game without crucial starters.
No. 5 Texas Tech (23-11) lost first-team All-American JT Toppin in mid-February to an ACL injury, and Alabama’s second-leading scorer, Aden Holloway, was suspended ahead of the NCAA Tournament.
Their respective opening wins Friday were first steps toward quelling concerns about their postseason ceilings with key contributors, but Alabama was resoundingly the better team Sunday night.
Even without Holloway, the Crimson Tide flexed the strength of their program under Oats, who has led Alabama to four consecutive Sweet 16 appearances (five total) and has 13 NCAA wins with the Tide, the most in the SEC during that span.
Graduate guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. sparked Alabama offensively, finishing with 24 points, most of which came from his six 3-pointers.
Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama’s leading scorer, had only nine points on 2-of-12 shooting.
After an offensive explosion against Akron, the Red Raiders struggled to score all game. They shot 34% from the field and 16% from three. Only threeplayers reached double figures, and most did so inefficiently. LeJuan Watts, a key part of Texas Tech’s win on Friday, scored 16points, but did so on 5-14 shooting. First-year guard Jaylen Petty, who had 24 points against Akron, finished his first NCAA campaign with a 3-12 shooting night.
Alabama’s wire-to-wire victory sets up a matchup with No. 1 Michigan (33-3) on Friday in Chicago.
If there’s any guarantee with what anyone is going to get from Bones Hyland, it’s that he is always going to carry himself with so much confidence and swagger. Hyland, of course, has been humbled in recent years, having to settle for a minimum deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves in last year’s free agency after a brief cameo with the team. But he’s hitting his stride yet again, and just at the right moment considering that Anthony Edwards is on the mend due to a right knee injury.
On Sunday night, in a heated contest against the Boston Celtics, Hyland provided the spark the Timberwolves needed in a 102-92 win. He played 29 minutes off the bench and had the greenest of green lights, hoisting up 14 shots attempts en route to scoring a team-high 23 points on the night. It’s not like this was poor shot-chucking; he was a plus-26 on the night, as Minnesota was playing with so much energy whenever he was on the court.
After the game, Hyland met with the NBC NBA Showtime crew hosted by Maria Taylor along NBA all-time greats Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady and they laughed about the Timberwolves guard’s response to being handed the reins.
“They definitely showed me the green light,” Hyland said, eliciting a laugh from Carter.
“So what was your response? ‘Say less,'” Carter said with a huge chuckle, to which Hyland agreed.
“Don’t worry about it, yo. You told me to be aggressive, that’s all I need to hear right there,” Hyland added.
"What was your response… say less?" 😂
Bones Hyland talks with the NBA Showtime crew about the Wolves coaches giving him the green light. pic.twitter.com/I2ydZQnG9K
The Timberwolves definitely have needed a spark with Edwards out, Donte DiVincenzo struggling, and Julius Randle throwing up a brickfest on Sunday (3-14 from the field). And Hyland has answered the call. He seems to be maturing and playing more within the system, and he’s thriving. Talent has never been the issue with Hyland anyway, and he is making that crystal clear.
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Delaney Thomas had 17 points and Toby Fournier scored 13 of her 15 points in the first half, helping No. 3 Duke beat No. 6 Baylor 69-46 on Sunday in the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.
Arianna Roberson had 10 points and 10 rebounds off the bench and Ashlon Jackson added 12 points for Duke (26-8), which never trailed.
The Blue Devils advanced to the Sweet 16 for the third straight season and 20th time overall. They will play No. 2 LSU, a 101-47 winner over No. 7 Texas Tech, in the Sacramento 2 Regional.
Baylor (25-9) was held to its worst offensive output of the season. The Bears managed just eight points in each of the first two quarters and finished 0-of-14 from beyond the arc, failing to make a 3-pointer for the first time this year. They shot 30.2% overall.
Taliah Scott, who scored 24 points in a season-opening 58-52 win over Duke in Paris, led Baylor with 13 points on 3-of-17 shooting.
FORT WORTH 1 REGIONAL
NO. 4 NORTH CAROLINA 74, NO. 5 MARYLAND 66
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Elina Aarnisalo had 21 points, Lanie Grant scored 20 and North Carolina used a strong fourth quarter to beat Maryland and reach the women’s Sweet 16 for the second year in a row.
Nyla Harris had 14 points and eight rebounds and Indya Nivar added 11 points to help the fourth-seeded Tar Heels (28-7) advance in the Fort Worth 1 Regional.
Oluchi Okananwa, who helped eliminate North Carolina last March in the Sweet 16 when she played for Duke, scored 21 points for No. 5 seed Maryland (24-9). Addi Mack had 13 points and Mir McLean had 12 points and 14 rebounds. The Terrapins couldn’t overcome 3-for-23 shooting on 3-pointers.
After briefly falling behind, the Tar Heels used a 13-4 run, sparked by six points from Nivar, early in the fourth quarter for a 63-56 lead.
Maryland pulled within three in the final two minutes, but Nyla Brooks drained a 3-pointer from in front of the North Carolina bench. The Terrapins failed to convert as part of 30.6% shooting in the second half.
FORT WORTH 3 REGIONAL
NO. 2 MICHIGAN 92, NO. 7 NC STATE 63
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Olivia Olson had all 27 of her points in the second half and Syla Swords bounced back from a slow start to score 26 and help Michigan rout short-handed N.C. State and earn a spot in the women’s Sweet 16.
The Wolverines (27-6) will play the winner of third-seeded Louisville vs. sixth-seeded Alabama in the NCAA Tournament Fort Worth Regional semifinals.
The seventh-seeded Wolfpack (21-11) were without All-ACC guard Zoe Brooks, who had a protective boot on her right foot after being injured in Friday night’s win against 10th-seeded Tennessee.
That hurt against Michigan’s swarming and trapping defense that forced 22 turnovers, including 10 in the third quarter that helped the Wolverines take a 16-point lead into the fourth after a closely contested first half.
Zamareya Jones, who had a career-high 30 points against the Lady Vols, scored 16 and Khamil Pierre had 15 points and nine rebounds.
No. 1 TEXAS 100, No. 8 OREGON 58
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Madison Booker scored a career-high 40 points in a dazzling display of shot making and No. 1 Texas rolled past No. 8 Oregon in the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament, sending the Longhorns back to the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive year.
The Longhorns’ three-time All-American was dominant from the opening tip as she created shots from all over the floor. She scored 19 in the first half, and her 3-point play early in the third quarter, when she muscled through and over three defenders for a layup, sparked a 19-4 run that turned the game into a rout.
Booker’s previous high was 31, set just a few weeks ago against Mississippi in the Southeastern Conference tournament.
Texas (33-3) ran its home win streak to 44. A No. 1 seed for the third year in a row, the Longhorns now head to Fort Worth in a bid to return to the Final Four for the second consecutive season. They will play the winner of Monday’s matchup between No. 4 West Virginia (28-6) and No. 5 Kentucky (24-10).
Katie Fiso scored 16 points to lead Oregon (23-13), which last made the Sweet 16 in 2021.
SACRAMENTO 2 REGIONAL
NO. 4 MINNESOTA 64, NO. 5 MISSISSIPPI 63
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Amaya Battle hit a tiebreaking jump shot with 0.7 seconds left, lifting Minnesota past Mississippi to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in 21 years.
Battle, who finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, took the inbound pass near the paint and dribbled out along the baseline for more space before swishing the winner and landing on her back.
The No. 4 seed Gophers (24-8) swarmed their senior point guard in a frenzied celebration, before regrouping for the final possession. Tianna Thompson’s 3-point try for the No. 5 seed Rebels (24-12) from the top of the key on the other end hit the front of the rim and fell short.
Mara Braun scored 17 points for the Gophers, including the tying 3-pointer with 1:17 remaining before helping force a shot-clock violation by the Rebels on the ensuing possession. Sophie Hart, who added 10 points, gave the Gophers their first lead since early in the third quarter with a determined drop-step to the basket for a short bank shot with 18 seconds left.
Latasha Lattimore answered Hart with the tying layup with 3 seconds remaining, before Battle sent the Gophers to Sacramento, California, to face the winner of the game on Monday between No. 1 seed UCLA and No. 8 seed Oklahoma State.
NO. 2 LSU 101, NO. 7 TEXAS TECH 47
BATON ROUGE, La (AP) — Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams each scored 24 points and LSU set an NCAA record for 100-point games in a season with a victory over Texas Tech.
Amiya Joyner added 11 points and 11 rebounds for LSU, which shot 56% against a Lady Raiders squad that hangs its hat on its pressing defense and had allowed just 52 points to Villanova in the first round.
Jada Richard’s 3 in the final minute pushed LSU (29-5) across the 100-point mark for the 16th time this season, a Division I record, eclipsing the mark Long Beach State had owned since the 1986-87 season.
The Tigers, who came in averaging a nation’s best 95.1 points per game, advanced to a fourth straight Sweet 16 under coach Kim Mulkey in style.
SACRAMENTO 4 REGIONAL
No. 4 OKLAHOMA 77, No. 5 MICHIGAN ST. 71
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Raegan Beers had 18 points and 14 rebounds to help No. 4 seed Oklahoma beat fifth-seeded Michigan State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Aaliyah Chavez added 18 points and six assists for the Sooners (27-7), who advanced to play in the Sweet 16 of March Madness for the second straight year. They’ll play the winner of Monday’s matchup between No. 1 seed South Carolina and No. 9 seed Southern California. Oklahoma defeated South Carolina in overtime during the regular season.
Rashunda Jones scored 20 points, Kennedy Blair had 14 points and nine rebounds and Grace VanSlooten added 13 points and seven rebounds for Michigan State (23-9). The Spartans were trying to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2009.
Michigan State led 42-37 at halftime behind 47.1% shooting. The Spartans held Oklahoma to 38.9% shooting and forced the Sooners into 14 turnovers.
No. 3 TCU 62, No. 6 WASHINGTON 59, OT
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Olivia Miles had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds while adding some big assists late as third-seeded TCU finally overcame Washington for an overtime victory to send the Horned Frogs to the women’s NCAA Sweet 16 for the second year in a row.
Clara Silva had 16 points, with the go-ahead layup to start overtime after game-tying and tiebreaking baskets late in regulation on passes from Miles. Taylor Bigby scored 15 for TCU (31-5).
The Horned Frogs had never been to the Sweet 16 before last season, when they got to the Elite Eight. They are now headed to Sacramento, where the Big 12 regular-season champions will play Saturday night against second-seeded Iowa or 10th-seeded Virginia, who play their second-round game Monday night in Iowa City.
TCU won its 44th consecutive home game since February 2024, matching top seed Texas for the NCAA’s longest active streak.
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Latrell Wrightsell, Jr. scored 24 points and fourth-seeded Alabama earned a fourth straight trip to the Sweet 16 with a 90-65 second-round rout of No. 5 seed Texas Tech in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday night.
The Crimson Tide (25-9), who also got 15 points from Houston Mallette, advanced to the Midwest Region semifinals against top-seeded Michigan in Chicago next Friday night. They built an early double-digit lead against the Red Raiders (23-11), exploiting a size advantage inside to dominate the backboards and making 11 3-pointers on the way to leading 49-25 at halftime.
Texas Tech, which reached the Elite Eight a year ago, didn't get closer than 18 the rest of the way. Alabama, two years removed from a Final Four run, led by 34 in the second half.
“This is the fourth straight Sweet 16 we've been to, these guys know what it takes,” Alabama coach Nat Oats said. “Right out of the gate ... we were ready to play.”
Both teams entered March Madness short-handed. The Red Raiders were playing without injured All-American JT Toppin, who tore the ACL in his right knee last month, and Alabama played without star guard Aden Holloway, who was suspended indefinitely after being arrested on a felony drug charge last week.
Texas Tech, which had a school-record four wins over top-10-teams this season, struggled down the stretch after losing Toppin and simply had no answers for Alabama's suffocating defense or the Crimson Tide' speed.
The Red Raiders shot just 34.4% from the field, including 4 of 25 on 3-point attempts, and were outrebounded 47-35, with Alabama collecting 12 offensive rebounds alone in the first half.
Alabama only got nine points from Labaron Philon, Jr. after its leading scorer had 29 in a first-round win over Hofstra. But with Wrightsell making six 3-pointers and Mallette finishing with five, Alabama didn't need any more scoring. Philon did lead his team with 12 assists.
“We came out there with an energy and effort that wasn't matched (by Texas Tech). We played for each other. We played to move on, but we also played one possession at a time," Wrightsell said. “We didn't take it for granted. ... It was never looking at the bigger picture, never looking at the score.”
LeJuan Watts led Texas Tech with 16 points. Donovan Atwell had 12.
“What a tough night for our team,” Red Raiders coach Grant McCasland said. "Alabama was awesome. They were so much more aggressive on both ends of the floor.
“This one is on me. I didn't have us ready to go,” McCasland added. “We ran into a team that was more determined, that was tougher than we were, and that's always our standard for winning.”
Parade of 3s
The teams combined to shoot 67 3-pointers, with Alabama going 19 for 42 and Texas Tech finishing 4 of 25.
Familiar territory
Alabama advanced to the Sweet 16 for the 12th time, fifth under Oats. Texas Tech made it out of the first weekend of the tournament each of the past two years under McCasland.
The shiba inu price prediction for 2026 is not what keeps investors awake at night. The regret does. One investor put $7,850 into SHIB on August 19, 2020, the day it launched, and that position grew to over $168 million according to CoinTelegraph.
Just $3 of Shiba Inu purchased on December 31, 2020 was worth $1.3 million by year end according to The Motley Fool.
The one event that changed everything was the Binance listing in 2021. Before Binance, SHIB was a joke. After Binance, it created hundreds of millionaires overnight. The next shiba inu is the token approaching a Binance listing right now with a proven founder, more than $8 million committed, and the same early window that made every SHIB millionaire story possible.
The Next Shiba Inu: How the Binance Listing Made SHIB Holders Millionaires and Why Pepeto Is Next
Before getting into today’s Shiba Inu price prediction, a look back is a must. A truck driver invested $8,000 in SHIB before the listing and watched it grow to $5.7 million according to StreetInsider. His coworker heard about SHIB the same day, waited a few hours, and the entry had already moved past him.
The difference between SHIB millionaires and everyone else was never intelligence. It was timing. Pepeto is approaching the same Binance listing now, with a former Binance expert on the team and presale stages filling faster every round.
The next shiba inu is the presale with a confirmed listing and a window that closes permanently when trading opens.
Shiba Inu Price Prediction 2026 and the Presale Positioned as the Next Shiba Inu
Pepeto: The Exchange Presale With Real Tools Before the Listing Changes Everything
The crypto market is not short on tokens. It is short on projects where a verified team, live products, and presale pricing all exist before a confirmed exchange listing. Pepeto is exactly that combination, built on the Ethereum blockchain with working tools that thousands of holders are already using.
The platform runs a zero fee swap engine that keeps your capital intact on every trade instead of bleeding it through costs. The cross chain bridge transfers your tokens between networks without losing a single unit to fees, so what you send is exactly what arrives.
The person who created the original Pepe coin and took it to $11 billion with the same 420 trillion supply and zero infrastructure is now building a complete exchange with products that Pepe never had and Shiba Inu never built. The SolidProof audit was finalized before any capital was accepted. A former Binance executive is on the dev team guiding the exchange toward launch. More than $8 million from wallets linked to addresses that held major positions through multiple cycles proves that the biggest players recognize what this listing delivers.
Staking at 195% APY is compounding right now for positions that entered early. At $0.000000186, the presale entry is still available, and each round that fills brings the listing closer. The chance to secure this entry is disappearing with every stage, and only those who commit before the Binance listing arrives will carry the positions that the rest of the market spends this cycle wishing they had taken. The Shiba Inu price prediction next proves the point.
Shiba Inu Price Prediction: Targets, Levels, and Why the Returns Have a Structural Ceiling
Shiba Inu is trading at $0.0000059, down more than 93% from its October 2021 all time high of $0.00008845 according to CoinMarketCap.
Alibaba AI forecasts a potential breakout above $0.000025 to $0.00003 resistance that could lift SHIB to $0.000059 by year end, roughly 850% gains according to Cryptonews.
The Motley Fool calculates that matching SHIB’s all time high is only about 14x, and reaching Ethereum’s market cap would turn $1,000 into just $60,800. These are respectable returns but a fraction of the 150x that Pepeto targets from presale to the level Pepe reached with nothing. SHIB’s millionaire window closed in 2021. The next shiba inu millionaire window is open right now and closes the moment the Binance listing goes live.
Shiba Inu Price Prediction Offers Recovery, but the Next Shiba Inu Is Where the Early Window Exists
A strong portfolio needs an early stage entry that delivers multiples no large cap or fading meme coin can produce. Pepeto makes that choice clear. This presale sits open with a former Binance expert on the team, more than $8 million raised, and a listing approaching fast. The investors who entered SHIB before the Binance listing in 2021 made millions, and every one of them says they wish they had committed more.
Pepeto is that second chance with better infrastructure, the same cofounder who built an $11 billion token, and a presale filling faster every week. The Pepeto official website is where investors who understand how rare this window is are securing positions right now.
Secure your entry before the Binance listing closes this presale window permanently
How did Shiba Inu investors become millionaires before the Binance listing?
SHIB created hundreds of millionaires when $7,850 turned into over $168 million and $3 became $1.3 million. The Binance listing in 2021 was the single event that changed everything, and Pepeto is approaching the same listing now.
What is the shiba inu price prediction for 2026?
Analysts forecast SHIB could reach $0.000059 in a bull case, roughly 850% gains. Pepeto at presale pricing targets 150x to the level Pepe reached, making it the next shiba inu for investors seeking early entry returns.
Is Pepeto the next Shiba Inu to buy before the listing?
More than $8 million committed, SolidProof audited, same Pepe cofounder, and a Binance listing approaching. Visit the Pepeto official website before this presale window closes permanently.
Nowruz 2026: Iranians in Tehran, Iraq, and Beyond Struggle to Celebrate Amid Economic Hardships and Political Repression – Everything You Need to Know About the Muted HolidayIranians face hardship as they approach Nowruz, with rising economic woes and war’s shadow... Read More
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Western Australia Strengthens Tourism and Trade Ties with China, Boosting Aviation Links and Driving Record Growth in Visitor SpendWA’s tourism mission to China aims to strengthen aviation links, deepen partnerships, and drive tourism growth, boosting the state’s economy and global... Read More
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Canada and Japan Join Forces to Offer Free Regional Flights, Expanding Access to Japan’s Hidden GemsThe Canada–Japan Free Flight Program opens up regional travel within Japan for Canadian travelers, offering free flights to 28 regional airports, boosting rural tourism. The... Read More
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Canada-Japan Free Flight Program 2026: How a Game-Changing Initiative Will Open Up Rural Japan to Budget-Conscious Travelers and Boost Local Economies!The Canada-Japan free flight initiative opens up rural destinations for Canadian travelers. Get the details on this exciting new program... Read More
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Oahu Joins Kauai, Maui County, Hawaii Island, Molokai, Lanai, and Other Islands As Relentless Kona Low Storm Brings Torrential Rain And Widespread Travel Chaos Across HawaiiOahu joins Kauai, Maui County, Hawaii Island, Molokai, Lanai, and other Hawaiian islands in facing... Read More
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New Zealand Joins United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, Fiji, and More Countries in Unprecedented Flight Cancellations Amid Middle East Conflict as British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Swiss ,and Others Suspend ServicesIn an unprecedented move, New Zealand has joined a... Read More
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The Litani River Crisis: How Israel’s Military Offensive Near Lebanon Could Impact Tourism and Travel Plans for Visitors to LebanonIsrael's renewed offensive targets the Litani River, igniting fears of escalation in Lebanon. How this affects travel in the region, including... Read More
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Victoria, Australia Breaks Unbelievable Tourism Records in 2025 with Forty-Six Point Seven Billion Dollars Spend: Global Visitors and Major Events Drive Explosive Growth!Victoria, Australia’s tourism sector reaches a record Forty-Six Point Seven Billion Dollars in 2025, fueled by international visitors... Read More
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Hundreds of Passengers Stranded as Over 80 Flights Canceled at Bahrain International Airport: Here’s What You Must KnowMultiple flight cancellations at Bahrain International Airport disrupt arrivals from Kuwait, Dubai, Singapore, and more, affecting international travel. The post Hundreds of Passengers... Read More
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Vietnam Sets A New Benchmark For Night Tourism In Asia With Year-Round Fireworks, Immersive Festivals, And International Participation From Japan And China—Here’s What Global Travelers Should Know Before PlanningVietnam boosts tourism with Phu Quoc fireworks, Da Nang festival, and Ba... Read More
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The rollout of AirDrop has started on Galaxy S26 phones, and Samsung just revealed a crucial step to activate the features.
Google was the one who made AirDrop sharing real on Android phones. Samsung, through its community moderator, has now revealed the activation steps, which involve updating the Google Play Services app.
Samsung says its Quick Share-AirDrop sharing compatibility requires Google Play Services version 26.11.xx or above. If you’re running an older version, it needs to be updated to let you access AirDrop-style file sharing.
The statement says it loud that AirDrop is backed by core Android services. Without having the required version of Google Play Services, even Samsung won’t be able to provide you with access to the AirDrop feature.
Samsung also shared a tutorial to update Google Play Services. Galaxy users are required to open Settings > Apps > Google Play Services > App source info > Update.
Google Play Services mostly comes as a server-side update. They install when you use your phone or restart it. A software update also brings an updated version of core Android apps to improve performance and functionality.
Samsung today announced the rollout of AirDrop to the Galaxy S26 series. Users in South Korea even started getting a software update that installs AirDrop. If you also own an S26 phone, keep checking for the updates.
Quick Share is now capable of transferring files through AirDrop. It’s one of the strongest strikes on Apple’s ecosystem. It’s not just convenience, but it also paves the way for shoppers to consider switching to Samsung or Google.
The raft of upgrades coming to the OLED TVs is unsurprisingly stealing headlines, but it's the updates to the QNED series that has caught my attention.
Deal | Sharge’s Pixel laptop charger is currently available at its lowest-ever price on Amazon for a limited time. The charger has a quite compact form factor with a foldable prong design. Plus, it offers a total of three USB-C ports, delivering a maximum output of 140 W.
A purchase of a high-end RTX 5090 graphics card via Amazon India resulted in the delivery of a packet of detergent. Despite clear weight discrepancy and video evidence, Amazon denied the refund, highlighting a growing trend of graphics card retail fraud on major e-commerce platforms.
With Nicolas Otamendi announcing his retirement from Argentina national team after the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Messi will be left as the only survivor from the 2014 Brazil WC squad.
Nicolas Otamendi has been one of the cornerstones and leaders of Argentina during one of the most successful eras in the national team’s history, but the veteran defender has now announced that the 2026 World Cup will mark the end of his international career. With that decision confirmed, Lionel Messi will be left as the sole remaining member of the squad that finished as runner-up at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Argentina are set to bid farewell to their home fans before departing for North America in June, with friendlies against Mauritania and Zambia arranged for the March international break. Called up for both games, Otamendi spoke to reporters upon arriving in Argentina, addressing his future with the Albiceleste directly.
When asked about the call-up and his mindset heading into the World Cup, the 38-year-old was unambiguous about his plans: “After the World Cup, my time with the national team will officially come to an end. I’m happy, I’m enjoying the moment, and now it’s time to get to work.“
When further pressed on whether he would return for the September international break to receive a farewell from the fans, Otamendi again left no room for doubt. “A cycle with the national team is closing; this will be my last World Cup, and after that, I’ll just be another fan,” he said, confirming that the tournament in North America will be his final appearance for the Albiceleste.
Nicolas Otamendi of Argentina kisses the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Winners Medal.
Set to experience his last World Cup alongside the man who has been his international teammate for so long, Otamendi was asked whether he and Messi speak about this final chapter together. “We don’t talk about that. We just live it when we get together; we live in the moment and enjoy the opportunity, the training grounds, and being together once again,” he replied.
Adding a bittersweet note to his farewell tour, FIFA has confirmed that Otamendi will be required to serve a one-game suspension at the World Cup, stemming from a red card he received in Argentina’s final CONMEBOL qualifier against Ecuador. The ban means he will miss the Albiceleste’s group stage opener against Algeria on June 16, though the tournament itself, spread across Canada, Mexico and the United States, will undoubtedly serve as a fitting final stage for one of Argentina’s most decorated international defenders.
Messi, the only one left from the 2014 World Cup squad
Otamendi made his World Cup debut in 2010 at just 22 years old under Diego Maradona, launching a remarkable international career that has run in parallel with Messi’s for the best part of 16 years. Their first unforgettable shared moment came in Brazil in 2014, when Argentina reached the final on their rival’s home soil, only to fall in extra time to Germany in a match that left the nation heartbroken.
From that point, the journey was filled with highs and lows: consecutive Copa America final defeats, Messi’s brief retirement from international duty and subsequent return, a bruising early exit at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and then the golden era that brought the 2021 and 2024 Copa America titles, the Finalissima against Italy, and the crowning moment of the 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar.
Coach Alejandro Sabella and Lionel Messi of Argentina looks on with his team after being defeated by Germany 1-0.
Many of those 2014 squad members have already hung up their international boots, with Angel Di Maria being one of the last to do so, stepping away after the 2024 Copa America in the United States. Otamendi will follow that same path after the 2026 World Cup, and while Messi’s own future beyond the tournament remains undecided, the Inter Miami star will stand alone as the last surviving link to that squad from 12 years ago.
Victor Osimhen'in bu sezon oynamadığı 15 resmi karşılaşmada Galatasaray; 10 galibiyet, 1 beraberlik ve 4 mağlubiyet yaşadı. Sarı-Kırmızılılar, ligdeki 7 maçın 2'sinde puan kaybetti.
Galatasaray'da yaz transfer dönemi hazırlıkları sürerken gündeme yeniden Strahinja Pavlovic geldi. Sarı-kırmızılılar, daha önce 20 milyon euroyu gözden çıkardıkları fakat AC Milan tarafından ret yanıtı aldıkları Sırp stoper için teklif yükseltmeyi planlıyor.
Genelde köpeklere takılan ve neredeyse onlar için şart olan tasma, kediler içinde kullanılan bir alettir. Kediler genelde uysal hayvanlar olarak bilinse de tasma takılması, en başta onların sahipli olduğunun bir belirtisidir. Bilindiği üzere sokak kedisinde tasma takılmaz, tasma ev kedisinde bulunur.
Gelecek sezonun kadro planlamasına şimdiden başlayan Galatasaray, yaz transfer döneminde renklerine bağlamak üzere dünya yıldızı futbolcuları takibe almıştı. Sarı-kırmızılıların Manchester City'de forma...Devamı için tıklayınız
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Son dakika Fenerbahçe transfer haberleri: Fenerbahçe'de yaz dönemi transfer çalışmaları sürüyor. Sarı-lacivertliler, Bayern Münih forması giyen eski stoperi Kim Min-Jae'yi listesine aldı. İşte ayrıntılar......Devamı için tıklayınız
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Süper Lig devlerinden Beşiktaş'ta transferde sıcak gelişmeler yaşanıyor. Siyah-beyazlılarda son olarak Felix Uduokhai için Rus ekibi Spartak Moskova'nın devreye girdiği öğrenildi. İşte tüm detaylar...Devamı için tıklayınız
Süper Lig devlerinden Beşiktaş'ta son maçlarda gösterdiği başarılı performansla dikkat çeken Ersin Destanoğlu ile ilgili önemli gelişmeler yaşanıyor. File bekçisi için son olarak transferde pek çok takımın...Devamı için tıklayınız
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23 Mart 2026 tarihinde altın fiyatları merak konusu olmaya devam ediyor. Kapalıçarşı'da gram altın, çeyrek altın ve cumhuriyet altını fiyatları gün içinde değişkenlik gösteriyor. Küresel piyasalardaki...Devamı için tıklayınız
My Running Back Rookie Model evaluates running back prospects through the traits that historically translate best to fantasy production. The model weighs rushing efficiency, explosive play creation, tackle-breaking ability, receiving utility, athletic profile and expected draft capital, then compares each prospect against historical outcomes and stylistic comps.
Price stands out as one of the cleaner all-around profiles in the 2026 class. He may not be the flashiest back in the group, but the model likes how balanced his profile is across production, athletic translation and fantasy-friendly role indicators.
That matters because Price does not need one outlier trait to carry the profile. He wins through a mix of efficiency, enough athletic juice and the kind of all-around skill set that gives him multiple paths to fantasy relevance at the next level.
The Composite Athleticism Score blends size-adjusted speed, burst, agility and functional rushing traits. When testing is missing, the model can still derive portions of the athletic profile through production-based indicators, but in Price’s case we do have verified size and explosion data from the combine.
Historically, a percentile around this range lands in the average-to-above-average bucket. Price does not project as a rare outlier athlete, but he clears the bar for NFL translation and does so without carrying any major athletic red flags.
Rushing Efficiency Metrics
Price’s appeal starts with the way his profile balances efficiency and translatability. He is not just a volume accumulator. The model likes backs who can create on their own, hold up physically and offer enough juice to turn efficient rushing into fantasy value, and Price checks enough of those boxes to stand out in this class.
He profiles as a back who can generate yards in structure while still offering enough burst and functional movement ability to create chunk plays when blocking opens lanes. That blend gives him one of the steadier projections in the class.
Receiving Usage
Price’s receiving profile also helps his fantasy translation. He is not solely dependent on becoming a 20-carry grinder to matter, which is a key distinction in dynasty projection. Backs with enough pass-game viability tend to give themselves more ways to earn snaps early in their careers.
That does not automatically make him an elite receiving specialist, but it does support the idea that he can stay on the field in multiple situations and avoid being boxed into a one-dimensional role.
Production Snapshot
Price’s overall profile is built more on balance than on one overwhelming strength. That can sometimes make a player less flashy in the pre-draft process, but it also tends to produce some of the more stable model outcomes.
For fantasy purposes, that is often a good sign. The model generally prefers backs who bring enough rushing efficiency, enough functional athleticism and enough receiving utility to create several viable paths to production rather than needing everything to break perfectly.
Positive Indicators
Balanced all-around profile
Price does not need one extreme trait to carry his projection, because the model sees strength across multiple areas.
Verified athletic baseline
At 203 pounds with a 4.49 forty and solid explosion numbers, Price checks the athletic threshold needed for NFL translation.
Strong fantasy floor
His profile suggests a back who can earn work in different situations, which supports a safer fantasy projection than many peers in this class.
Areas of Concern
No truly elite athletic outlier
Price tested well, but not in a way that forces the model to project a rare ceiling outcome strictly from athleticism alone.
May depend on role quality for ceiling
Because he is more well-rounded than truly extreme in any one area, his long-term ceiling could be influenced more heavily by landing spot and usage.
Not purely traits-driven
Some backs can survive on overwhelming physical tools. Price’s profile is stronger because of balance, which can be a positive but also means the margin for error is slightly tighter if the role is capped.
Historical Model Comps
Miles Sanders Zach Charbonnet James Cook Jonathon Brooks J.K. Dobbins
Year 1: Flex/RB3 range with RB2 upside Year 2–3: RB2 with paths to RB1 seasons
Year 1 Fantasy Points: 48.4 Best-Year Fantasy Points: 67.3 3-Year Fantasy Points: 161.6
Dynasty Translation
Price profiles as one of the safer dynasty running back targets in the 2026 class. He brings enough verified athletic ability, enough overall balance and enough fantasy-friendly role flexibility to give himself a legitimate chance to become a useful early-career producer.
El Grande Americano and Dominik Mysterio at WWE Worlds Collide - WWE
The one year anniversary of AAA being purchased by WWE is rapidly approaching, and the Mexican company has undergone a number of changes since being taken over. The company's biggest show of the year, TripleMania, saw a number of records broken in attendance and viewing figures. A brand new television deal with FOX was secured in Mexico and South America, and a number of roster members have managed to cross over and feature on WWE programming. To say the acquisition has been a success, and someone who has followed what's been happening south of the border since the purchase was made has been Dave Meltzer, who covered what he thinks have been the biggest changes for AAA in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
The biggest thing Meltzer noted was the Americanization, or "WWEification" of AAA. Stars like El Hijo del Vikingo, known for being one of wrestling's premier high-flyers, no longer flies in the way he used to because he's a heel, something WWE has used for years to get fans to stop cheering wrestlers with exciting arsenals. There's also more run-ins than before, and a lot more promos, with all the fans in attendance mainly there to see the WWE Superstars who've traveled to Mexico rather than the AAA roster itself.
Meltzer also pointed out a case of WWE trying to either rewrite or simplify AAA's history, with commentary consistently saying that La Parka was going for his sixth win in the Rey De Reyes tournament. While the character of La Parka has won the tournament five previous times, the man who previously portrayed La Parka died in 2020, which commentary never mentioned in order to make things less complicated.
With all that said, Meltzer did have some positives regarding the current incarnation of AAA. He claimed that the production is a lot better, to the point where it's better than AAA's main rival CMLL. The crowds are always hot, and unlike the North American crowds, they actually care about the matches and aren't focused on only the finish or if any of the participants have any aura. While Meltzer did say that some of the matches, particularly the women's bouts, aren't that great, the vast majority of matches end up being entertaining, and with AAA selling out nearly every show over since WWE took over, Meltzer concluded by saying that AAA's weekly show is more entertaining TV product WWE currently produces.
MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04, 2026: Gabriel Moreno #14 of the Arizona Diamondbacks bats during the third inning of a spring training game against the Athletics at Hohokam Stadium on March 04, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Record: 15-13-1. Change on 2025: -1. 5-inning Record: 11-16-2.
The Diamondbacks saved the best for last, punching out their biggest margin of victory in the final Cactus League game. An emphatic 11-1 victory over the Padres was anchored by Gabriel Moreno, who hit two home-runs and doubled, giving him three long-balls for spring. Jorge Barrosa also hit his third HR, and Ildemaro Vargas went deep for the second time. The D-backs pounded out sixteen hits all told, with Ryan Waldschmidt joining Moreno in the three-hit club, and Barrosa singling in addition to his homer. Ben McLaughlin drew a pair of walks, as Arizona finished by going 7-1-1 over their final nine games. Not that it matters, of course… 🙂
The pitching was almost as good as the hitting, holding the Padres to five hits and two walks. It was a bullpen game for the Diamondbacks, and opener John Curtiss went two scoreless with a walk and four strikeouts. Brandyn Garcia rebounded from his recent struggles, fanning two of the three batters he faced. Juan Morillo was the only pitcher scored upon, allowing a solo home-run in the fourth. But thereafter we saw two scoreless innings from Shawn Dubin, then Yilber Diaz, Logan Mercado and Taylor Rashi took things the rest of the way for the D-backs bullpen.
Tomorrow, it’s back to Chase Field, for the first of two warm-up games there against the Cleveland Guardians. First pitch is at 6:40 pm, with Merrill Kelly starting for Arizona.
Of the Potential 11 Remaining Players, Who Do You Want To Keep?
***Absolutely: Paul McNeil established himself as the best 3PT shooter in the ACC. The rest of his game can still improve to prepare for the next level. Matt Able needs to learn to play consistently, his best games were good and will get better. Next season they should both be included in the best guards in the ACC. Great foundational pieces if we can keep them.
Paul McNeil (6’5” SG / SF), Matt Able (6’6” SG)
McNeil will be a focal point of the offense next season
The one concern in their personal decision making might be redundancy with Cole Cloer. That’s more likely to influence Able’s decision than McNeil’s. McNeil has said he likes being close to home in Raleigh.
***Absolutely: High potential recruits identified and recruited by this staff
Cole Cloer (6’7” SF) (enrolled at NC State in January, rehabbing his knee)
“He’s got great height, he’s got great length and really shoots the ball at a high, high level.” Coach Wade
4-star, 247 ranked #27
Cloer is expected to be fully cleared for summer skills and conditioning workouts.
“He’s one of the premier shot blockers in all of high school basketball and that’s a skill that translates from high school to college to pro.” Coach Wade
Mikey Wilkins (6’9” PF) – We haven’t seen him play but based on his profile I think he is the type of big man we need. He has been a dedicated gym rat all season, working closely with strength and conditioning coach Steve Soltysiak and Player Development director Joseph Anderson, and played on the scout team in practice. He has lost 30 pounds (from 260) and is said to be in the best shape of his life. He is a true power forward, plays close to the basket, and has a college-ready body.
“People are going to be very surprised with Zymicah Wilkins,” [Player Development Director Joseph] Anderson said in an interview. “That kid is going to be really good. He’s one of the most-skilled bigs I’ve been around. He’s got a good power and finesse to him. He’s got really soft hands. He doesn’t drop passes. His feet are incredible. His touch around the rim. He’s starting to be more explosive now that his body is shaping in. I’m really excited for him.”
’24-’25 North Carolina Mr. Basketball
6’10” wingspan
Averaged 13.4 points / 7.2 rebounds / 2.8 assists / 1.4 steals / 1.1 blocks his senior season
*Possible: I suppose it’s possible Terrance Arceneaux might get another look if the price is right. Before last season he was touted as one of the best defenders in the country, and considered a possible Wolfpack starter by some. For whatever reason (his achilles injury was part of it), he never played to that potential this season, but he has obvious skills and athleticism. I think it much more likely that he’ll look for another opportunity, probably closer to Beaumont.
Terrance Arceneaux
As a transfer, 4-star, 247 ranked #132
Averaged 3.8 ppg / 2.6 rpg
Season highs: 13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals
Highly Unlikely: We’ve seen them play enough to know we can upgrade.
Alyn Breed, Jerry Deng, Musa Sagnia
Highly Unlikely: We haven’t seen them play meaningful minutes, but the staff has seen them in practice and know enough to make the decision.
Jayme Kontuniemi, Colt Langdon – Seems unlikely either will be retained. Colt played less than 20 total minutes this season, and only in garbage time. He expects to qualify for a medical red shirt to retain this season’s eligibility. Kontuniemi red shirted right away, so both probably have four seasons to sell to someone.
Mar 22, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley (0) celebrates after defeating the Utah State Aggies during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
Your Thursday night plans are set.
Arizona will face Arkansas at 6:45 p.m. PT Thursday in the West Region semifinals in San Jose, Calif. The game from the SAP Center will air on CBS.
The top-seeded Wildcats (34-2) are in the Sweet 16 for the third year in a row and fourth time in five seasons under Tommy Lloyd, while No. 4 Arkansas (28-8) has reached the second weekend in both seasons since hiring John Calipari away from Kentucky.
The UA has opened as an 8.5-point favorite over the Razorbacks, per FanDuel Sportsbook, and the over/under is 165.5. That’s the largest spread for the Wildcats in a Sweet 16 game since 2017 when they were 11.5-point favorite against Xavier.
Arizona covered last season in a loss to Duke in the Sweet 16 but hasn’t as a favorite in the regional semifinals since 2003 against Notre Dame.
The Wildcats and Arkansas will be playing for the ninth time and first since 1995, an 83-73 UA win in Fayetteville. Arizona lost to the Razorbacks in the 1994 Final Four and are 2-6 in the series.
Bayern Munich's Canadian defender #19 Alphonso Davies leaves the pitch on injury during the UEFA Champions League last 16, first leg football match between Atalanta and Bayern Munich at the Gewiss stadium in Bergamo, on March 10, 2026. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
According to a report from Sport Bild’s Christian Falk, Manchester United is enamored with Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies:
✅ It is TRUE: Manchester United are interested in Alphonso Davies. They were at the table when questions were being asked as to whether he would sign a new contract at Bayern Munich. They’re still monitoring this player, but he’s, of course, since signed a new contract at the Allianz Arena, so it will be difficult to get him at the moment. But there are also discussions going on at the club as to whether they need a new backup player, given all the injuries Davies keeps picking up. Before, they thought they didn’t need a player on the left-hand side because Hiroki Itō can play there as well.
However, if there were an offer on the table (and don’t forget it cost Bayern a lot of money to extend Davies), there would be a discussion. But I can say right now that there has yet to be a concrete offer from Manchester United. If there’s an offer, perhaps Bayern will consider it, as the injuries keep coming.
It would seem unfathomable that Bayern Munich would think about selling Davies, but Falk stating an offer would at least warrant a discussion is kind of wild, right?
Even with the recently checkered injury history, it definitely seems unlikely that Bayern Munich would even consider this right now.
USMNT defender Antonee Robinson reportedly wants a move to Liverpool:
Fulham and USMNT left back Antonee Robinson favors a move to Liverpool over Manchester United this summer, according to TEAMtalk. Both clubs are expected to be in the market for a new left back at the end of the season, although their transfer plans may hinge upon qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. According to reports, Robinson could be available for around £25 million, as he is under contract at Fulham until June 2028. Liverpool are looking to replace Andy Robertson, while United are planning for life without Luke Shaw.
AC Milan is one of the teams eyeing Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka and could look to make him an offer very soon:
When we speak about Leon Goretzka, I can tell you that AC Milan are very concrete with him. They are making him an offer. This is interesting for both Tottenham and Arsenal, who like the player. And also for Atletico Madrid, who were very concrete in the January transfer window. Goretzka decided to stay at Bayern because he wants to win the Champions League again with the Bavarian giants. I heard he’s also interested in Serie A, so this could be a good chance for Milan.
Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton reportedly has Manchester United , Chelsea, and Liverpool lining up for him:
Manchester United and Liverpool are among the clubs vying to land Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton this summer, as per Football Insider. Wharton, 22, is under contract at Palace until June 2029, meaning he won’t be easy to prize away from Selhurst Park. But the England international is also wanted by Chelsea following an impressive few seasons in south London.
Manchester United might be willing to extend itself to re-up Bruno Fernandes:
Manchester United are set to do everything they can to keep hold of captain Bruno Fernandes, according to the Daily Mail. The club’s hierarchy are believed to be adamant in keeping the 31-year-old midfielder at Old Trafford, and while a £57 million release clause allows clubs from outside of the Premier League to sign him, he is set to make a decision on his future at the end of the season. Meanwhile, Nicolo Schira reports that Juventus are evaluating “the possibility” of landing 24-year-old striker Joshua Zirkzee, who remains linked with an exit from the club in the summer.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
It’s another edition of ‘Mock Draft Monday’ with PFF's Trevor Sikkema He joins Matt Harmon to provide his five favorite potential fits for some of the top prospects in this year’s draft. Sikkema places two top WR prospects in the NFC East and gives the Cowboys a chess piece to help revitalize their defense.
(1:00) Mock Draft Monday with PFF’s Trevor Sikkema
(5:25) Cardinals - Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
(15:15) Giants - Ohio State WR Carnell Tate
(25:50) Cowboys - Oregon DB Dillon Thieneman
(35:45) Lions - Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor
(45:45) Eagles - Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr
(55:50) Trevor’s ‘Stand on the Table’ prospect: LSU S A.J. Haulcy
It’s another edition of ‘Mock Draft Monday’ with PFF's Trevor Sikkema He joins Matt Harmon to provide his five favorite potential fits for some of the top prospects in this year’s draft. Sikkema places two top WR prospects in the NFC East and gives the Cowboys a chess piece to help revitalize their defense.
Tampa, Florida: New York Yankees' starting pitcher Luis Gil leaving the game against the NY Mets in the top of the 3rd inning during Spring Training at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida on February 21, 2026. (Photo by J. Conrad Williams, Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images
The Athletic | Chris Kirschner: (subscription required) Following yesterday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Yankees announced their rotation to start the season: Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, and Ryan Weathers. Notably absent, of course, was 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil. With the number of days off during the first week and a half of the season, the Yankees can get away with a four-man rotation the first two times through the order.
At this point, it’s unclear whether Gil — who has been working with Matt Blake to change the release point on his fastball, in the hopes of turning it back into the out pitch it was in the first half of 2024 — will break camp with the big league club, working as a piggyback behind Weathers, or with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, allowing the Yankees to bring an extra reliever.
SNY.com | Alex Smith: Facing a roster crunch, the Yankees traded infielder Jorbit Vivas, who is out of options, to the Washington Nationals yesterday afternoon (as Michael covered for us). In exchange, they received pitching prospect Sean Paul Liñan (Washington’s 27th overall prospect, according to MLB Pipeline), who was acquired from the Dodgers in their Trade Deadline swing for Alex Call, and whose fastball is lacking but whose changeup has screwball-like qualities and has been compared to Devin William’s famous Airbender.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: With Grapefruit League action coming to a close yesterday (the games today and tomorrow are, technically, not spring training matchups, but exhibitions), the Yankees announced this year’s James P. Dawson Award winner, given to the most outstanding rookie in spring training. To nobody’s surprise, pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange, whose performance put him on the map nationally and which forced difficult conversations about whether or not the Yankees ought to have him start the season with the big-league club, was this year’s award recipient.
Lastly, in case you’re curious, a few old Yankees friends on the bubble received some news over the weekend about whether or not they made their teams out of spring training. MLB Trade Rumors helps out on the rapid-fire:
Jonathan Loáisiga cracked the Diamondbacks bullpen as a non-roster invitee to spring training.
The Phillies picked up one erstwhile Yankees reliever and demoted another, with Tim Mayza joining their ’pen on a minor-league deal and Lou Trivino getting assigned to Triple-A.
Also in the not-so-lucky bunch alongside Trivino, Gio Urshela and Austin Slater were released by the Twins and Tigers, respectively.
These notes are a few days old, but Ian Hamilton did not make the Braves’ bullpen and was outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett, and the Red Sox signed Tommy Kahnle to a minor-league deal after his appearance in the World Baseball Classic. It’s likely that the changeup specialist will need to open 2026 at Triple-A to tune up.
The worst news might go to Mike Tauchman, who was on track to join the Mets as a fourth outfielder but instead suffered a meniscus tear in his knee. Ouch. Condolences to the ol’ Sock Man.
Former AEW Women's World Champion Kris Statlander has been with All Elite Wrestling since the company's first year, but long-time fans of the "Cosmic Killer" will know that the same year she debuted for AEW, she also debuted for WWE. Simply going by the name Kristen, she teamed up with Karissa as The Brooklyn Belles to take on The IIconics for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships on the April 9, 2019 episode of "WWE SmackDown." Statlander was asked about her one and only WWE match during a recent episode of the "Insight" podcast, revealing that herself and Karissa were meant to have a very different gimmick than just being from Brooklyn.
"Originally, the team name was supposed to be the Brooklyn Pizza Connection, and we were supposed to be named Saucy and Cheesy," Statlander said, noting that she never got to find out whether she was going to be Saucy or Cheesy. "Those were the options, then it was The Brooklyn Belles and then just used our first names. But I was like 'It kind of would have been iconic to have been either saucy or cheesy,' and my only match there was a tag title match, so what a way to go in and go out right away. But now I have tag titles in AEW to go for, and maybe I'll be Saucy or Cheesy, or Garlic, or Oregano something like that."
Statlander went on to reveal that she had done some other extra work for WWE that never made it to air, but she was in attendance at WrestleMania 35 in 2019 as her former trainer, Brian Myers, won his first-ever match at a WrestleMania as Curt Hawkins, winning the WWE Raw Tag Team Championships with Zack Ryder. However, nothing ever came about in terms of an offer to join WWE despite her former trainer working for the company, and later on in 2019, Statlander got an email about working for AEW, which ultimately led to a full-time contract and she has been "All Elite" ever since.
Please credit "Insight" when using quotes from this article, and give a H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
The No. 14 Virginia Tech Hokies opened the home portion of their schedule this weekend with a three-game series against the N.C. State Wolfpack from Tech Softball Park. Unlike the first two games of the series, this one went down to the wire with Michelle Chatfield winning it in the bottom of the seventh inning, 2-1, and the Hokies improved to 28-4, 4-2 in ACC play.
The Hokies dominated the Wolfpack on Friday and Saturday, earning run-rule victories on each day, before finishing up on Sunday in Blacksburg. Sunday’s game was certainly more competitive, with the Hokies scoring first, when Nora Abromavage blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead.
State responded quickly, though, thanks in part to Tech’s defense. A pair of throwing errors in the top of the third inning led the Pack to their first run, and we were tied at 1-1. It remained a pitcher’s duel over the next several innings.
However, in the bottom of the seventh, the clutch Hokies came through. Rachel Castine opened the inning with a single. Annika Rohs sacrificed Sara McNelly, running for Castine, to second base. Next, Addison Foster grounded out with McNelly advancing to third. Jordan Lynch walked, and up came Chatfield.
— Virginia Tech Softball (@HokiesSoftball) March 22, 2026
Another impressive weekend for the Lady Hokies who continue to find different ways to get it done.
Emma Mazzarone was spectacular again, pitching six innings, striking out nine, allowing only two hits, walking three, and one unearned run. She did not factor in the decision, as Bree Carrico pitched a perfect seventh inning to improve to 8-0 on the season.
Next up for the Hokies is a weekend series at Boston College, beginning on Friday.
PHILADELPHIA − Maybe all those blown leads in the regular season were good for Tennessee basketball?
While it didn't surrender a double-digit big lead, Tennessee fans certainly felt pangs of anxiety when Virginia pulled ahead late at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
This time, though, instead of collapsing, the No. 6 Vols (24-11) banded together and pulled off the 79-72 victory over No. 3 Virginia (30-6) in the Men's NCAA Tournament on March 22.
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes guided the program to its fourth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance. The road gets tougher for the Vols against No. 2 Iowa State (29-7) at the United Center in Chicago on March 27 (10:10 p.m. ET, TBS).
How did Tennessee avoid a meltdown? Well, Barnes isn't really sure.
He just knows they won.
"We found a way," he said. "We found a way to get it done. These guys, they've worked hard for us all year and worked hard competing against each other every day."
Tennessee believe it needed regular season heartbreak
Tennessee largely bottled up Virginia's leading scorer Thijs De Ridder through much of the game. However, the 23-year-old freshman from Belgium found his rhythm late in the game and drilled a 3-pointer to give the Cavaliers a 71-70 lead with 2:03 remaining.
In the huddle, Tennessee sophomore guard Bishop Boswell knew they'd be fine. He cited increased "poise" gained from months of SEC trials.
"We have been in these situations time in and time out, and I've seen us come out on top, so I know how tough we are," he said. "Being in those situations helps you for times like this. The SEC is so tough, its such a tough league, you're going to be in a bunch of close games. We were able to come out with some wins, and we were able to come out with some losses that we were able to learn from.
"We've been battled-tested."
Forward J.P. Estrella believes those tests were necessary.
"I don't think so," he said if Tennessee would've won this game a month ago. "I feel like these past couple months have been huge for us playing some tough games, playing in the SEC Tournament, playing the game the other night. These games are crucial for us. When we keep playing basketball with each other it builds confidence and we keep winning.
"The momentum keeps going and I feel like it's going to keep on rolling into Chicago."
Tennessee's defense papers over late mistakes
The Vols were anything but mistake-free in the closing minutes of the game.
Freshman Nate Ament ran the baseline after a missed shot. Senior point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie threw an inbounds pass into the second row. A defensive breakdown left Virginia's Jacari White wide-open for a 3-pointer with seconds remaining.
It was the defense, though, that kept Tennessee afloat. The Vols kept one of the ACC's top offenses under its 80.4 points per game average. Their frontcourt physicality bothered Virginia all game.
"I thought we played great," Estrella said about Tennessee's frontcourt. "We're all just some dogs on offense and defense. We got stops when we needed them. I feel like we could've gotten a couple rebounds − me in particular, I could've grabbed a couple with two hands − but other than that, we were just some dogs tonight and I feel like we need to be that every single night."
The Cavaliers had 26 points in the paint, but they shot under 50% on layups. Tennessee 6-foot-11 center Felix Okpara registered four blocks and often deterred Virginia players from entering his domain.
"Felix Okpara, that's the best five-man in the country," junior Jaylen Carey said about his teammate. "Best shot blocker in the country."
Okpara credited the entire frontcourt for the standout defensive performance.
"That's our identity right there," he said. "That's Tennessee basketball right there."
UCLA's Donovan Dent, right, drives to the basket in front of Connecticut's Malachi Smith during the first half of the Bruins' 73-57 loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday. (Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)
On the night reigning NCAA champion Florida was eliminated by Iowa, UCLA tried to follow the Hawkeyes’ lead against Connecticut, the team that had worn the crown the previous two years.
And for the second straight game they were hoping to win without leading scorer Tyler Bilodeau, whose sprained knee still hadn't healed enough for coach Mick Cronin to risk putting him on the floor.
Seventh-seeded UCLA battled, managing to take a brief lead in the second half. But in the end, No. 2 Connecticut's size and power was too much for the Bruins to overcome in a 73-57 loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament Sunday.
Four players scored in double figures for UCLA. Xavier Booker finished with 13 points, Eric Dailey Jr. had 12 points and Donovan Dent and Skyy Clark each finished with 11. But the Bruins couldn’t contain Connecticut forward Alex Karaban, who erupted for 27 points, as the Huskies advanced to the Sweet Sixteen to play No. 3 Michigan State in Washington, D.C. on Friday.
The Bruins got off to a good start, building an 18-12 lead before the Huskies caught fire, hitting seven straight shots at one point to seize a 38-33 halftime lead.
Connecticut's Tarris Reed Jr., center, tries to work past (from left) UCLA's Trent Perry, Donovan Dent and Eric Dailey Jr. during the first half Sunday. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)
UCLA (24-12) started the second half on a 6-0 run, regaining a 39-38 edge on a corner jumper by Clark.
Connecticut (31-5) didn't wait long to retake control, going on a 14-0 run over the next five minutes, with Karaban scoring 10 points over that span.
UCLA answered with an 8-0 run, with Dailey's three-point play cutting Connecticut's lead to 56-52 and reigniting the Bruins' hope of an upset. Connecticut, however, responded with a decisive 9-0 run, taking a 67-54 lead with 4:24 left.
UCLA struggled with its shooting most of the night, going 19 for 49 (39%) from the in comparison to Connecticut's 23-for-49 shooting (47%). Both teams had the same number of free-throw attempts (21), but the Bruins made just 67% of their shots and the Huskies made 90%.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 22: Amaya Battle #3 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers celebrates with her team after making a go-ahead shot against the Ole Miss Rebels in the fourth quarter during a second round game of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Williams Arena on March 22, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The movie script could not have been written any better. The oft injured redshirt junior Minnesota native hits a step back three to tie the game. The home crowd is so loud that nobody…and I mean nobody can hear the shot clock buzzer expire. The 5th year senior transfer and Minnesota native hits a tough bucket to give her team the lead. The senior team leader and Minnesota native gets one last chance to make a memory on the raised floor and sends the crowd of over 10,700 into an absolute frenzy. The “villains” get one last chance, but their game winner falls just short and the heroines get to celebrate. But this was no movie. This was real life. The Minnesota Golden Gophers came back from an eight point deficit with 5:04 to play and would battle back with massive plays from Minnesotans up and down the roster punctuated by an Amaya Battle 15 foot jumper with 0.8 seconds left in the game to propel the home team to the Sweet Sixteen in a 65-63 win over Ole Miss. How sweet it is!
The Gophers and Rebels traded baskets for much of the opening ten minutes. The Gophers got a huge boost when Ohio State transfer and SEC newcomer of the Year Cotie McMahon picked up her second foul just 2:37 into the game and had to sit for most of the quarter. The game was knotted until Mara Braun took the game over in the final 22 seconds of the quarter. Braun grabbed a rebound of an Ole Miss layup that did not fall and worked her way into the lane taking a pass from Brylee Glen for a free throw jumper to put the Gophers up 14-12 with 23 seconds to play. After a quick Rebel missed shot Glen grabbed the rebound and found Braun in the corner for a three pointer as the quarter expired to put Minnesota up 17-12 at the break.
The teams went back and forth in the second quarter. A Sophie Hart layup pushed the Gopher lead to seven right out of the break, but it would get no larger as the Rebels took advantage of McMahon’s return to the game. Five quick points from the senior closed the Gopher lead quicky. The teams would trade bombs from deep as Braun would make back to back threes split between a Tiana Thompson triple to keep the Gophers ahead by five. After another Thompson basket the Gophers got the first NCAA tournament points from Grace Grocholski who hit a three from the corner to again extend the Gopher lead to six. Finau Tonga made a layup to extend the lead to eight, but it would be the largest the Gophers would have the rest of the game. Suddenly it was Minnesota’s time to get in foul trouble. The Rebels kept getting inside position on the Gophers and in quick succession Grocholski, Battle and Tonga all picked up their second fouls of the game to join Tori McKinney on the bench after she picked up her second earlier in the quarter. Ole Miss would hit five of their six free throws to cut the Minnesota lead to 32-29 at the end of the half. Minnesota wuld shoot 50% in the opening 20 minutes, while their defense held the Rebels to just 32% shooting.
Ole Miss regrouped at halftime and figured out a way to attack the Gopher defense. They would score on six of their first eight possessions in the quarter and take advantage of a trio of Gophers turnovers in a row to jump out to a 43-38 lead causing Dawn Plitzuweit to take a time out. The biggest play of the quarte came with 2:30 eft when McMahon closed out too hard on a Mara Braun three pointer sending the Gopher to the line. While Braun only hit one of three free throws, McMahon picked up her third foul which would loom large later. The teams again would trade blows via the trey with a pair of Grocholski threes bracketed around a Sira Thienou triple to cut the lead to four at 50-46. But Ole Miss would extend the lead to eight with buckets by McMahon and Thienou to take a 54-46 lead into the third quarter break. The shooting stats had flipped as Ole Miss shot over 73% in the quarter and the Gophers just 41%. If Minnesota was going to extend their season, it would take another fourth quarter comeback.
The Gopher fans in Williams Arena were doing just about anything to will their team back into the game. Both coaches commented on it postgame and how the atmosphere was as good as you could have asked for. The Gopher fans did not give up, and neither did their players.
The Gophers dis that slowing trying to climb back into the game. Tori McKinney grabbed an offensive rebound of a Braun miss just 41 seconds into the quarter and was fouled by McMahon for her fourth of the game. She made both free throws to cut the lead to six before Ole Miss came right back down the floor and made it eight again on the Thienou bucket. Things looked grim for the Gophers after another empty possession down eight with three missed short range shots with 7;15 to play. But the Gophers did not give up. As Plitzuweit said in her post game press conference, “I remember looking at our players in the fourth quarter when they were on defense and it was after either we scored or it was a dead ball scenario and they were smiling and I think we were still down. But it was just the joy that they’re playing with, I felt like they exuded confidence. We talk act in our little kids’ camp, smile and love it, but that was also our message today. You have to love this because this is what you want to play in. This is exactly what you want, the environment that you want to be in. You have to be willing to do little things really, really well.”
The Gophers dug deep and found a way to start clawing back. A Braun jumper cut the lead to six After a Thienou free throw Glenn hit a long triple and the lead was down to four. The teams traded free throws to extend the Rebel lead to five with just under 4:30 to play when the second biggest play of the game by Battle occurred. McMahon had beaten the Gophers several times with the shot clock running down with last second power moves past a Gopher defender for a layup. It looked like it was going to happen once more when Battle came in and took position on the left block. McMahon came in powerfully and plowed through Battle and was called for the charge and her fifth and final foul of the game. The best player for Ole Miss was out of the game permanently with 4:22 to play and a five point Rebel lead. Battle said postgame, “Yeah, she got a ton of buckets out of me, on us, and it was because she was powering through. I was like all right, I’m just going to try to fall and see what happens and it worked out.” Ole Miss head coach Yolette McPhee-McCuin strongly disagreed postgame and then took it from a reasonable argument to bringing a whole different level of delusion into it. “From my point of view, the last call was incorrect. We watched it 1,500 times. One of the things I do understand is that officials are human and environments create them to officiate in a particular type of way. I don’t think that’s why we lost the game. I just know that Cotie is leading scorer, newcomer of the year, all of the things, and she plays 20 minutes. I was in the locker room thinking about other star players on teams. I’ve just never seen them fouled out in a March Madness game. I just haven’t. Paige, Caitlin. I mean, I don’t want to call current ones because then someone will say I’m tampering or something like that. I just haven’t seen the best players get fouled out.”
The charge by Battle sent the Williams Arena crowd into a frenzy and the players seemed to feed off of it. The Gopher defense sure did. After a Thienou jumper with 3:44 to play make it 61-56 Rebels—they would not score for the next 3:41. A pair of Battle free throws cut the lead to three with 2:41 left. After a pair of empty posessions, Mara Braun got the ball in her hands with 1:25 left in the game and decided she was not going to let the Gophers lose this game. She went towards the hoop, and pulled it back out. She went right, and pulled it back out. She looked to drive, stopped stepped back and drained a three pointer with 1:17 to play that tied the game at 61 and sent the Barn into a whole another level of frenzy. Braun described her thinking on that possession. “I just knew I wanted to make a play and do whatever it took. I didn’t want to lose that game, so just had to focus and stick that shot even when I was tired.”
— Minnesota Women's Basketball (@GopherWBB) March 22, 2026
The Barn was hyped. How hyped? Ole Miss brought the ball down and it was so loud that none of the players on the court could hear one another or the coaching staff. Coach McPhee-McCuin yelled in vain as Thienou has the ball near the free throw line but did not realize the shot clock was running down until it was too late. The Barn crown induced a shot clock violation and if it was possible sent the decibel level even higher in exultation. Plitzuweit talking to the fans postgame said that nobody on the court could hear the buzzer. It was so loud the only way you could tell the clock had expired was the light on the backboard.
Minnesota took a timeout to move the ball to halfcourt for their next possession with 41 seconds to play. Minnesota used plenty of clock trying to find the shot they wanted to take. Grocholski worked the ball inside to Hart with 22.5 seconds left and she went to work on Latasha Lattimore. Hart went to the middle of the lane and then pivoted to her right spinning and going up and under Lattimore to put the Gophers in the lead 63-61 with 18 seconds to play.
Sophie Hart (@hartske52) lays in the go-ahead basket with 18.3 remaining for #4 Minnesota to take a 63-61 lead over #5 Ole Miss with a Sweet 16 appearance on the line (video via @gopherhole) pic.twitter.com/ITHvTU9J0d
— NCAA Buzzer Beaters & Game Winners (@NCAABuzzerBters) March 22, 2026
The Rebels called a timeout to try and figure out how to tie the game or take the lead. The ball worked around to Lattimore in the corner who drive the lane on Grocholski who had four fouls. She did not want to commit her fifth or give the Rebels an and one opportunity so Lattimore went up uncontested and make the layup with 3.5 seconds remaining in the game to tie the score at 63. Minnesota called time out and advanced the ball to half court once more. Grocholski inbounded the ball into Battl who was guarded by the 6’4 Lattimore. She dribbled twice before pulling the ball spinning and elevating over Lattimore on a 15 feet jump shot what would be nothing but net. Battle fell to the Williams Arena floor with a look of absolute exultation as the rest of the Gopher roster piled onto her in celebration. She said postgame that these were the things that any little boy or girl dreams about. “I think any basketball player, when you shoot on your own, you’re like, okay, three, two, one, throw it up there and see what happens. It was real life today. (Laughter)” Braun had full confidence that the shot was going down. “We practice it almost every day before every game so it’s nothing really new. She hits those shots every day in practice over our scout guys. So honestly when she took that shot, it took her two dribbles and pullup, everyone I think knew that it was in.” Plitzuweit had all the confidence in her as well. “ When we run that, we ran it today and there were two options. We ran it twice and that was option number one and option number two I’m not going to tell you what that is because maybe we’ll have to use that at another time. There are two primary options within that that are quick hitters. 3.5 seconds isn’t a long time, but certainly she made the play and that’s kind of a patent Amaya Battle baseline pullup jumper. That’s exactly what’s she’s really, really good at.”
— Minnesota Women's Basketball (@GopherWBB) March 22, 2026
But the game was not over. While the clock said triple zero, the referees went to the scorers table and checked the clock. They would put 0.8 seconds back on the clock and Ole Miss would call a timeout to advance the ball to halfcourt. The Rebels got a really good look at the shot due to some miscommunication on Minnesota’s end. Plitzuweit said “We missed an assignment in the last possession with 0.8 seconds left so very thankful that shot didn’t go in. We weren’t supposed to switch on that — anyway. We missed an assignment on that. Thank apply that didn’t go through because that would have been really anti climactic when we all celebrated thinking the game was at that point.” Coach Mcphee-McCuin agreed that they got the shot they wanted. “Well, it was a back screen for Tash and I told Sira to just throw it at the rim because Tash is super athletic and can out-jump anybody on their team, but I said if T is open, you can pass it to her because we’ve also seen her bang seven threes in one game. She hasn’t had a good tournament but we’ve seen her do it. She got the look and as a coach, that’s the look you want.” Tianna Thompson came off of a screen and found herself free on the wing with a wide open look for a three point shot. It would fall just short, and the celebration was on. The Gophers were headed to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2005!
— Minnesota Women's Basketball (@GopherWBB) March 23, 2026
The Minnesota natives plowed the way through for the Gophers. Braun ended with a team leading 17 points on 4-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Battle added 14 points and 11 rebounds along with five assists to complete the double-double. Sophie Hart added 10 points.
Battle and Braun came into the Gophers in the fall of 2022 in the Fabled Minnesota Four recruiting class of Lindsay Whalen. Three of the four remain as Nia Holloway is on the Gopher bench and Mallory Heyer could only look on from Oregon as she sits out the season after transferring. This group came to the U determined to turn the program around. And they accomplished their mission. Battle and Braun were both asked about it postgame. Amaya put it like this, “Yeah, I think it just means a lot. We came here and the first season was not how we planned it. Every year we did a little something but there was a lot of rough times. I’m just super proud that we all stuck to it and the fans because look at what happened. I think it just goes to show if you really want to do something, find people who want to do it with you and stick to it you and you can do it.” Mara concurred, “We came under Coach Whay. We have so much respect for here. She’s still rooting us on every single day. We both get texts from her all the time. She’s paved the way for us, honestly, and when we came here, we wanted to do what she had done and bring the hype back to Minnesota. I think we’re doing that and a lot of it does go to her. It’s just the pride we have for our state, and honestly, just not wanting to let that crowd down. They came out, they showed out for us, like Amaya said, when we really needed them. We love this place. That’s why we stayed. We stuck together and I’m so happy we could do what we just did in front of that crowd and just going to the Sweet 16, it doesn’t seem real.” Plitzuweit also talked about her relationship with Whalen. “I just think she’s someone who I have a lot of respect for, someone who I consider a friend. Someone who has built this program and did it as a player and certainly has done it as a coach and certainly we’re very thankful for what she’s done.” For her part, Whalen also agreed with her former players.
Battle perfectly summarized the game and the Gophers season in one last statement. “Yeah, I think this whole season, honestly, this whole season is a perfect way to wrap up the four years here. We had a lot of ups and downs but we all stuck together and the fans stuck with us. They filled it out today when we needed them. Today will be — it’s bittersweet. I’ll never play at The Barn ever again, but we’re leaving it — I’m leaving it with a win. We’re leaving it with a win and we’re about to go to the Sweet 16 so what better way?”
What better way indeed. Minnesota will play the winner of Monday night’s game between #1 seeded UCLA and #8 seed Oklahoma State next Friday night in Sacramento. That game will tip off at either 6:30 or 9 PM and will air on ESPN.
In the lead-up to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Oregon coach Kelly Graves had a simple observation about Texas women's basketball star Madison Booker.
"She's fun to watch," Graves said. "When you're preparing to play against her, she's not that much fun."
So, it's safe to say that Graves and the Ducks did not have much fun on Sunday evening. The 8,981 fans who made it to Moody Center? Good times.
Booker scored a career-high 40 points as Texas advanced in the NCAA Tournament with a 100-58 win over Oregon. With the second-round shellacking, UT reaches the Sweet 16 round for the fifth time in head coach Vic Schaefer's six-year tenure.
A No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Texas must wait until Monday afternoon to find out if it will meet No. 4 West Virginia or No. 5 Kentucky at Fort Worth's Dickies Arena next Saturday.
Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker (35) celebrates a score during the second round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament against Oregon at the Moody Center on Sunday, March 22, 2026 in Austin. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
"I'm just really proud of these kids," Schaefer said. "They just played their hearts out today. I know everybody in Longhorn Nation's awfully proud of 'em too. So on to the next one. But what a day, really."
In its 42-point victory, Texas got 17 points from sophomore guard Jordan Lee while Teya Sidberry contributed 11 points off the bench. In her final game at Moody Center, fifth-year point guard Rori Harmon had nine points, six assists and five steals. Senior reserve and fan favorite Sarah Graves even got in on the action with two late baskets that gave Texas a 100-point game in the NCAA Tournament for just the third time in school history.
The star of the show, though, was Booker. The junior forward and three-time Associated Press All-American scored 14 points in the first quarter to help Texas grab an early 28-21 lead, and she didn't slow down offensively. Booker had 19 points by halftime and 32 points by the end of the third quarter. She added eight points in the final frame before calling it a night at the fourth quarter's 3:10 mark.
Booker did her damage while shooting 14-for-21 from the field and 10-for-11 from the free throw line. She also grabbed eight rebounds and distributed five assists.
"She's a first team All-American for a reason. And she played like it tonight," Kelly Graves said.
Said Harmon: "I saw something coming today. I knew something special was going to happen. Whether she was going to get a quadruple double or a 40-point game, I saw something in her eye. "
Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker (35) shoots the ball during the second round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament against Oregon at the Moody Center on Sunday, March 22, 2026 in Austin. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Madison Booker enters Longhorn lore with historic performance
The 40 points scored by Booker was a tournament record for the Longhorns. Previously, the Longhorns highest-scoring game in the tournament was 32 points. Clarissa Davis established that mark against Western Kentucky in the semifinals of the 1986 NCAA Tournament. Heather Schreiber later had another 32-point against LSU in the 2003 Elite 8 round.
Booker also recorded the seventh 40-point game in UT's history. Of the six 40-point games that preceded her, only Davis' 45-point performance in a 1987 non-conference game against then-No. 1 Tennessee may have arguably come on a bigger stage.
After Sunday's game, Schaefer wondered aloud if he had ever had a player score 40 points for him over his 21 years as the head coach at Sam Houston State, Mississippi State and Texas. It turns out that he has now been on the sidelines for four 40-point performances, but just Booker and Morgan William's happened in the postseason:
Mississippi State G Morgan William:41 points vs. Baylor on March 26, 2017
Mississippi State C Teaira McCowan:41 points vs. Mississippi Valley: Dec. 28, 2017
Texas F Madison Booker: 40 points vs. Oregon on March 22, 2020
"She's a generational talent," Schaefer said of Booker. "They just don't come around that often."
Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker (35) reacgts after a score during the second round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament against Oregon at the Moody Center on Sunday, March 22, 2026 in Austin. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Madison Booker credits aggressive approach, teammates for big game
During her 40-point game, Booker passed Tiffany Jackson for fifth place on the Longhorns' all-time scoring list. With 1,927 career points, Booker is next eyeing Cinietra Henderson's fourth-place total of 1,983. She remains on pace to challenge Annette Smith's school record of 2,523 points during her senior year.
As for what was working against Oregon (23-13), Booker said she remained aggressive against the Ducks. Much like the postgame podium at Moody Center that also featured Schaefer, Harmon, Lee and Graves, Booker was quick to share the stage with other members of her basketball program.
"I think Coach Schaefer has really just pushed me into taking just a bigger role, just being aggressive on the offensive end, finding my shot, hunting my shot. That's all he says in practice is hunting my shot," Booker said. "I think my coach did a great job just drawing up plays and putting me in the right position just to score the ball easily, kind of. Plus my teammates did a great job too. I can't do it by myself. It's not one-on-five. It's five-on-five out there, and they did a good job just giving me the ball at the right spot, cutting, the details on the plays. So all credit to them, for sure."
Jun 4, 2024; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) looks on during mandatory minicamp at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
At the opening of the NFL’s 2026 legal tampering window, plenty of big-name wide receivers were expected to be on the move, and apart from the Philadelphia Eagles’ A.J. Brown, many of them already have. It’s just that Jaylen Waddle wasn’t expected to be one of them, but the Denver Broncos were able to provide an offer that the Miami Dolphins just couldn’t refuse during the midst of a rebuild, a first-round draft pick.
Fans and analysts alike are split on whether or not the AFC’s 2025 runner-ups overpaid for the 27-year-old receiver, but according to Cam Newton, it’s hard not to love this addition for the Broncos. Although that doesn’t inherently mean that Waddle will be the “WR1” in Denver.
“I don’t think that a true number one exists anymore,” Newton suggested. “Every great receiver has a counterpart… The league turns over every three to five years… Do I think [Jaylen Waddle] has number one skill? Yes. Can he be a number one? Yes. But I don’t think that’s what he needs. Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle, that tandem right, will give defenses fits. It’ll be the greatest thing for the development of Bo Nix.”
Despite his willingness to recognize the “big play potential” of Waddle, as well as his assertion that the former Dolphin “fits what Sean Payton can do in Denver,” Newton simply believes that “the game has shifted away” from the concept of featuring just one premier pass catcher. In other words, “You’ve got to have some type of variety.”
Conveniently enough for them, however, the Broncos will now be featuring one of the most potent variety packs of any offense in the league. Denver is now just the fourth team in the NFL today to possess two wide receivers who both managed to finish inside the top 25 in terms of receiving yards last year.
And when you pair that with the fact that Nix was able to produce 3,931 passing yards with Troy Franklin having the second most receiving yards of any player on the roster, it seems relatively safe to suggest that the 26-year-old will finally break through the 4,000+ passing yards mark for the first time in his career in 2026.
Of course, this was likely one of the many reasons why the Broncos were willing to trade away a trove of draft capital to acquire him in the first place. The sentiment that they would have been the ones to represent the AFC at Super Bowl LX had it not been for a freak injury to Nix’s ankle is still alive and well, as indicated by their retaining of every single player who saw a 50% or more snap share last season.
Simply put, he may not give you the extra fantasy points that you’re looking for, but Waddle may still prove to be the missing piece that can get the Broncos over the hump and back into the Super Bowl for the first time since 2016.
The season ended. The uniform stayed on. The concessions were visited.
And somewhere between the locker room and the exit, Miami Forward, Malik Reneau, stopped for chicken tenders.
Following Miami's 79-69 loss to Purdue in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Enterprise Center, the Hurricanes forward was seen in the arena concourse, still in full uniform, waiting in line for food. The moment, first shared on social media by a Purdue fan account named PUBoilingPoints quickly spread, not because it was flashy but because it felt real.
This was it. His last college game. No more practices, no more March runs. Just a quiet walk out of the arena and a quick stop at the concession stand.
For a second I thought we had a fan in full uniform. Nope, he just needed a chicken basket after that game. pic.twitter.com/7Gg2cNLHpx
Reneau had just come from an emotional postgame press conference, where he reflected on the season and what it meant to him.
"This season meant the world to me," he said.
He also expressed gratitude for first-year Miami head coach Jai Lucas, pointing back to the initial phone call that brought him into the program last offseason.
"That first phone call with coach, I'll always remember it," Reneau said. "Coach put his utmost faith in me and believed in me. I just want to thank him for trusting me and allowing me to fight throughout the season."
Minutes later, he was back among fans, blending into the same lines and crowds that had just watched his career come to an end. According to the account that shared the moment, Reneau took time to interact with people nearby, even with opposing fans.
There's something about that image that sticks.
Not a dramatic exit. Not a long speech. Just a player, still in uniform, trying to process it all in real time.
The scoreboard says Purdue moves on. Miami goes home.
But this is the part you don't see in the bracket.
The walk out. The final moments. The in-between.
And for Reneau, it included one last stop, still wearing the jersey, still in the moment, not quite ready for it to be over.
The bracket is out, and the path to glory is clear. Following a dominant run through the Big Ten Tournament, the University of Michigan ice hockey team has officially been named the No. 1 overall seed for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Their quest for an elusive 10th national title begins this Friday in the Albany Regional, where they will face off against a gritty underdog: the Bentley Falcons.
The Wolverines (29-7-1) enter the postseason playing their best hockey of the year. After a season spent largely atop the national polls, Michigan punctuated its resume with a 7-3 thrashing of Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game at a rocking Yost Ice Arena. Now, they head to MVP Arena in Albany, New York, with a target on their backs and history within their reach.
Michigan’s High-Octane Offense vs. Bentley’s Resilience
Michigan arrives in Albany as the highest-scoring team in the country, averaging a blistering 4.57 goals per game. Led by stars like captain T.J. Hughes and sophomore standout Michael Hage, the Wolverines possess a depth that few teams can match. Their power play is equally terrifying, operating at a 31% conversion rate—the best in the nation.
However, they cannot afford to look past the Falcons. While Michigan is making its record-tying 42nd tournament appearance, Bentley is making just its second. But the Falcons are no strangers to the big stage lately; they secured their spot by winning their second consecutive Atlantic Hockey championship, defeating Sacred Heart 3-2 in a hard-fought final.
Bentley (23-11-5) has proven to be a team that simply refuses to go away. A "fast fact" for the Falcons this season is their incredible poise under pressure: they haven't lost a single overtime game all year, posting a 4-0-5 record when the clock goes past 60 minutes. If they can keep the game close and frustrate the high-flying Michigan attack, they have the mental toughness to pull off the unthinkable.
A Historic Pursuit
For Michigan, this tournament is about ending a nearly three-decade drought. Despite 28 Frozen Four appearances—the most in college hockey history—the Wolverines haven't hoisted the national championship trophy since 1998.
The Albany Regional is stacked with talent, as the winner of Michigan-Bentley will face either Minnesota Duluth or fellow Big Ten foe Penn State on Sunday for a trip to Las Vegas.
The Prediction
Bentley will likely look to "clog the neutral zone" and slow the game down to a crawl, hoping to limit Michigan’s transition opportunities. Expect a tense first period where the Falcons' defense holds strong, perhaps even keeping it scoreless or 1-1 heading into the first intermission.
Ultimately, Michigan’s depth and elite special teams will be the difference. Once the Wolverines get their first power-play opportunity, the floodgates likely open. Michigan’s speed on the big ice in Albany should eventually wear down the Falcons' defensive rotation.
Final Score Prediction:Michigan 5, Bentley 1
Game-Winning Goal: Will Horcoff
Player of the Game: T.J. Hughes (1G, 2A)
Michigan should advance comfortably to the regional final, though Bentley will make them earn it for the first 30 minutes.
How to Watch
The road to the Frozen Four at T-Mobile Arena begins with a puck drop scheduled for Friday, March 27, at 5:30 p.m. ET. Fans can catch the action live onESPNU or stream it via the ESPN App.
With the lights shining brightest, will Michigan’s offensive juggernaut overwhelm the Falcons, or will Bentley’s "never-say-die" attitude result in one of the biggest upsets in tournament history?
TAMPA — It ended Sunday night, not with a net being cut down, but with a locker room that was way too somber, a season that was over way too soon, and a group of Florida Gators who walked off the floor in tears.
The run is over.
And what a run it was.
The No. 1-seeded Florida Gators won’t repeat as national champions. Iowa made sure of that by never backing down and never being intimidated by Florida’s superior size, stature and fan support in Tampa’s Benchmark International Arena.
When Florida guard Xavien Lee drove the length of the court with 4.5 seconds left, most in the arena just assumed the Gators would somehow, someway find a way to win, just like they did last year when they rallied four times in the tournament during their magical march to the national championship.
But when Lee’s ill-fated attempt to pass the ball to Thomas Haugh under the basket was deflected away, it was suddenly over.
Iowa 73, Florida 72.
Haugh buried his head in the hardwood and sobbed. Center Alex Condon lifted his jersey up over his face to cover his tears. Coach Todd Golden just stared downward and shook his head.
Sometimes, March Madness turns into March Sadness. Sometimes, March isn’t about playing your best game. Sometimes, it’s about the opponent beating you at your own game. And that’s what happened to Florida on Sunday night, when it was the Hawkeyes who lived up to Tom Petty’s Gator anthem and refused to back down
The ninth-seeded Hawkeyes held the Gators without a bucket for nearly 10 minutes in the first half. They held their own on the boards against the nation’s most dominant rebounding team. They beat Florida’s press and got Alvaro Folgueiras a wide-open 3-pointer with 4.5 seconds left that provided the winning margin.
“I just knew we would be more physical than them,” Iowa center Tavian Banks said.
Golden didn’t disagree.
“This is a tough one for us to swallow,” the UF coach said. “We’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.”
That’s the cruelty of the NCAA Tournament. A season that begins in October, a team that spends months building rhythm, identity and belief, and it all comes down to 40 minutes where the ball doesn’t bounce your way, the shots don’t fall, the other team controls the tempo, and suddenly the magic is gone.
Just like that.
But don’t let the way it ended make you forget what this team did. Don’t let one loss erase what was one of the most dominant stretches of basketball this program has ever seen.
Because this team was special. Two consecutive No. 1 seeds for the first time in school history. A national championship last year and an SEC championship this year. For much of this season, they overwhelmed people. They ran teams off the floor. They rebounded like giants and ran like gazelles. They turned defense into fast breaks and fast breaks into avalanches. For the last half of this season, they didn’t look like just the best team in the SEC.
They looked like the best team in the country.
And for those of us who remember what Florida basketball used to be; this season was another reminder of just how far this program has come.
I grew up in Gainesville going to Gator basketball games as a kid. I went to the University of Florida. I’ve been attending and/or covering Florida basketball games across five different decades. So when I watch a season end like this, I don’t just see the loss.
I see the journey.
I see Alligator Alley — that old, dark, cramped gym that held about 5,000 people with pull-out bleachers and more echoes than energy. I see coach Norm Sloan trying to convince people that Florida could matter in basketball. I see coach Lon Kruger catching lightning in a bottle and taking the Gators to the Final Four in 1994, only to watch the program fall apart again two years later.
I see what this program was before Billy Donovan arrived.
And that’s why seasons like this still mean something different to some of us.
Because Billy Donovan didn’t just win games; he changed expectations. He built a program that expected to go to the NCAA Tournament. That expected to go deep and compete for championships. When he won back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007, he didn’t just hang banners; he changed the identity of Florida basketball forever.
But I’ll be honest: When Donovan left, I thought the magic might slowly fade. I thought maybe Florida was a great program because of Billy Donovan, not a great program on its own.
I was wrong about that.
Todd Golden proved that.
Golden won a national championship in his third year. Then he came back this season with a team good enough to be a No. 1 seed and make another run at a title. Do you know how hard that is in modern college basketball?
That’s why this loss hurts. Because this team had a real chance to do something historic. If they had won it all again, Florida would have joined one of the rarest clubs in modern college basketball — back-to-back national champions. And think about this: Florida would have been responsible for two of those back-to-back runs in the modern era.
That’s how far this program has come.
But even though the season ended Sunday, the big picture hasn’t changed. Florida isn’t going anywhere. This isn’t a one-year story. This is a program story. This is what Florida basketball is now.
And that’s the part the younger fans don’t fully understand yet.
They see sold-out arenas and No. 1 seeds and they think this is normal. They think this is just what Florida does.
They didn’t see the empty gyms. They didn’t see the decades when nobody cared.
So when a season ends like this, they see disappointment.
People like me see perspective.
Yes, the Gators were upset on Sunday. Yes, this team was good enough to win another national championship. Yes, this loss will sting for a long time for those players and coaches.
But one day, we’ll look back on this team the way we look back on so many Florida teams now — not just for how it ended, but for how it played, how it competed, and how it carried the program forward.
Because that’s what this team did.
They didn’t hang a banner this year. But they added another chapter to the greatest era of Florida basketball; an era that those of us who sat in Alligator Alley still can’t quite believe is real.
The run is over.
But what a helluva run it was.
Email me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Hit me up on social media @BianchiWrites and listen to my new radio show “Game On” every weekday from 3 to 6 p.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and 969TheGame.com/listen
The San Francisco 49ers might've had to replace their entire kicking battery this offseason, with Eddy Pineiro, Jon Weeks and Thomas Morstead all set to hit free agency. However, after re-signing Pineiro and Weeks, they only had one hole in the room.
Instead of bringing back Morstead for another year, the 49ers signed Corliss Waitman in the first two weeks of the new league year to be their punter for the 2026 season.
Before Waitman boots his first punt for San Francisco, let's take this chance to get to know him.
Life before College
Waitman's father was playing basketball in Belgium when Corliss was born in 1995. They moved to the Netherlands before eventually landing in Florida when the younger Waitman turned 15. While he originally played soccer, he transitioned to football at Milton High School in Milton, Florida.
All-Conference punter
The two-star recruit committed to South Alabama for the 2014 season and spent five years with the Jaguars. In 40 games over four seasons that he actually played, he punted 158 times and averaged 42.7 yards per punt while earning All-Sun Belt honors once.
Waitman transferred to Mississippi State in 2019, but with the NCAA denying another year of eligibility, he sat out that season.
Six-year veteran
Waitman signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and had three separate stints with the team. He also signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears at different points in his six years.
In 52 career games, he's punted 230 times. averaging 46.4 yards per punt and 41.7 net yards per punt. 36.5% of Waitman's punts landed inside the opposing team's 20-yard line.
Rebecca Leslie charged up an enthusiastic Winnipeg crowd firing an overtime winner through Montreal's Ann-Renee Desbiens to lift the Charge to a 2-1 victory.
For Leslie, it was her 12th of the season, tied with Minnesota's Kelly Pannek for the league lead, and for the Charge, it was their first win of the season against the Montreal Victoire.
The win moved Ottawa within one point of Toronto for the fourth and final playoff spot, and the overtime loss kept Montreal only two points back from Minnesota and Boston who sit tied for first in the PWHL.
Playing in front of a sold out crowd of 15,225 at Winnipeg's Canada Life Centre as part of the PWHL Takeover Tour, neither team managed to score in the opening frame as Desbiens and Ottawa's Gwyneth Philips kept the game knotted at 0-0.
In the second period, Peyton Hemp walked the goal line toward the net before shuttling a pass to the backdoor where Gabbie Hughes made no mistake on her one-timer.
Passing the midway point of the game, Abby Roque won a draw in the offensive zone cleanly back to Nicole Gosling. Wasting no time with the puck, Gosling slung a wrist shot toward the net that beat Philips five hole on a goal she certainly would like back. Gosling's second of the season was the final tally of regulation as the teams played a scoreless third period en route to a 1-1 tie.
In overtime however, Rebecca Leslie wasted no time for the Charge. With Abby Roque in the box for a late in regulation slash, Leslie came down the right side before wristing the winner through Desbiens.
Montreal is back in action Wednesday against Minnesota before heading to Detroit for another stop on the PWHL Takeover Tour against New York on Saturday. Ottawa is now off for a full week before they head out west to face Seattle.
PHILADELPHIA – Alex Karaban played like a man trying to keep his career alive on Sunday night.
UConn’s all-time winningest player scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Huskies back to the Sweet 16 for the third time in his career with a 73-57 win over fellow blue-blood UCLA at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
Karaban made nine of his 16 shots from the field and extended the program’s career 3-point record to 284 with four triples
It will be the program’s 20th appearance in the Sweet 16 all-time and third under coach Dan Hurley as the No. 2 seeded Huskies improved to 31-5 on the year. UConn will meet No. 3 seed Michigan State in Washington D.C. for a 9:45 p.m. tip-off on Friday.
Karaban’s effort was supported by 17 points from freshman Braylon Mullins, who made a pair of triples on six attempts, and 11 from Jayden Ross, who left a major mark on the game in the first half. Tarris Reed Jr. followed his historic performance in the first round with 10 points and 13 rebounds on Sunday, and Silas Demary Jr. returned from his ankle injury going a team-best plus-22 with two points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals in 22 minutes.
Demary checked in for the first time after the first media timeout with 14:15 left in the first half and UConn trailing, 14-11.
Neither team scored for the next three minutes, until after the second media timeout when Bruins’ bigs Eric Dailey Jr. (12 points) and Xavier Booker (13 points) went up strong inside for a pair of buckets. But Karaban nailed his second 3-pointer of the game and scored 11 of UConn’s first 15 points.
Smith got a tough basket to go and Ross drew a foul as he nailed a 3-pointer – the first Husky other than Karaban to do so on Sunday. Ross added a second from deep to give UConn its first lead of the game, 23-21, and was fouled on another 3-point attempt to score nine-consecutive points for the Huskies, who made seven straight shots from the field after a 4-for-16 start. The junior defensive specialist was active in creating deflections as UCLA turned the ball over seven times in the first half to UConn’s eight.
Mullins, after starting his NCAA Tournament career 0-for-11 from 3, found his stroke and nailed a pair in the final three minutes as Karaban, Ball and Reed sat with two fouls a piece, sending the Huskies into halftime with a 38-33 lead.
UCLA came out of the break on a 9-2 run to regain the lead, but Karaban answered by scoring 11 of UConn’s first 13 points in the second half and starting a 14-0 run. After Reed made his first shot from the field, Karaban landed his fourth 3-pointer of the night to push the Huskies’ advantage to 56-44 with 10:41 to go.
But just as UConn looked like it might run away with the game, Dailey revived his strong second half with a 3-pointer and a three-point play under the basket as the Bruins clawed back to within four around the eight-minute mark.
The Huskies snatched the momentum back after Mullins was fouled on a 3-pointer and Demary found Ross for an emphatic two-handed slam. Then Karaban blocked guard Trent Perry at the other end and UCLA coach Mick Cronin was called for a technical foul, which allowed Karaban a pair of free throws. UConn kept the possession and Mullins finished inside to make it a 13-point game, the largest lead of the night for either team, with four and half minutes to play.
The Virginia Cavaliers’ season ended earlier than expected with a 79-72 loss to Tennessee in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Sixth-seeded Tennessee advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth consecutive season and will face second-seeded Iowa State in Chicago.
Third-seeded Virginia finished 30-6 in its first season under coach Ryan Odom. The Cavaliers sought their first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 2019, when they won the national championship. Despite falling short, Virginia capped a strong season as ACC runner-up and reestablished itself as a national contender.
Tennessee seized control early with a 12-0 run in the first half and maintained the lead for most of the game. Virginia rallied late, taking a 71-70 lead on a 3-pointer by Thijs De Ridder with two minutes remaining, its first lead since early in the first half.
Tennessee responded with key free throws down the stretch to regain and extend the lead. Virginia managed only one point in the final minute, while Tennessee converted six consecutive free throws to secure the victory. Ja’Kobi Gillespie led the Volunteers with 21 points.
Virginia trailed by five at halftime and by nine midway through the second half before mounting a comeback behind Dallin Hall and De Ridder. Hall scored on consecutive drives to cut the deficit, then assisted Johann Grünloh on a fast-break dunk that brought Virginia within two. De Ridder later tied the game at 66 with two free throws, setting up a tightly contested finish.
Odom, who took over the program after leaving VCU, assembled a roster with 12 newcomers, including seven transfers. The group developed strong chemistry and exceeded expectations throughout the season.
De Ridder led Virginia with 22 points, including a season-high four 3-pointers. Jacari White added a season-high 26 points in the Cavaliers’ first-round win, while Hall contributed seven points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the loss. Chance Mallory and Hall scored 10 points each against Tennessee, with Mallory adding six rebounds.
Virginia’s roster included five seniors, making the loss a difficult end to their collegiate careers. A late possession review upheld a call favoring Tennessee, helping preserve the Volunteers’ lead in the closing seconds.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Alex Karaban scored a career-high 27 points and had Bill Murray and the rest of the UConn crowd roaring with each splashed 3-pointer, helping send the second-seeded Huskies back to the Sweet 16 with a 73-57 win over UCLA in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday night.
The Huskies (31-5) will play third-seeded Michigan State in the East Region semifinals on Friday night in Washington.
Coach Dan Hurley, who won consecutive national championships in 2023 and 2024, has the Huskies back in a familiar spot after they were bounced in the second round a year ago by eventual national champion Florida.
The Gators are gone already in March Madness. The games will go on for the Huskies.
Karaban was about a one-man show for UConn in the first half with a pair of 3s and 11 points and the fourth-year senior remains in the hunt for this third national championship.
The Bruins (24-12) had no answer for Karaban or how to slow the rest of the Huskies as they gamely tried to make due in the absence of leading scorer Tyler Biloudeau. Xavier Booker led the Bruins with 13 points.
Murray — his son, Luke, is a UConn assistant coach — got in on the fun during the Huskies’ game-changing 14-0 run and even did the “ 6-7 ” hand gesture during a timeout.
Karaban, UConn's career 3-point leader, punctuated the spurt that made it 56-44 with his fourth 3 of the game and the Huskies were never seriously challenged again.
Karaban is a rarity in college basketball in this name, image, likeness era that has rewarded players with the freedom of yearly transfers as they chase greater riches. He's played all four seasons — and started all but one of his 147 games — with the Huskies and has now been rewarded with yet another Sweet 16.
UConn's Tarris Reed Jr. would be hard-pressed to duplicate the monster performance of 31 points and 27 rebounds he had in the opener. He followed with a more modest double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds. Braylon Mullins scored 17 points for UConn.
The Huskies entered March Madness in a bit of a slump by their championship standard after a loss to St. John's in the Big East Tournament title game made them 2-2 over their final four games.
UConn got the last laugh in Philadelphia — well, at least 76ers center Andre Drummond did when the former Huskies star came over to tease fellow Sixers center and former UCLA standout Adem Bona in the waning moments.
UCLA plays without Tyler Bilodeau because of a sprained knee
Bilodeau seemed on track to play but remained sidelined because of a sprained knee suffered last week against Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament.
He averaged 17.6 points and was an All-Big Ten third-team selection.
UConn gets good news, bad news on injury front
Jaylin Stewart again sat out with a knee injury that’s sidelined him since late February. Silas Demary Jr., a first team All-Big East selection, returned to the lineup and played 22 minutes after he sustained an ankle injury in the Big East Tournament.
Skyy Clark has plenty to chew on after tough loss for UCLA
Skyy Clark could not cap his season with a Sweet 16. He only finished with a capped tooth.
Clark lost a tooth in UCLA's first-round win against UCF and needed overnight dental surgery for repairs. Just like Steph Curry, Clark chewed on his new mouthpiece throughout the game.
One UCLA fan bellowed at Clark, “keep firing, Skyy! Keep firing!”
With his back to the stands, Clark nodded at the encouragement – and kept firing.
He buried a 3 for a 42-40 lead — one of the last bright spots for UCLA — and finished with 11 points.
Up next
The Huskies continue their quest for their third national championship under Hurley.
The game didn't lack drama as it featured a chippy tie up in the first half, resulting in a double technical foul against Florida's Alex Condon and Iowa's Alvaro Folgueiras, and a game-deciding 3-pointer in the final seconds to lift Iowa to the upset.
Here's everything Florida head coach Todd Golden said following the Gators' season-ending loss:
Opening statement:"Overall a disappointing result for us tonight, but credit Iowa. I thought they played well, especially in the first half. Had us on our heels a little bit, and I thought they were physically tougher than us in the first half. And it took a little bit for us to regain our footing and then they got off to a good start in the second half.
Really proud of our guys and the way we fought. Obviously came back and took the lead, got up by as many as — I think we were up three or four at one point late in the second half, and just did a poor job executing on both ends in the last two minutes.
I thought, obviously, on the last play, we wanted to take a foul to prevent them from getting off a three, and they got away from us. We weren't able to take it and they knocked it down, so credit to them for that. Just a tough way to go out.
But really proud of my group. I love these guys. They did a great job for us all year, gaining the second 1 seed in a row, and tough one for us to swallow. We'll be thinking about this one for a while."
On Rueben Chinyelu only getting up one shot: "I think it was more of a function of their ball screens and the way they guard ball screens. We were not strong enough around the rim in the first half, nor were we able to get any deep post catches. A lot of his opportunities around the glass as well, he had no offensive rebounds tonight. So I think a combination of that was the reason he was not as effective as normal."
On the explanation he received from officials after the first-half scrap featuring Alex Condon:"Yeah, I was told that they threw a punch, but it didn't connect so it didn't go any higher than a flagrant 1. I'm not exactly sure what this means. I still don't understand why Condo got a technical. They were both fighting for the ball equally, condo was just stronger and pulled him down to the floor. But they were both grabbing the ball. It was a confusing play and I'm not really sure how that landed on that result."
On the way the team rallied and the inspired play of Alex Condon:"Yeah, he played great, had great spirit. To Condo's point, I thought we competed. We were competing hard, we just didn't play well enough early.
Offensively I thought we missed a lot of close range shots we normally put in. We were a little loose with the basketball in the first half, some uncharacteristic turnovers that you just can't make in a game like this if you want to win. We had two guys step out of bounds in the first half. We threw a ball away that -- unforced turnovers that showed up. And some bad transition defense decisions that led to easy run outs for them.
Obviously when we started applying some pressure full court I thought we were able to change the complexion of the game. We got a decent -- a couple basket lead, and they hit some big shots. And as I said, we had that two-point lead late. We wanted to foul them, force them to make a couple free throws and then have a chance to have the ball with a chance to win the game in regulation. And if we didn't, go to overtime.
We had a feeling they were going to try to end it and try to walk us off and we just did not execute on the last play.
As I told the team, it was a 67-possession game and a lot is going to be made out of the last possession, as it should in a game like this. But there were a lot of things that we did not do in the other 66 possessions that allowed the game to be in that type of situation where they could hit a three to walk us off.
That possession is going to be talked about a lot, but I think when we watch the tape, especially in the first half, we didn't finish well enough around the rim and we did not prevent them from finishing well enough around the rim. Even though we were only down two, I felt like they controlled the first half.
I thought we did a good job after they got out to that 12-point lead with 14 minutes to go. Obviously we played really well the last 14 minutes, but we dug ourselves too big of a hole."
On the success denying Iowa's Bennett Stirtz but the Hawkeyes still making tough shots: "Yeah, that's what they did. I think you've got to give credit to Banks. He was really good around the rim. We tried to go vertical. I thought we did a decent job getting up there and trying to prevent him, but he wasn't feeling our verticality as much as I would have expected him to, and so putting the ball in.
And conversely on the other side of the floor, I think we had four or five point-blank lay-ups that we normally put in that just rolled out, a tip in we couldn't get. And it just wasn't going our way. And I was so proud that we were only down two. And they executed really well coming out of the break. They made tough shots. I think they were 6 for 6 coming out of the break.
For us to hold them 14 for 26, we did a better job after that, but we just dug ourselves too big of a hole. It's a tough team to come back on. Obviously we did a decent job to do that, but too little, too late that way."
On if the final play was designed for Xaivian Lee to dish it or take the shot: "I would have preferred him to obviously get to the rim on that. I thought he had a good advantage on the guy that was defending him. His defender was not in legal guarding position, so I feel like if he would have kind of jumped back into the body and shot a lay-up, we would have either scored it or got fouled.
But a split-second decision, he's out on the floor. And he obviously played a really good game for us tonight. We've got to live with the results on that, but I thought he did a good job getting around his guy. I would have loved to have seen him go finish it."
On the gameplan during Iowa's last possession:"The idea was to keep the ball out of Bennett's hands, let him throw it to somebody else. So we wanted a face guard and throw it to somebody else and then take a foul and put one of their role players in a pressure situation. But they ran a little kind of double stagger, got him loose.
We just didn't make a good enough play off the ball there to stop him from getting down the court, and then we had to make a split-second decision and we just didn't make the right one.
Again, I think we had a good plan in terms of what we were trying to do, but we didn't execute it very well. They still had to step up and make a tough shot in a big moment, and they did that."
On what he said during the timeout around the 14-minute mark before UF went on a 12-4 run:"I'm not sure it was much different that what we normally say with the exception of we wanted to create a little more tempo and try to see if we could make them more uncomfortable offensively. Because they were just getting what they wanted.
We're generally a really great half court defensive team. We have been all year. But they were bothering us in the short role and their bigs were doing a good job finishing at the rim. And so we wanted to make them play a little sped up, and it bothered them a little bit. Obviously they were less effective down the stretch. So maybe we should have gone to it a little bit earlier.
But I think our guys understood that it was about that time that if we didn't figure out a way to make a little headway in terms of the lead, that was going to be tough to come back.
On if he thought Iowa did anything specific to exploit Florida: "Again, I think we did a good job guarding the three-point line. We did a great job on Stirtz. If their plan was to try to finish over our size at the rim, I would live with that any day of the week. That's been a really bad formula for teams all year. We've been one of the best two-point field goal defenses in America. We just didn't to it tonight.
So credit them. I thought they were tough and physical and did a good job finishing around the rim and we did not. We did not do a good enough job preventing them from finishing it, but if that's what they saw and they exploited it, then credit to them."
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 04: Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) warms up before the NFL game between the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings on January 4th, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Well, yours truly almost forgot about the results of our SB Nation Reacts poll about our Minnesota Vikings for this week. But fear not, for I have remembered just before I was about ready to turn in on this Sunday night, so let’s get you those results, shall we?
Yes. . .we shall!
We had two questions for you this week, both of which involved members of the current roster. The first one has to do with edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and whether or not you think the Vikings should trade him away. The answer to this one comes as a bit of a surprise to yours truly.
Of those who responded to our poll, 58% of you think that the Vikings should trade him away if the team can get a first-round pick for him. There were a couple of teams who were interested, most notably the Philadelphia Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks, who pick towards the bottom of Round 1, but I’m not sure if Rob Brzezinski and company could pry that pick away from them or not.
After that, 26% of our respondents said not to trade him away, while 16% think that the team should trade him away even if they couldn’t get a first-rounder for him. I would assume that such a deal would involve at least a second-round selection and not just giving him away for peanuts or anything like that. But I’m surprised that the margin between trading him away for a first and not trading him at all was so wide, to be honest.
The other question had to do with the quarterback position, specifically whether or not you thought J.J. McCarthy was done in Minnesota after the signing of Kyler Murray. This question came before the signing of Carson Wentz. . .whether or not you believe such a signing would affect McCarthy’s status in Minnesota. Either way, however, it appears that common sense has prevailed among those who answered our poll questions for this week.
Of those who participated in our poll, only 26% of them said they thought McCarthy’s time in Minnesota was over with in light of the Murray signing. I’ve gone over my feelings about McCarthy and why it would be ridiculous to give up on him already in this space on numerous occasions, so I won’t beat the proverbial dead horse any further. But I am happy to say that I’m in a larger majority on this one than I thought I might be.
As always, we want to thank everyone who participated in our poll for this week. We’ll have more of these going forward, so keep your eyes open!
Cade Cunningham(L) and LeBron James(R) Credit: Imagn Images
Some of the best players in NBA history have done more than just score and defend. They elevate others around them and make a team better which ultimately brings collective success, and Kendrick Perkins, who has played with some pretty big legends, feels Cade Cunningham is among them.
Perkins, who has shared the court with LeBron James during his time on the Cleveland Cavaliers, recently shed light on how players like him and James Harden make sure those around them also shine. And that’s what Cunningham is doing at the Pistons, according to the 2008 champ.
The player Perkins chose to highlight to make his point was Jalen Duren, who after Cunningham, has been the most important player for Detroit in the 2025-26 season.
“Cade is so great, he’s giving me LeBron James and James Harden vibes,” Perkins said on the Road Trippin’ podcast. “When you talk about Bron and James, the one thing we can agree on is a lot of motherf
***** that player with them, had career years…” *
Perkins named a few players who thrived alongside the likes of Harden James. Tristan Thompson, Clint Capela, and Ivica Zubac were among them. Zubac, in fact, went on record earlier this season to explain how Harden’s presence on the Clippers helped him enjoy the best basketball of his career.
“Guess who else is having a career year? Jalen Duren, All Star” Perkins added. “80% of his buckets come from a pick and roll, down screens…”
It’s a good catch. Duren has averaged 18.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, and has become an invaluable piece for the Pistons’ project. Cunningham, because of his elite ball facilitation and the attention he draws from defenders on the court, allows Duren to express himself to his fullest.
That’s also what James did, especially during his Cleveland Cavs championship run in 2016, when he made a lot of his teammates look better than they were perceived to be before.
Sadly, for Duren, he will have to go at it alone, for now. Cunningham, last week, got diagnosed with a collapsed lung which has ruled him out of action indefinitely. Can he perform the same without the former No. 1 draft pick out on court? Perkins would say no.
It was a valiant effort but the UCLA Bruins ran out of offense against the UConn Huskies in the second round of the NCAA tournament. With Tyler Bilodeau missing a third-straight game the Bruins’ scoring ran out of juice, falling 73-57.
UCLA missed Tyler Bilodeau's offense once again
For the second-straight game, it seemed as if the Bruins would be getting Bilodeau back. But once again UCLA had to face a do-or-die game without their leading scorer. Unlike the Bruins’ first round win over UCF, the supporting pieces didn’t step up on Sunday.
The Bruins defense did an admirable job
Mick Cronin, who picked up a technical foul for clapping, had his UCLA defense humming, as they had the UConn offense all out of sorts for most of the first half. However, the Bruins weren’t able to create enough separation while the Husky offense struggled, as UConn roared back and led 38-33 at halftime.
UConn legend Alex Karabon led the way
The longtime UConn forward Alex Karabon drowned the Bruins. Karabon scored a career-high 27 points, with the four-year starter knocking down four threes. Karabon calmed the waters for UConn, who turned the ball over 16 times and shot 47% from the field.
The supporting cast didn't do enough for a UCLA win
In the win against UCF, Eric Dailey Jr, Xavier Booker and Trent Perry all played strong games. The trio was less impactful on Sunday, combining for 30 points on 11-27 shooting. Donovan Dent struggled again to shoot the ball, ending his lone season with UCLA with 11 points on 2-9 shooting.
UCLA fans can wonder about what would have happened with a healthy Bilodeau
It’s a frustrating end to the season for Cronin’s team. Perhaps things could have unfolded differently with a healthy Bilodeau but UCLA’s offense couldn’t find enough offense in the loss. The Bruins battled, but the up-and-down season has come to a close.
Chase Meidroth drove in the first Sox run on Sunday, slashing a double into the right-field corner. | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
I have to be honest with you, reader, the players on the field in this one were about as tired of Spring Training as I am. Sean Burke was solid in his final tuneup before adding “Day After Opening Day Starter” to his CV, allowing just a pair of runs over five innings. Unfortunately, he wound up the hard-luck loser when his lineup failed to make a dent in the formidable pitching operation of the defending AL West champs.
Burke registered six strikeouts in those five innings of work despite severely diminished fastball velocity, averaging a hair faster than 92 mph on his heater tonight after sitting in the 94-95 mph range all spring. Given that it’s his last outing before the games actually count, it could be that the sophomore righthander just wasn’t trying to fully air it out and risk being fatigued for his scheduled regular season start on Saturday. Still, it’s something to keep an eye on.
And the diminished velo was directly responsible for one of the two runs he allowed, when he placed a fastball on a tee up in the zone to Mitch Garver, who is not an impossible hitter to get a high fastball by if it’s not 91 mph.
One pitcher who wasn’t working with diminished stuff? Bryan Woo, who gave up a double to Andrew Benintendi to lead off the game and then proceeded to sit down the next 16 Sox hitters, four of them by strikeout. He brushed 97 mph on a buzzing heater and allowed just an 84 mph average exit velocity, with no one topping 100 mph between Benintendi’s double and a 107 mph line out from Munetaka Murakami in the fifth.
Burke gave way to lefty Chris Murphy, who threw a scoreless sixth inning in what will presumably be his last appearance before opening the season on a major league roster for the first time. In the Chicago half of the inning, it was the newest member of the club who finally got to Woo, as Reese McGuire’s one-out double snapped the Sox out of it. Woo nonetheless looked to be on the verge of escaping the jam before a fantastic piece of hitting from Chase Meidroth shot the ball into the corner and brought home a run.
Woo departed after that inning, but he was followed by Andrés Muñoz, and you just know that late-spring depth Sox bats had a fruit fly’s chance against him, so that was that. The rest of the game was played as if both teams were ready to board a plane back to their respective cities. The seventh and eighth for the Sox were handled by non-roster players Lucas Sims (who pitched ably) and Chase Plymell (who did not, allowing the Mariners to tack on two more). Big righty Riley Gowens capped things off with a scoreless ninth for the Pale Hose, his last work before potentially heading down to Charlotte for the first regular bullpen work of his career.
The White Sox did claw one back in the eighth courtesy of a solo jack from, you guessed it, McGuire again. The guy must have missed being in pinstripes.
The ninth was handled for Seattle by erstwhile Red Sox starter Cooper Criswell, who allowed an extremely on-brand bloop single to Rikuu Nishida to nearly spark a comeback. The Sox loaded the bases with one out against Criswell before the crafty righty shut things down, and that was all she wrote for the this one. The Sox drop back to .500 for the spring, with one more chance to finish on a positive note before finalizing the roster and cranking things up for good.
That one chance will happen tomorrow afternoon, as this edition of Spring Training concludes for the Sox in Mesa against the Athletics. First pitch is at 2 p.m. CT, with Anthony Kay taking the ball with one more chance to prepare before his return to the big leagues. Leigh Allan — 5-0 on coverage this spring — has the game, and we’ll see you there!
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — KLST Season Pass returns for Week 28 and as always, Griff McClellan provides coverage of everything Angelo State Athletics.
The latest jam-packed spring sports edition features the following headlines:
-Rams baseball bounces back with a much-needed series win at Texas A&M International.
-No. 10 Rambelles softball defends its home field with a sweep over Lone Star Conference newcomer UT Dallas.
-Rambelles tennis dominates competition in Orlando, Florida, extending its program-best 14-0 start.
-The Rams and Rambelles track and field teams combine for 10 provisional marks to launch outdoor season.
-Rambelles golf concludes play at the Patriot Invitational.
KLST Season Pass airs Sunday nights at 10:30 p.m. Central Standard Time. The show recaps the week of Concho Valley athletics, ranging from the high school level to Angelo State and more.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A dominant frontcourt helped Florida earn another No. 1 seed and positioned the defending national champion Gators for a chance at a repeat.
They ran into a more physical team.
Ninth-seeded Iowa played tougher inside the paint and across the court, knocking No. 1 seed Florida out of the NCAA Tournament with a 73-72 victory on Sunday in the second round. The Gators became the first top seed eliminated from this year's March Madness, and the first since Xavier in 2018 to fall to a No. 9 seed.
“If their plan was to try to finish over our size at the rim, I would live with that any day of the week,” Florida coach Todd Golden said. “That’s been a really bad formula for teams all year. We’ve been one of the best 2-point field goal defenses in America. We just didn’t to it tonight. Credit to them.
“I thought they were tough and physical and did a good job finishing around the rim and we did not. We did not do a good enough job preventing them from finishing it, but if that’s what they saw and they exploited it, then credit to them.”
Tavion Banks, who led Iowa with 20 points, said he knew the Hawkeyes could pull off an upset after reviewing Florida’s games.
“The physicality. We’re in two different conferences; we’re in the Big Ten, they’re in the SEC,” he said. “But I just know we’re more physical. And after just watching the film and just seeing what they were doing, I just knew that we had an opportunity to win the game.”
It came down to the final seconds after Florida rallied from a 12-point deficit and had a 72-70 lead with 8.9 seconds remaining. Golden wanted his team to foul to prevent a 3-pointer, but Bennett Stirtz broke through the full-court press and saw Alvaro Folgueiras wide open in the corner. Folgueiras nailed the 3.
Xaivian Lee drove hard to the basket but tried unsuccessfully to dish the ball to Thomas Haugh, and the Gators didn’t even get a final shot.
“I felt he stepped up, maybe I could have shot a floater or pull up or something,” Lee said. “I was going pretty fast, and I thought I had time for the dunk in, but I don’t know.”
Alex Condon led Florida with 21 points, Haugh had 19 and Lee added 17.
Rueben Chinyelu, who broke a school record with his 19th double-double of the season in a 59-point win over Prairie View on Friday night, was held to zero points and one rebound in 19 minutes.
“In the first half, I was just out of it,” Haugh said. “I just feel bad. I didn’t make any plays, didn’t do anything to help the team out to win the first half. But yeah, second half I thought we started to get in it. But they’re a good team, and they just played way harder than us and hit more shots and just made more plays in the end.”
Chinyelu, who had four fouls, only took one shot.
“We were not strong enough around the rim in the first half, nor were we able to get any deep post catches,” Golden said. “A lot of his opportunities around the glass as well, he had no offensive rebounds tonight. So I think a combination of that was the reason he was not as effective as normal.”
Florida finished 27-8, missing an opportunity to advance to the Sweet 16 and continue its quest for another title.
An emotional Haugh stayed down on the floor after failing to handle Lee’s pass at the end. Lee also was bent down in frustration.
“I’m going to remember this feeling for a while,” Condon said. “I’m just going to use it as motivation. I think it’s going to make us better players individually just to know what this feeling is like, working hard all year to get into this position as a 1 seed and just letting it get away from us a little bit.”
Lindsey Vonn is continuing to regain her strength just over a month after a major crash at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
In a new Instagram post shared over the weekend, the athlete is seen performing six unassisted pull-ups before lowering herself onto a step stool, returning to her crutches and fist-bumping her trainer to celebrate the milestone.
"First set of pull ups post surgery," she wrote in the caption. "Slowly getting there!"
Earlier this year, the decorated skier suffered back-to-back injuries. Vonn tore the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, in her left knee on Jan. 30 during a World Cup race in Switzerland. Then, on Feb. 8 at the Milan Cortina Games, she crashed about 13 seconds after starting the women's downhill event -- one of her specialties -- on the Olympia delle Tofane slope in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Following the Olympics crash, Vonn was airlifted by helicopter from the course to an Italian hospital. She also documented her return home, flying from Italy back to the United States before being transferred by ambulance to another hospital.
Stefano Rellandini/AFP via Getty Images - Lindsey Vonn inspects the slope before the second official training for the women's downhill event during Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo on February 6, 2026.
Vonn later shared that she suffered multiple serious injuries, including a complex tibia fracture, fibular head fracture, tibial plateau fracture and compartment syndrome in her leg. She said she underwent a six-hour surgery, including a fasciotomy, and later credited her doctor with saving her leg from amputation.
She said at the time that the injuries and recovery came with significant pain.
"I was really struggling. Pain was a little bit out of control, and I had a blood transfusion, and that helped me a lot," she said, adding that "it was definitely not the way I wanted to end my Olympics."
In a post on X last month, Vonn acknowledged the difficult days of recovery but said she is determined to push forward.
"Today was a hard day… my physical battle began the second I got hurt but the mental battle started today,” she wrote. "...I do know hard days are coming but I will find a way back to the top of the mountain of life."
NORTHEAST KANSAS (KSNT) – This week’s episode of K-Nation focuses on Kansas’ loss in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and the formal introduction of new K-State men’s basketball head coach Casey Alexander. Plus, an exclusive one-on-one with NCAA Triple Jump National Champion Daniela Wamokpego.
The No. 4-seed Kansas Jayhawks fell just short against No. 5-seed St. John’s in round two of the NCAA Tournament, 67-65, thanks to a last-second buzzer beater
New K-State men’s basketball head coach Casey Alexander was formally introduced on March 16
K-State women’s basketball is bounced from the WBIT Tournament in round two, following a 83-75 loss to California
Kansas women’s hoops advances to the WBIT Quarterfinals on March 26 following a 62-55 victory over Rice
Kansas baseball grabbed a 10-0 run-rule win over Mizzou in the Buck O’Neil Classic Wednesday, before sweeping Houston in a weekend series
KU softball grabbed a series win over Utah with a 10-5 win in Sunday’s rubbermatch
Despite a 12-1 win over Arizona State Sunday, the Wildcats dropped the conference series 2-1
K-Nation’s Sydney Clark sat down with K-State National Champion triple jumper Daniela Wamokpego in an exclusive one-on-one interview
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If you want to know what kind of team Alabama baseball is becoming under Rob Vaughn, look no further than Sunday at The Joe.
Because this wasn’t just a win, it was a response.
Trailing 4-0 through four innings, with momentum leaning Florida’s way and early pitching struggles putting the Tide in a hole, Alabama didn’t flinch. Instead, they did what tough, connected teams do: they answered.
And they didn’t just chip away… they exploded.
Fourteen runs later, Alabama walked off its home field with a 14-7 win and a full-on sweep of No. 18 Florida, the program’s first series sweep over the Gators since 2002.
This game flipped in the fifth, when Justin Lebron launched a two-run homer to finally get Alabama on the board and breathe life back into the dugout. Then came the sixth inning, aka the moment this game turned into something special.
Seven runs.
One inning.
Total chaos for Florida.
Pimping a grand slam the pitch after your teammate got hit intentionally is an epic way to respond pic.twitter.com/wbRMmpUS6X
Will Plattner got it rolling with a two-run blast to tie things up, and from there, the floodgates opened. The biggest swing of the day came off the bat of Brady Neal, who crushed a grand slam that didn’t just give Alabama the lead, it blew the game wide open.
Neal finished with seven RBIs, putting together the kind of performance that people remember when they talk about defining moments in a season.
But this wasn’t just about one bat. This was a lineup effort.
Gritty, patient, relentless.
Every single starter reached base.
Nine walks.
Pressure every inning.
That’s not luck… that’s approach.
That’s identity.
And maybe the most important piece of this win? The pitching response.
After Myles Upchurch struggled to find the zone early, it could’ve unraveled. Instead, Sam Mitchell came in and steadied everything. Ashton Crowther delivered when it mattered. Hagan Banks slammed the door late.
That’s what winning baseball looks like, guys picking each other up, not pointing fingers.
That’s exactly what Rob Vaughn talked about after the game, and he’s right.
Great teams don’t panic. They respond.
And right now, Alabama is starting to look like a team that believes in itself.
This wasn’t just a comeback win.
This was a tone-setter.
A culture moment.
A reminder that this group has fight, depth, and a little bit of edge to go with it.
The Tide didn’t just beat Florida this weekend.
They sent a message.
And if you’re paying attention, you know... this might just be the start of something real in Tuscaloosa.
MANHATTAN (KSNT) – The 2026 NCAA Track & Field Indoor triple jump national champion joins K-Nation.
The junior triple jumper, Daniela Wamokpego, jumped a 13.84 meters in the triple jump to clinch first place.
“I saw the 13.84 and was like oh number one? That’s nice,” Wamokpego said. “I didn’t really mind the place. I just saw the 13.84 and was just happy just because of that.”
With her sixth and final jump, Wamokpego set a new school record and is the first K-State women’s national champion since the 2016 season.
The Meaux, France native is in her first season with the Wildcats. After her sophomore season, Wamokpego transferred from Iowa after spending two seasons competing for the Hawkeyes.
The full interview can be seen above.
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After defeating Louisville in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament, Michigan State basketball is moving on to the second weekend to play in the Sweet 16. After winning on Saturday, Michigan State had to wait until a Sunday night clash between UConn and UCLA to find out who their opponent would be.
After Sunday night's clash, where UConn beat UCLA, 73-57, the No. 3 seed Spartans will face off against the No. 2 seed Huskies. next Friday in Washington D.C. at 9:45 p.m. This will be a rematch of a preseason exhibition between the Huskies and Spartans, where UConn defeated Michigan State 76-69.
The two teams will face off for the right to play in the Elite 8 against the winner of a Duke and Saint Johns Sweet 16 matchup.
Follow along with Spartans Wire for coverage leading up to the Friday night clash between the Spartans and Huskies.
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Rex_Linzy
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The second verse was like the first for the Texas baseball team in Southeastern Conference play over the weekend.
After squandering the opening game Friday, No. 2 Texas bounced back to defeat No. 5 Auburn twice and win its second consecutive SEC series 2-1 with a 5-0 win Sunday at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Alabama.
Texas won the middle game of the series Saturday, 7-6, after being walked off in the opener 4-3.
On Sunday, Texas shut out the Tigers behind a 5-pitcher performance, highlighted by freshman Sam Cozart. He relieved starter Dylan Volantis in the fifth and hurled 2.2 innings of no-hit ball with three strikeouts to earn the win. Ethan Walker, Brett Crossland and Max Grubbs combined the rest of the way on the mound.
Casey Borba smashed a 2-run home run over the left field wall in the second inning to give the Longhorns a 2-0 lead. Carson Tinney added a 2-run single in the fourth, and a run came home after Borba grounded into a double play in the fifth.
AUSTIN, TX – MARCH 07: Outfielder Aiden Robbins #43 of the Texas Longhorns rounds third base after hitting a home run during the college baseball game between Texas Longhorns and USC Upstate Spartans on March 7, 2026, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Tinney, Borba and Aiden Robbins had two hits, accounting for 6 of 9 hits for the Longhorns.
On Saturday, the Longhorns jumped out to a 6-0 lead after three innings, using two homers by Robbins and Jayden Duplantier in the 4-run third frame. Robbins crushed a solo shot over the center field fence for his ninth of the season, and Duplantier smacked his first homer as a Longhorn, depositing a 3-run blast over the left field wall.
Auburn roared back from a 7-2 deficit with four runs combined in the seventh and eighth, and then loaded the bases in the ninth. Texas reliever Thomas Burns struck out the first two batters in the ninth, but then created his own trouble after he walked the bases loaded. He coaxed Bristol Carter into a fielder’s choice groundball that Temo Becerra scooped up and touched third for a force out to end it.
Maddox Monsour made the most of his first SEC start in the Longhorns’ lineup. The freshman had three hits, including a 2-run single in the second, as the designated hitter in the No. 9 spot. Tinney and Robbins each had two hits.
On Friday, Robbins hit a pair of solo home runs, but committed an error in center field that allowed two runs to score and win the game in the bottom of the ninth for the Tigers.
The Longhorns had three hits in the game, and that spoiled Ruger Riojas’ quality start. Riojas scattered five hits and allowed a run over 6.1 innings, striking out six with one walk.
Texas (20-3, 4-2 SEC) heads to Houston on Tuesday to face the Cougars, and then hosts Oklahoma for a 3-game series beginning Thursday.
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With the win, UConn advances to the tournament’s second weekend for the third time in four seasons. Its previous two Sweet 16 trips led to national championships before a second-round loss to eventual champion Florida ended UConn’s 3-peat dreams last March.
Now it’s back in the Sweet 16, gunning for another national championship.
Alex Karaban’s career high paces Huskies
UCLA put up a fight despite playing without its best player and rode a 6-0 run to start the first half to a 39-38 lead. UConn punched back later in the half with a 14-0 run featuring two Alex Karaban 3s to reseize control, 56-44.
Another 9-0 UConn run thwarted UCLA’s last gasp, and the Huskies mantained control down the stretch.
Alex Karaban, who starred on both of those national title teams, finished with a career-high 27 points alongside 5 rebounds. He shot 9 of 16 from the floor and 4 of 8 from 3. Tarris Reed Jr. followed up a monster 31-point, 27-rebound effort in the first round against Furman with a more modest double-double, posting 10 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks and 1 steal.
The Bruins countered with four starters in double figures, led by Xavier Booker’s 13 points and 5 rebounds. But without Bilodeau, they were overwhelmed by UConn’s repeated waves, and their season ends short of the Sweet 16.
UConn, meanwhile, advances to a heavyweight Sweet 16 matchup against a third-seeded Michigan State team that also has its sights set on a national title.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 11: Mitch Garver #77 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with teammates after scoring a run during a Spring Training game against the Colorado Rockies at Peoria Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The next time Bryan Woo pitches, it will count for real.
The Mariners beat the White Sox 2-1 in the next to last game of the preseason. Woo got the start and looked sharp. He needed just 73 pitches to get through his scheduled six innings. He struck out four, walked none, and gave up three hits. His velocity was a touch down from a year ago, though not in a concerning range. It was a solid final warmup before the real thing next week.
It was who Woo threw to on Sunday that stole the show. Mitch Garver smacked a homer and drove in a run with a sac fly. That’s after it was announced this morning that Garver had won backup catcher job to begin the season. Shannon Drayer shared this quote from Dan Wilson when the news announced, hinting at the team’s thought process for keeping Garver around.
“I think the job that Garv does is tremendous,” Wilson said last week. “And I think he’s able to lean on experience. He takes our information very seriously, too. When you combine those two, Garv does a really good job back there. I think that’s a huge asset that we have in that we have Cal, who does such a great job, is one of the best catchers in the league, was one of the best players in the league, period. And then you have a guy with experience, and as the backup role, that really helps a lot in the background, too, behind the scenes with a lot of our guys. And so it’s really a good combination to have.”
Garver was obviously not what the Mariners hoped for when they signed him to a two-year deal in 2024. He posted an 86 wRC+ in 720 plate appearances before becoming a free agent. That’s fine for a backup catcher, but the initial plan was for him to serve as the team’s DH. It wasn’t clear whether he’d continue to serve as Cal Raleigh’s understudy after reaching free agency this offseason. It seemed less likely when the Mariners signed Andrew Knizner and Johnny Pereda. But Raleigh reportedly reached out to Garver, the latest evidence of his impact beyond the field, eventually leading the Mariners to bring Garver back to camp. He has now won the job.
I like Garver. He’s a fine backup catcher. He continues to hit lefties pretty well. I’m not sure there’s a less consequential role than backup to Cal Raleigh, and Garver fills it well.
There honestly wasn’t a lot else to this game. Andrés Muñoz pitched and was fine. Jose Ferrer pitched and gave up a home run. Cooper Criswell closed out the game, with only a touch of heart burn. Each team collected just a few hits. It was fast and painless, which is all you can ask for at this time of year. Bring on the regular season.
PHILADELPHIA, PA — Mick Cronin won the battle against Dan Hurley over who would receive a technical foul first.
The UCLA men's basketball coach was assessed a technical foul at the 4:41 mark of the second half of Sunday's Men's NCAA Tournament second-round game against 2-seed UConn at Xfinity Mobile Arena. It led to Huskies forward Alex Karaban making a pair of free throws that helped UConn build its lead up against UCLA.
Replay from the TNT broadcast showed Cronin clapping his hands in front of the official.
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 23, 2026
On the TNT broadcast, CBS Sports rules analyst Gene Steratore didn't think it should have been elevated to a technical, and that there should have been more to it.
"From what I'm looking at here just on its own, that doesn't look like something that would elevate to a technical foul," Steratore said. "Now, I'm not sure if there's been something that's been building up previously. It doesn't appear that he's saying something verbally at that point. But you don't want to speculate, right? ... I think there's something more to it than just that clap. I can't see just the clap making this a technical foul scenario."
The Georgia Lady Bulldogs were defeated by a final score of 82-73 against the Virginia Cavaliers in overtime during the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Georgia entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 7 seed as the No. 10 Cavaliers proved to be the better team despite a back-and-forth contest throughout the majority of the matchup.
Lady Bulldogs’ star forward Mia Woolfolk was at her absolute best against Virginia despite the loss. The talented sophomore recorded a team-high 27 points on 9-of-13 shooting, as Woolfolk played a pivotal role throughout all four quarters of play against the Cavaliers. Talented guard Rylie Theuerkauf was excellent on the offensive end of the hardwood as well, as the junior was credited with 22 points and 4 assists in an eye-opening 44 minutes of play.
Dani Carnegie struggled immensely during the upset loss to Virginia. The star playmaker scored just 8 points on 3-of-13 shooting from the field, as Carnegie’s underwhelming performance ultimately played a massive role in the outcome of the contest.
Georgia particularly struggled in the fourth quarter and overtime. The Bulldogs led by eight points at one point in the fourth quarter, but allowed Virginia to force overtime. Georgia was outscored 11-2 in overtime.
The Lady Bulldogs will end the 2025-26 campaign with an overall record of 22-10, as Georgia will turn their attention towards next season following their elimination from the NCAA Tournament.
Georgia men’s and women’s basketball had extremely successful seasons this year despite early exits during March Madness, as the Bulldogs continue to establish themselves as a legitimate competitor throughout the college basketball world.
PHILADELPHIA - Tennessee basketball is set for its fourth straight Sweet 16 appearance against Iowa State.
The No. 6 seed Vols (24-11) upset No. 3 Virginia at Xfinity Mobile Arena and will enter as underdogs again versus No. 2 Iowa State (29-7) on March 27 (10:10 p.m. ET, TBS) at the United Center.
Tennessee basketball vs. Iowa State start time in NCAA Tournament
Date: Friday, March 27
Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
Where: United Center
What channel is Tennessee basketball vs. Iowa State in NCAA Tournament? TV, livestream
The Calgary Flames defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in overtime on Sunday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Calgary turned to Devin Cooley between the pipes, and he was busy from the opening minutes as Tampa Bay pushed the pace early. The night also marked the NHL debut of Tyson Gross, recently signed out of the NCAA, who slotted in alongside Martin Pospisil and Adam Klapka.
Tampa Bay opened the scoring at 7:25 of the first period when Ryan McDonagh found space in the high slot and snapped a wrist shot through traffic and past Cooley. Brayden Point, a Calgary native, picked up an assist, along with Gage Goncalves, giving the Lightning a 1–0 lead.
The Flames responded late in the opening frame. At 16:25, Yegor Sharangovich worked the puck free along the boards and sent it up to Victor Olofsson, who ripped a wrist shot under the crossbar past Jonas Johansson to tie it. Zach Whitecloud added the secondary assist.
Moments later, on the very next shift (16:52), Calgary struck again. Morgan Frost buried his team-leading 17th of the season, wiring another shot high glove side on Johansson to make it 2–1. Matt Coronato picked up the helper.
The Flames extended their lead in the second period. At 8:28, Blake Coleman set up Mikael Backlund, who stepped into a slap shot from the top of the circle and beat Johansson cleanly upstairs for his 16th of the year. Hunter Brzustewicz also earned an assist as Calgary moved ahead 3–1.
Tampa Bay pushed back midway through the period. Following a scramble in front, Nikita Kucherov slid the puck to Darren Raddysh at the point, and his shot found its way through Cooley to cut the lead to 3–2 at 11:47. J.J. Moser recorded the second assist, while Kucherov continued his dominant stretch, now with 13 points (6g,7a) over his last four games.
Calgary appeared to restore its two-goal cushion late in the second when Backlund and Coleman connected again, but the goal was overturned after an offside challenge, keeping it a one-goal game heading into the third.
The Lightning found the equalizer at 15:40 of the final frame. Pontus Holmberg took a feed from Yanni Gourde and lifted the puck over Cooley to tie the game 3–3 and force overtime.
It didn’t take long to end it.
On the opening shift of overtime, Ryan Strome took a pass from Matvei Gridin and slipped it past Johansson to seal the win.
Frost continued to lead the way offensively, scoring his 17th of the season and adding to a strong recent stretch with three goals in his last four games.
Targeting the same spot
Calgary’s shooters consistently beat Johansson high glove side, with multiple goals finding nearly identical placement—an approach that clearly paid off.
Coronato producing again
After a lengthy dry spell, Coronato is back contributing, recording four points (two goals, two assists) over his last four games and showing renewed confidence offensively.
Michael Jordan and LeBron James Credits: Imagn Images
In the GOAT debate among the NBA circles, Michael Jordan and LeBron James have consistently been taking up the first two spots, but where they rank among themselves is a never-ending back and forth. Different metrics come up every day, and NBA analyst Colin Cowherd has found a new way to hail Jordan’s superiority over James.
Maybe Jordan is a more serial winner than James has been in his career. In terms of consistency and longevity tho, it’s James who’s on top. But has anyone ever analyzed their respective “auras”? Cowherd has.
According to him, it’s Jordanwho has the better aura and he’s not a hater. In recent years, he has backed James as the GOAT when it comes to basketball, but he could not choose the Lakers star over Jordan when the discussion boiled down to the mystique surrounding the iconic athlete.
A massive reason why Cowherdbelieves Jordan had more aura than LeBron is that there was no social media when he played. “There was no social media. Part of what makes Michael [Jordan] fascinating was that we didn’t know about his private life,” Cowherd said on his podcast via Volume Sports.
“There weren’t the platforms, so you needed his basketball, and his fashion. That was your gateway to knowing Michael. You didn’t know about his marriage, you didn’t know about his private life,” he added.
Back when Jordan was wowing audiences accross the country, fans didn’t have an easy way to watch highlights from his games. Many weren’t even broadcasted live nationally, for that matter. He played in a different technological era, back when the league pass would be deemed something alien-like. Because of this, an air of mystery formed around him.
Compare this to James, whose highlights are all well-documented, and there’s no mystery around his game. “We get so much of LeBron now. So, it doesn’t feel special,” Cowherd stated.
“You either had to buy Michael’s shoes or go to his games. That’s how you saw or heard Michael’s greatness. LeBron’s everywhere. There’s nothing LeBron could’ve done about that. There’s a mystery about Michael and a uniqueness,” Cowherd concluded.
It’s hard to argue with the analyst. A massive part of Jordan’s cultural impact was that his era allowed him to feel more exclusive and like a “main event,” so to speak. Meanwhile, the current era has given us so many doses of James throughout every season he plays that it can feel less special. Simply, it means that the community may have taken James’ greatness for granted.
However, that doesn’t mean that LeBron isn’t the GOAT. He’s had an incredible 21-year career that has exemplified everything it means to be the best in his sport. Many, like Cowherd, would argue that he is the best to ever play the game.
PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored 25 points, Jalen Green added 20 and the Phoenix Suns snapped a five-game losing streak by beating the Toronto Raptors 120-98 on Sunday night.
Phoenix won its 40th game of the season, which is already a four-win improvement over last year with 10 games to play.
The Suns never trailed and took an 18-point lead into halftime. They extended the advantage to 92-62 late in the third when Booker got fouled while making a driving layup, adding the free throw to convert the three-point play.
Booker shot 9 of 15 from the field, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range. Collin Gillespie added 16 points. The Suns' second unit played well with Ryan Dunn scoring 12 and rookie Rasheer Fleming adding 11.
Toronto lost its second straight. The Raptors are still No. 5 in the Eastern Conference playoff race, but fell to 39-31, which is just a half-game ahead of the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers. The top six teams automatically make the playoffs in each conference.
Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 17 points. RJ Barrett and Ja'Kobe Walter both added 13.
Phoenix jumped out to a 34-20 after one quarter after shooting 8 of 12 from 3-point range and extended the advantage to 66-48 by halftime. Booker led the Suns with 12 points before the break, while Barnes had 13 for the Raptors.
The banged-up Suns won despite missing a big chunk of their playing rotation, including Royce O'Neale (knee), Grayson Allen (knee), Dillon Brooks (hand) and Mark Williams (foot).
Oklahoma State guard Stailee Heard (32) celebrates a three point basket by guard Jadyn Wooten against Princeton during the second half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh) (Jessie Alcheh/AP)
Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce was back at TD Garden on Sunday to see his old team host the Minnesota Timberwolves. Before the game, he also participated in and won the first annual Causeway Classic Three-Point Contest, proving he's still an elite shooter at age 48.
It was also, by his own admission, the first time he's talked to Jayson Tatum in depth since Tatum's brutal Achilles injury last May.
In an interview with Celtics reporter Ian Inangelo before the game, Pierce explained why he's intentionally kept his distance from Tatum recently.
I asked Paul Pierce on if he reached out to Jayson Tatum at all since his return
“This will be my first time today, seeing him saying something to him. So, you know the thing about, I know about guys when they get in a situation Jayson was in, you know, I had to be, I had a… pic.twitter.com/kIdmBh9LvT
"This will be my first time today, seeing him saying something to him. So, you know the thing about, I know about guys when they get in a situation Jayson was in, you know, I had to be, I had a chance to be around Kevin [Garnett] when he was going through his injury and stuff. Sometimes you want to give people some space. I did. I reached out to him one time, I think, via text throughout the process.
"But, you know, I think it's a moment to where you want to put yourself in a place, to where you're isolated and you want to grind, you want to work to get back where you need to go. And I'm sure everybody was showing support, but I showed my support from far, and he knows I'm always there for him if he ever needed anything."
Pierce had plenty of experience dealing with injuries to himself and his teammates throughout his 19-year NBA career, so he knows that sometimes less is more, especially if players prefer their own personal space or private time.
Now that Tatum has returned and is healthy again, Pierce will likely be in more communication with him going forward.
Sucesio is an estate planning platform for the digital age that lets you centralize physical and digital assets in an encrypted vault and assign precise beneficiaries with custom instructions. A periodic life check triggers automatic transfer at the right time, and heirs access a secure link without creating an account.
Data is end-to-end encrypted (AES-256), GDPR-compliant, and hosted in Europe. The service supports French, Spanish, and English, and you can export all your data anytime.
Memorylane is an app you install on your computer that records everything you do and shows you what you can automate in tools like Zapier, Make, or n8n.
It doesn't have a UI; you use it directly from Claude or Slack. It's open-source and free with your own API key.
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Chaos at LAX: Automated People Mover Faces Major Delays—Will New Spend Finally Fix US Airport Gridlock or Is It Just Another Mirage?LAX’s long-delayed Automated People Mover offers hope for traffic relief, but with years of delays, travelers are left wondering... Read More
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Macau Smashes Visitor Records in 2026: Mainland Surge Fuels Tourism Boom with 10 Million Arrivals, But Can the Infrastructure Keep Up?Macau reaches 10 million visitor milestone 12 days early in 2026, driven by strong mainland Chinese arrivals. Will the city’s... Read More
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Thailand’s 2026 Visa-Free Entry: 60-Day Stays, Easy Extensions, and Essential Tips for Hassle-Free Travel to Paradise!Thailand offers visa-free access for 93 countries in 2026 with a 60-day stay and extensions. Here's everything travelers need to know before booking their trip.... Read More
Original Source: Travel And Tour World
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Thailand Leads the Way in Sustainable Tourism as Travelers Demand Eco-Friendly Options in 2026!Asian travelers are increasingly prioritizing sustainability in 2026. Thailand leads the way, with 77% of travelers choosing eco-friendly options in their travel plans. The post Thailand Leads... Read More
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Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is receiving the March 2026 software update ahead of the potential One UI 8.5 Beta.
For the first time, Samsung is expected to launch One UI Beta for Fan Edition phones. The company is internally testing One UI 8.5 Beta for the Galaxy S25 FE and Galaxy S24 FE, along with several other Galaxy devices.
March 2026 update is more like a foundation for the One UI 8.5 than a security update for the Galaxy S24 FE. Every time Samsung intends to expand the Beta Program, it provides users with an incremental update.
Samsung’s March patch includes 60 CVE items from Google and 7 from Samsung. The update also includes system improvements and optimizations. The aim is to wipe unnecessary/temporary files and enhance the user experience.
Note that the rollout is currently limited to Samsung’s home ground, South Korea. An expansion will soon take place for Global users. You can manually trigger update through Settings > Software update > Download and install.
One UI 8.5 Beta
Released last December as Beta, the One UI 8.5 was officially debuted with the Galaxy S26 series. Instead of shipping the official update, Samsung plans to expand the Beta Program to more Galaxy phones and tablets.
Firmware spotting suggests that One UI 8.5 Beta could soon be rolled out to the Galaxy S24 series, Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6, Tab S11 series, S25 FE, and S24 FE. Among them, Fan Edition models come as a shocker for every Samsung fan.
While internal testing has begun, it’s not officially confirmed that the Beta is coming to Galaxy S24 FE and S25 FE. Things will start to get clear as we enter the last week of March, expected to be a busy week for Samsung.
Samsung has backed away from one of its more ambitious S Pen experiments for next year’s Galaxy S27 Ultra, choosing to stick with its long-standing digitizer-based input system after testing a radically thinner alternative.
According to ETNews, Samsung had been exploring a new pen technology that could eliminate the digitizer layer inside the display. The goal was simple on paper: to shave off roughly 0.3mm from the device thickness.
Well, chasing millimeters is no longer enough if it compromises core functionality. For the Galaxy S Ultra lineup, the S Pen is not optional. It is part of the identity; removing or downgrading that experience was never seriously on the table.
The S Pen experiment
The alternative under review was a hybrid approach, blending EMR with active electrostatic technology, or AES. AES shifts the power requirement into the pen itself, meaning it needs a battery and internal circuitry.
Samsung’s idea was to combine the strengths of both systems while removing their weaknesses, essentially building a pen that needs neither a digitizer nor a battery. It sounds elegant, but the engineering reality is not.
While the S27 Ultra will retain its familiar EMR-based S Pen, the broader question remains open. Can Samsung eventually make digitizer-based input and magnetic ecosystems coexist without compromise?
For now, the company is choosing stability over experimentation. The S Pen stays as it is, reliable, battery-free, and deeply integrated, even if it costs a fraction of a millimeter in thickness.
iQOO unveiled the iQOO 15R as the first ‘R’ model in its number lineup in India. It’s primarily aimed at young professionals looking for a smartphone that’s compact and easy to use with one hand, but also packs a powerful chipset under the hood and has a great battery life. Does the iQOO 15R deliver all that? We used it for a couple of weeks to find that.
Design
The iQOO 15R has a 6.59" 1,260p 144Hz AMOLED screen on the front, surrounded by 1.25mm bezels on the left and right sides, with the top and bottom bezels measuring 1.46mm and 1.77mm, respectively.
The display has a centered...
With Atletico Madrid's approval, Antoine Griezmann is reportedly set to fly to Orlando to complete his signing with the Lions, prompting questions on when he'll face Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in the MLS/
Antoine Griezmann‘s time at Atletico Madrid is drawing to a close, with the Frenchman widely expected to spend the next chapter of his career in North America with Orlando City. With reports now indicating that Griezmann has flown to Orlando following the club’s green light, the question on everyone’s mind is whether he will end up facing Lionel Messi‘s Inter Miami in the 2026 MLS season.
With a Designated Player slot available, Orlando City pushed hard to bring Griezmann in during the primary MLS transfer window, but with the 2025-26 European season still in full swing, Atlético were unwilling to part with one of their key players mid-season. As a result, the Lions agreed to wait and target a move for the second half of the 2026 campaign.
As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Orlando City have now reached an agreement to sign Griezmann on a free transfer from July 2026. The Frenchman will wear the No. 7 shirt and has signed a two-year contract, with reports suggesting it will rank among the most lucrative deals in MLS history.
With the formal details still to be finalized, The Athletic has also reported that Griezmann will travel to Orlando to wrap up the remaining contractual specifics. Atlético gave players not involved in international duty two days off following Real Madrid’s game, and with the club’s blessing, the French star is using that window to make the trip to North America.
Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann of Atletico de Madrid warming up.
Griezmann has made clear his desire to play in the Copa del Rey final with Atlético and go as far as possible in the UEFA Champions League, with the team set to face Barcelona in the quarterfinals. With those prizes still within reach, the forward will be aiming to close his chapter with the club on the highest possible note before making his MLS debut.
When will Messi and Griezmann see each other?
Once Griezmann officially becomes an Orlando City player, one of the most anticipated matchups in MLS will be the Florida Derby against Inter Miami, reuniting the Frenchman with his former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi on opposite sides. However, fans may have to exercise some patience before that moment arrives.
The first Florida Derby of 2026 took place on Matchday 2 back on March 1, with Inter Miami claiming a 4-2 victory at Inter&Co Stadium. The second edition, with the Herons as hosts at the new Miami Freedom Park, is scheduled for May 2.
That game falls before Griezmann’s move to Orlando is set to be completed, and also before the conclusion of the La Liga season and a potential UEFA Champions League final on May 30. Under that timeline, a Messi-Griezmann reunion on the MLS pitch will have to wait until either a potential conference playoff meeting later in the year or the start of the 2027 season.
Antoine Griezmann of Atletico de Madrid and Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF.
Part of the approved rule changes allows institutions to trade the crypto ETFs as FLEX options, which offer customizable terms like non-standard strike prices and expiration dates.
Florida basketball's March Madness run came to an early screeching halt on Sunday night at the hands of the Iowa Hawkeyes, who grinded the Gators down and eeked out a 73-72 victory in the NCAA Tournament second round.
The Hawkeyes absolutely silenced Rueben Chineyelu, who was mired in foul trouble all night, resulting in just 19 minutes played, scoring zero points on one shot attempt while grabbing just one single rebound. His teammates did all they could to fill the void, but after 40 minutes, the ninth-seeded team beat the top-seeded team for the first upset of a No. 1 in 2026.
After the final horn sounded, the Gator Nation and the haters logged into social media to share their feelings about Florida's final game of the season. Here is a sample of some of the best comments out there, with a heavy dose of schadenfreude.
Gutted for Haugh. He and Condon and those guys are Gators Legends forever. Gave Florida everything. Rings. Banners. Kid lived his dream of wearing orange & blue in epic fashion. Respect.
Everybody is talking about the loss - and rightfully so. But what the Florida Gators have been able to accomplish over the last two seasons should not be understated.
Forget the winning for a second. The amount of fun these guys have on the court is off the charts. It’s a true…
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 22: Dylan Darling #0 of the St. John's Red Storm shoots the ball against Elmarko Jackson #13 and Flory Bidunga #40 of the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 22, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Whistle, whistle, whistle.
Kansas was content to burn its remaining fouls to give, denying Dylan Darling from advancing the ball past the timeline over and over again. This final possession re-told Darling’s frustrating night, who was held scoreless and missed all four of his shot attempts to that point.
The Red Storm let momentum slip from their fingertips, suddenly transitioning from controlling play with physicality to leaking second-chance opportunities and points at the rim. The Jayhawks neutralized a 14-point second-half Johnnies lead with a 25-11 run capped off with free throws by super freshman Darryn Peterson, leveling the score at 65.
The fourth time down the court was the charm for Darling. With 3.9 seconds remaining, Darling received the inbound pass by Bryce Hopkins at half-court, and instead of setting up for a jumper like he’s done all night, he made a beeline to the basket. The southpaw jetted past Elmarko Jackson and lifted a right-handed finger roll off the corner of the backboard and into the basket as the shot clock expired.
Time stood still inside San Diego’s Viejas Arena. Darling raised his fists on the baseline like a triumphant prize-fighter that took blow after blow before delivering a knockout in the 12th round. Moments later, his teammates mobbed him in delirious celebration. Dylan Darling’s only points of the game were the two most important scored in the last quarter-century years of St. John’s basketball.
For the first time since 1999, St. John’s will play in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. Behind Darling’s heroic last-second basket to shut down Kansas’s late rally, the Red Storm pulled off the win in a gnarly defensive battle in which they led for most of Sunday’s contest, but never broke.
Kansas only led for thirty-eight seconds after a pair of Darryn Peterson three-pointers gave them an early 6-3 lead, then St. John’s took command with a 13-1 run to give them a nine-point edge, and they never trailed after that.
The Red Storm’s restless pressure defense was connected all night, holding the Jayhawks to 44.4% from the field, only five made threes, and forcing 16 turnovers, with multiple giveaways coming off inbound passes. Future NBA draft lottery pick Darryn Peterson filled up the scoring column with a team-high 21 points, but St. John’s never let him get comfortable and held him to 5-of-15 shooting from the field.
Facing his former team, Zuby Ejiofor was a handful for Kansas in the paint. He scored a team-high 18 points, pulled down nine rebounds, and gave out four assists. Ejiofor made multiple critical plays in the clutch that were enough to keep the Jayhawks from overtaking the Red Storm, scoring back-to-back buckets to give St. John’s a 62-53 lead with 4:19 remaining, the second of which came off a steal against Darryn Peterson. Both of Ejiofor’s matchups, Flory Bidunga and Paul Mbiya, struggled to stay on their feet defending against Ejiofor, each earning four fouls.
Bryce Hopkins remained red-hot, scoring all 18 of his points off three-pointers and pulling down seven rebounds. His six triples doubled his previous career-high for most threes made in a game.
St. John’s travels back to the East Coast, where they will face the 1-seed Duke Blue Devils (34-2) at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on Friday, March 27. Tip-off time and broadcast information will be announced later.
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Raegan Beers had 18 points and 14 rebounds to help No. 4 seed Oklahoma beat fifth-seeded Michigan State 77-71 on Sunday night in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Aaliyah Chavez added 18 points and six assists for the Sooners (27-7), who advanced to play in the Sweet 16 of March Madness for the second straight year. They'll play the winner of Monday’s matchup between No. 1 seed South Carolina and No. 9 seed Southern California. Oklahoma defeated South Carolina in overtime during the regular season.
Rashunda Jones scored 20 points, Kennedy Blair had 14 points and nine rebounds and Grace VanSlooten added 13 points and seven rebounds for Michigan State (23-9). The Spartans were trying to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2009.
Michigan State led 42-37 at halftime behind 47.1% shooting. The Spartans held Oklahoma to 38.9% shooting and forced the Sooners into 14 turnovers.
Early in the second half, with Michigan State leading 42-39, Michigan State's Jalyn Brown was called for a flagrant foul. Chavez made both free throws. Moments later, Beers scored in close, then made a mid-range jumper to put the Sooners up 45-42 and force a Michigan State timeout. The Sooners took a 57-54 lead into the fourth quarter.
Oklahoma started the final period hot. A 3-pointer by Payton Verhulst put the Sooners up 66-58. Michigan State got no closer than three points the rest of the way.
Arizona is in the Sweet 16 for a third straight season after a 78-66 win over No. 9 Utah State.
The Aggies made multiple attempts to put serious pressure on the Wildcats in the second half. But No. 1 Arizona had an answer each time. Even after going almost eight minutes without a field goal.
The Wildcats went 7:40 without making a basket yet Utah State couldn’t get close. Jaden Bradley’s layup with 6:55 to go broke that streak and Arizona’s lead had only been cut from 18 to five before his basket.
Utah State got the deficit down to six with 2:51 to go, but star freshman guard Brayden Burries ended any chance of the upset with a 3-pointer to extend the lead back to three possessions with 2:18 to go.
Bradley had a team-high 18 points, while Burries had 16 points to go along with nine rebounds. Koa Peat had 14 points and 10 rebounds and Motiejus Krivas had 11 points and 14 boards.
It was an all-around performance that showed why Arizona entered the tournament as one of the main favorites to win it all. The Wildcats may be the most well-rounded team in college basketball. They have star guards in Bradley and Burries, and a frontcourt with Peat and Krivas that can match up with anyone in college basketball.
NEW YORK (AP) — Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves for his NHL-leading seventh shutout of the season, Bo Horvat scored the only goal on the first shot of the game and the New York Islanders moved back into a playoff spot with a 1-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday night.
Sorokin bounced back a night after he allowed six goals on 32 shots before being pulled in New York’s 7-3 loss at Montreal. The shutout was his franchise-record 29th and Sorokin tied his single-season high set in 2021-22.
Horvat scored 1:25 into the game, taking a pass from Anders Lee and beating Jet Greaves with a snap shot. It was the earliest goal scored in an Islanders 1-0 victory in franchise history.
The Islanders snapped a two-game skid that knocked them briefly out of a playoff spot. With 85 points, they’re in the second wild-card position in the Eastern Conference and tied with the Blue Jackets. Columbus is in third place in the Metropolitan Division because it has played one fewer game than New York.
Greaves finished with 21 saves for Columbus, which had its four-game winning streak and 12-game points streak stopped.
Lee appeared to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead with 7:54 remaining, but Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness challenged the goal and the call was overturned on video review when it was ruled that Lee interfered with Greaves.
Shortly after the Islanders’ goal was waved off, Sorokin made saves on in-close attempts by Cole Sillinger and Kirill Marchenko.
The Blue Jackets pulled Greaves with just over two minutes left, but Sorokin — who had 13 saves in the third period — and the Islanders held on.
Up next
Blue Jackets: Visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.
Islanders: Host the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.
Want to win your power categories in fantasy baseball? Cincinnati Reds youngster Sal Stewart might be the sleeper key to hitting more home runs than your opponents.
And as things stand, his ADP still makes him an immense value heading into the new season. Add in the fact that some leagues will end up having Stewart with multi-position eligibility (1B/3B), and he's exactly the kind of guy you should want to pick for your squad.
FantasyPros has Stewart averaging being the 196th selection in drafts right now, which is much too low. He's a top-150 pick, easy.
It seems like Stewart might even hit cleanup this season based on recent Spring Training lineups put together by Reds manager Terry Francona.
Francona has made it clear how much of a fan he is of Stewart.
"Terry Francona played in the big leagues for 10 years and is entering his 25th season as a manager," ESPN's Alden Gonzalez wrote this offseason. "Dating to spring training last year, he has continually called Stewart one of the most advanced young hitters he has ever seen. Stewart proved that during the stretch run of the Reds' 2025 season, when he was called up in September, popped five home runs and earned his way onto their postseason roster."
The news out of Cincinnati has been great for Stewart, too.
"Sal Stewart has had the exact spring you were looking for. He has made the transition to first base (he can also be the backup at second). He has hit, like he always does. He's using the entire field. He has had some ticker tape homers. And his base running has been very impressive."
Now all that's left for Stewart to do is live up to the hype. We're believers.
The night cap of the second round in the 2026 NCAA Tournament will see the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide against the No. 5 Texas Tech Red Raiders. Alabama is coming off a 90-70 win over Hofstra in the first round and is 24-9 on the season.
Texas Tech earned a 91-71 win over Akron and is 23-10. This will be the ninth all-time meeting between these two programs, but the first time they've faced each other during March Madness.
Here is a look at the box score from Saturday's second round Midwest Region game in Tampa.
Boston Celtics failed to overcome a tough 9-for-33 shooting night from 3 on Sunday night as they lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves at home.
The Celtics entered the game winners of four straight games. With the loss, they are now 47-24 on the season with 11 contests left. Boston's lead over the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference standings is just one game; the Knicks blew out the lowly Washington Wizards on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
But back to the Celts. They had no answer for Wolves guard Bones Hyland, who led all Minnesota scorers with 23 points off the bench on 3-for-7 from 3, making up for the absence of Anthony Edwards, who was out with knee inflammation.
Jaden McDaniels (19 points) and Ayo Dosunmu (17 points) were also key for the Timberwolves.
The Celtics were outrebounded 57-53, with Wolves center Rudy Gobert snagging 14 rebounds, Julius Randle grabbing 10, and Naz Reid snatching seven.
Jayson Tatum finished with 16 points and 11 boards, while Jaylen Brown finished with 29 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, by the star duo was a combined 15-for-42 from the field on the night. Derrick White also struggled from the field (6-for-15).
It just wasn't Boston's night. They'll have a chance to get back on track on Wednesday when the Oklahoma City Thunder come to town.
MUNICH, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 22: LindaDallmann of Bayern in action during the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and VfL Wolfsburg at FCB Campus on February 22, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Leonhard Simon/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bayern Munich’s women’s team is cruising, to say the least, and got their most recent victory with a 5-0 rout against SGS Essen on Friday.
It did not take long at all for the Bavarians to get things going, with only three and a half minutes gone when Giulia Gwinn whipped in a cross for Pernille Harder to score.
Things went from bad to worse for Essen when captain Jaqueline Meißner got sent off for a last-ditch challenge on Franziska Kett. The resulting free kick saw Linda Dallmann score a header from close range. Dallmann thus celebrated her recent contract extension. All of the above happened in the opening nine minutes of the game.
However, despite being a player up early on, Bayern did not immediately put Essen to the sword. Rather, they took a more reserved approach, possibly looking ahead to their midweek Champions League clash against Manchester United. Halftime came and Bayern were only(?) two goals to the good.
But a player disadvantage will cost a team dearly against the current Bayern side, and it was only a matter of time before the visitors started scoring again. Harder earned a penalty in the 67th minute, which she converted herself.
Barely four minutes later, Bernadette Amani delivered an outstanding pass with the outside of her boot, and Carolin Simon found it to cross to Natalia Padilla-Bidas for the fourth goal of the evening. Finally, Edna Imade continued her good form since her Bayern debut by adding the finishing touches on another statement win in the 88th minute.
Bayern thus collected their seventeenth consecutive league win of the season, and maintained their 11-point gap over VfL Wolfsburg with six games of the Bundesliga season remaining. Three more wins will clinch a fourth consecutive Meisterschale for the German champions. As aforementioned, Bayern’s next outing will be in the red side of Manchester as they look to reach the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2021.
Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) reacts after a play during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
ST. LOUIS — Led by Ames native Tamin Lipsey’s career and game high 26 points, No. 6 Iowa State advanced to their third Sweet 16 appearance in five years as the Cyclones defeated No. 7 seeded Kentucky 82-63 at the Enterprise Center on Sunday. Iowa State improves to 29-7 and the Wildcats finish their season 22-14.
“Credit to Kentucky, Coach Pope, great season,” head coach T.J. Otzelberger said following the game. “We knew what a formidable opponent they’d be. A lot of respect for the job they do, and we knew we had to be at our best.”
In addition to Lipsey, three other Cyclones finished with double-digit points. Junior forward Milan Momcilovic scored 20 points and guards Nate Heise and Killyan Toure scored 12 and 10 respectively.
“If I had anything to say about it, I was going to go out there and fight,” Lipsey said. “I didn’t want this to be my last game of my career.”
Junior Blake Buchanan won the tip and 14 seconds into the game connected on a nine foot jumper. Kentucky responded with a 10-0 run over the following 3:44.
Lipsey got his first two points of the afternoon at the 15:16 mark, which brought Iowa State within four (10-6). Kentucky went on another run, this time a 10-3 advantage over 3:01.
Iowa State responded with an 11-0 run of their own.
Malachi Moreno’s pair of free throws at the 2:07 mark gave the Wildcats a seven point lead, the largest they’d possess for the remainder of the game. The Cyclones finished the first half with a 8-0 run, punctuated by a Heise 3-point basket to send ISU into halftime up 31-30.
The second half started the same way the first half ended, with a 3-point basket by Iowa State. Andrija Jelavić cut the Cyclone lead to two with a layup at the 17:23 mark of the second half.
Otega Oweh gave Kentucky their 40th point of the contest at the 13:50 mark. Following his 16 foot jumper, Iowa State went on a 14-3 run over the next 4:20.
“I think that’s something we identified before the game,” Heise said. “I think, when you get (Kentucky) to that point, it’s like ‘Let’s just be done.’ I think that’s their mindset.”
Jamarion Batemon made his one basket of the game, a 3-point basket from 32 feet away, with 6:39 remaining which put Iowa State up 70-47.
The 23 point lead was the largest margin in the contest.
Momcilovic connected on his fourth and final 3-point basket with 98 seconds remaining, finalizing the Cyclone scoring tally.
Wildcats Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen connected on the final three points of the game, all on free throws.
For the game, the Cyclones shot 45.9 percent from the floor compared to Kentucky’s 46.67 percent from the field. Iowa State was dominant in the paint, outscoring the ‘Cats 34-20. ISU also capitalized on points off turnovers, scoring 25 to Kentucky’s 12. The Cyclones had 13 fewer turnovers as a team (7-20).
Next up
No. 2 seeded Iowa State faces off against No. 6 seeded Tennessee on Friday. The Cyclones are 1-2 all time against the Volunteers, with the first matchup being a regular season game in Knoxville on Dec. 4, 1968.
There was some concern after the Los Angeles Lakers105-104 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday because Luka Doncic was assessed with his 16th technical foul of the season. NBA rules stipulate that a player's 16th technical foul of the season triggers an automatic one-game suspension, and thus, it looked like Doncic would be unavailable to play on Monday versus the Detroit Pistons.
The Lakers appealed that technical foul, which was given when Doncic and Magic big man Goga Bitadze exchanged some trash talk. Luckily for them, the technical foul was rescinded by the NBA, which means Doncic will be able to play against Detroit.
The NBA has rescinded Lakers star Luka Doncic's 16th technical foul, allowing him to play in Monday's road game against the Detroit Pistons.
The Lakers are on a nine-game winning streak and are 4-0 on their current four-game road trip. They will conclude this road trip on Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers before returning home to host the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.
Doncic is averaging 33.4 points on 47.6% field-goal shooting and 36.7% 3-point shooting, 7.9 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 1.6 steals a game this season.
The win pushed the Hawkeyes into their first Sweet 16 since 1999, where first-year coach Ben McCollum's team will face Big Ten rival Nebraska in a matchup that, unlike the schools' football games, will feature no punting. It marked the ninth time since 1979 that a No. 9 seed has defeated a No. 1 seed.
The thrilling conclusion to the win and the ramifications of the upset unsurprisingly drew a spirited reaction among fans and media members.
Here’s a sampling of what was being said on social media after the game:
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Oregon was simply helpless against Madison Booker.
Texas' three-time All-American forward did anything she wanted as she scored a career-high 40 points in a rollicking 100-58 win over Oregon on Sunday that earned the No. 1-seeded Longhorns a trip to the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive year.
Drive for layups? Easy. Her go-to mid-range jumper? Breezy. Step out for 3-pointers? Swish.
Booker set a Texas school record for most points in an NCAA Tournament game.
It's still 10 points shy of the overall tournament record of 50 set by Drake's Lorri Bauman in 1982. But give her time. She's got at least one more game coming up in Fort Worth, and if the Longhorns are going to play for their first national championship in 40 years, she could get four more.
Booker carried the Longhorns to the Elite Eight as a freshman and to Final Four last season.
“She's a generational talent,” Texas coach Vic Schaefer said.
And an unselfish one. Schaefer often has to tell his star player to go get her shot instead of making the extra pass to a teammate.
“I want her to hunt to go get a bucket,” Schaefer said.
That side of her is emerging now that it's time to start collecting trophies.
Booker came in to the tournament averaging 18.9 points. She set her previous career high of 31 just a couple of weeks ago against Mississippi in the Southeastern Conference tournament, which Texas won.
The previous Texas tournament scoring record of 32 was set by Clarissa Davis in 1986 and Heather Schreiber in 2003. The 1986 team won the national title. The 2003 team made the Final Four.
“Coach Schaefer has pushed me into taking a big role, being aggressive on the offensive end,” Booker said.
She was dominant from the start against Oregon, scoring 14 points in the first quarter. Bookers' final stat line included 14-of-21 shooting, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and no turnovers.
“I’ve never seen that. I’d like to see it again,” Texas senior guard Rori Harmon said. “I saw the look in her eyes when she came in. I saw something special coming today.”
Former Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball head coach Wes Miller could become the new head coach at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, according to CBS Sports' Matt Norlander.
"Three names under consideration (at Charlotte): Wes Miller, former NC State coach Kevin Keatts, Duke assistant Emanuel Dildy," Norlander wrote. "The school has some solid financial backing for NIL moving forward thanks to some investments by local billionaire Ric Elias. I think this is Miller's job. We should know if that's the case no later than Tuesday."
Charlotte announced March 17 that head coach Aaron Fearne would not return, and a national search for a new head coach was under way.
Miller, born in Greensboro, North Carolina, played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels. All of his coaching jobs prior to UC were in the state of North Carolina, including Elon, High Point and UNC Greensboro.
Miller was UNC Greensboro's head coach from 2011 until he left in 2021 to become the Bearcats' head coach.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Rebecca Leslie scored on a power play 12 seconds into overtime to give the Ottawa Charge a 2-1 victory over the Montreal Victoire on Sunday night.
Part of the PWHL's Takeover Tour, the game attracted a capacity crowd of 15,321 fans to Canada Life Centre.
Leslie scored with Montreal’s Abby Roque serving a penalty for slashing late in the third period.
Gabbie Hughes opened the scoring for Ottawa at 5:37 of the second. Nicole Gosling tied it with 8:40 left in the period.
Gwyneth Philips made 20 saves for Ottawa (5-7-1-9). Ann-Renee Desbiens stopped 26 shots for Montreal (10-4-2-5).
Mar 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Virginia Cavaliers react after losing to the Tennessee Volunteers in the second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The Virginia Cavaliers’ season is over, and what makes this one sting is that it never really felt out of reach.
The No.3 seed Wahoos fell 79-72 to No. 6 seed Tennessee Volunteers on Sunday night in Philadelphia, ending a season that delivered far more than many expected in Ryan Odom’s first year. But this was not one of those clean tournament losses where the better team simply controls everything for 40 minutes and leaves no room for regret. Virginia stayed within striking distance all night, fought back from multiple second-half deficits, and even grabbed a 71-70 lead with just over two minutes left before the Volunteers closed the game at the free throw line.
That is what makes the final margin feel a little misleading. Tennessee was the better team over the full 40 minutes, yes. But Virginia had real chances to turn this into another memorable March escape. Instead, the Cavaliers are headed home one game short of the Sweet 16.
The threes were there, but the easy points weren’t
Odom has made three-point shooting a calling card of this Virginia offense this year and today was no exception. Virginia actually got one major thing it needed offensively: enough perimeter shot-making to win this game. The Cavaliers hit 12 threes and made 34% of their shots from deep, which is a perfectly respectable number against a Tennessee defense known for clamping down on opponents three-point shots with length, physicality, and making opposing offenses uncomfortable.
That part of the formula showed up. The problem is that almost everything closer to the rim felt harder than it should have. Virginia finished just 27-for-69 from the field overall, and the Cavaliers missed eight of their first 11 layups in the first half. This is especially painful when the Cavaliers lost by just second points.
Tennessee, meanwhile, found cleaner offense for most of the night. The Volunteers finished with 20 assists on 26 made field goals, while Virginia had just 12 assists on 27 made baskets. That gap says a lot. Tennessee’s offense looked connected, purposeful, and generally one pass ahead.
Virginia’s often looked like it was scraping and improvising just to get to a decent shot. The Cavaliers still made enough difficult jumpers to stay alive, but too many of their “easy” points turned into misses, and too many of Tennessee’s possessions ended with cleaner looks at the basket.
Jacari White and Thijs De Ridder flipped the script
Two days earlier, Jacari White was the top headline of my five takeaways. Against Wright State, he came off the bench and saved Virginia’s season, pouring in 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting and 6-of-8 from three in one of the biggest shot-making performances by a Cavalier in recent NCAA Tournament memory. It was the exact kind of eruption Virginia needed, and it completely changed the feel of that first-round game.
On Sunday, the script flipped. White finished with 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting and a 2-of-9 mark from three. The closing sequence was brutal: first two airballs on one late possession, then the missed layup attempt after Tennessee had retaken the lead.
That is not meant to dump on White. After all, he was a huge reason Virginia was even playing in this game in the first place. It is just the reality of March.
On the flip side, Thijs De Ridder turned into the version of himself Virginia had badly needed in games prior. He led the Cavaliers with 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting and 4-of-6 from three, with 17 of those points coming in the second half.
De Ridder tied the game multiple times, punished Tennessee for leaving him space, and then hit one of the biggest shots of Virginia’s season: the go-ahead three with 2:03 left that made it 71-70. White was the hero on Friday. De Ridder tried to be the hero on Sunday. Virginia just could not get one more play after that.
Virginia kept answering, which is why this one hurts so much
There were multiple points in the second half where this game felt ready to get away from Virginia. Tennessee pushed the lead to 62-53 with 9:15 to go after Ja’Kobi Gillespie hit a deep shot-clock-beating three and J.P. Estrella followed with a fast-break dunk.
Against a team as physical and defensively sturdy as Tennessee, that had all the makings of the decisive blow. Instead, Virginia answered again. For the second game in a row, the shift in intensity came following a Sam Lewis technical foul, which for the second game in a row was a fairly soft, albeit technically correct call. This kick-started a 7-for-7 shooting run as the Cavaliers were determined to not be put away that easily.
That sequence is why this loss feels so much worse than a standard second-round exit. Virginia actually climbed all the way back and took the lead with just over two minutes left. For a moment, it looked like the Cardiac Cavs might have another March escape in them.
Instead, De Ridder’s three at 2:03 was Virginia’s last field goal of the night. Tennessee scored its final nine points from the line, and the window slammed shut. That is a brutal way for a season to end after doing all the work to put yourself in position.
Virginia won some margins, but lost the ones that decided the game
This is the part that will probably drive Virginia fans crazy when they stare at the box score later. The Cavaliers only turned the ball over seven times, a dramatic improvement over their fourteen against Wright State. They grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and held up decently well against one of the best rebounding teams in the country.
Usually, if you protect the ball that well, create that many second chances, and are hitting the three-ball as highlighted earlier, you give yourself a very good shot to survive and advance.
But Virginia lost the more decisive categories. Tennessee shot 47 percent from the floor to Virginia’s 39 percent. The Vols hit 42 percent from three, continuing the time-honored tradition of Virginia tournament opponents suddenly catching fire from beyond the arc. They went 19-for-25 at the free-throw line while Virginia went just 6-for-11.
Tennessee also had the cleaner offensive process all night, with those 20 assists on 26 made baskets compared to Virginia’s 12 assists on 27 makes. Add in the foul disparity (19 fouls on UVA, 14 on Tennessee) and it is easy to understand why this one felt so uneven in certain moments, even as the score stayed close.
The whistle and a few 50-50 plays late will frustrate people, and fairly so. Most notably, Nate Ament had one sequence where he seemed to launch straight into a Virginia defender, stumble, and, somehow, the result was a foul on UVA instead of a travel. It was the kind of call that makes you stare at the screen in disbelief. But the more honest takeaway is that Virginia did enough in some classic winning areas while still losing the areas that actually decided the game.
This season still deserves to be remembered as a success
That does not make the ending hurt less. It just means the ending should not define everything.
Virginia finished 30-6, won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time since the 2019 national title run, and reached the ACC tournament final in Odom’s first season. Considering the uncertainty around the program a year ago, and considering how much March baggage this fanbase was carrying into Friday’s win over Wright State, that matters. A lot.
The first round game against Wright State was more than just a box-score result, it was a release valve for a program that had gone seven years without an NCAA tournament win. This team then followed it by going toe-to-toe for 40 minutes with a Tennessee team that was favored to win.
That is why Sunday was a night for both disappointment and appreciation. The Cavaliers absolutely had a path to the Sweet 16, and there is no point pretending otherwise. This was not some hopeless draw where the Cavaliers were clearly outclassed from the opening tip. They had chances. They had the lead late. They had a player in De Ridder catching fire at the right moment. They just could not find the last couple plays the game demanded.
But, zoom out, and this season still overachieved expectations at this time last year. It got Virginia back into meaningful March basketball, back into ACC contention, back into the NCAA Tournament win column, and back into the kind of position where a future NCAA tournament run with Odom at the helm feels inevitable. This is not the finish anyone wanted, but it is real progress.
And, before turning the page, it is worth recognizing Virginia’s five departing seniors: Devin Tillis, Ugonna Onyenso, Jacari White, Malik Thomas, and Dallin Hall. They will leave without the ending they wanted, but they do so having helped restore belief around this program. They brought experience, toughness, and maturity to a team that exceeded expectations, won an NCAA Tournament game, and spent all season proving the doubters wrong. That is a meaningful legacy, even if March almost always leaves you wanting one more game.
It surprised everyone a little bit last season when the San Diego Padres traded for Mason Miller and didn't make him their closer.
But they had Robert Suarez in that role, and they kept him there, so the flamethrowing Miller became an overqualified setup guy.
This season, things look different.
The awesome resource Closer Monkey has depth charts for that role with every team in MLB, and it serves as a good reminder with Opening Day approaching.
This season, Miller will be the Padres' closer for as long as he is healthy. There is no real competition for him anymore.
That's because Suarez signed a three-year deal in free agency with the Atlanta Braves.
Most odd about the whole chart on Closer Monkey, though, is that Suarez isn't projected to be the Atlanta closer.
The website projects Raisel Iglesias to close for the Braves, with Suarez as his setup man.
Iglesias is aging, so he likely will move out of the way soon enough. It would be a bit surprising, though, to see the Braves give Suarez a $45 million total contract only to have him be the setup guy.
Regardless, Miller is surely happy. After showing his ability for Team USA at the World Baseball Classic, he'll now get a chance to do it for the Padres.
He was a star closer for the Athletics, and with Suarez out of the way, it's Miller time in San Diego.
Mar 22, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes forward Alvaro Folgueiras (7) makes a go-ahead three-point basket against the Florida Gators late in the second half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The Iowa Hawkeyes (23-12) took down the defending champion Florida Gators (27-8), 73-72, on an Alvaro Folgueiras 3 with 4.5 seconds remaining. The Hawks were the tougher team from the jump as they built a 10 point lead in the first half and led for 26:20.
All of this came with another inefficient night from the field from Bennett Stirtz, who had 13 points on 5/16 shooting but added 5 assists, including one on the final basket as he broke Florida’s press. Tavion Banks led the Hawks with 20 points on 7/10 shooting and Folgueiras added 14.
Folgueiras’ night almost ended early, as he was tied up by Alex Condon on a rebound. After being leveraged to the floor, Big Al punched at the ball. Both Condon and Folgueiras were assessed technical fouls. The Hawks played with an edge all game but it felt like the game was about to reach a boil if the refs had administered that any differently.
It wasn’t just Folgueiras who was fighting as Iowa took it straight to Florida’s front line with 18 points in the paint, which allowed Iowa to build a 10 point lead off a 15-2 run which spanned nearly 7 minutes. Iowa was 7/8 on layups and held up defensively down low despite accruing fouls to their own forwards. The Gators had just 12 points in the paint during the frame and Iowa out-rebounded them 18-14.
Tavion Banks had 14 points in the first and Iowa was able to take a 33-31 lead after Kael Combs closed the half with a paint jumper with 8 seconds remaining. Despite being right there with Florida, the Hawks were just 1/11 from deep.
Coming out of the half, Iowa was able to use 3 point shooting to get the lead back to double digits. After taking just one shot in the first half due to foul trouble, Cooper Koch caught absolute fire. He hit a pair within the first 6 minutes, with Banks adding one, as 13-2 run allowed Iowa to get a 51-39 lead early in the half.
Koch was a rock for this team in the second half. He fought down low, something he’s done well all season, and went 4/5 from deep in 20 second half minutes. The two other threes he hit in the half regained leads for Iowa with 6:48 & 4:17 remaining.
Thomas Haugh consistently attacked Iowa in the paint and hit a pair of free throws resulted in a 67-66 lead for Florida. Condon, added another layup 40 seconds later to extend it to 69-66. On the next possession, Folgueiras found Banks cutting to a basket for a dunk.
Iowa came up empty after a Xaivian Lee layup but forced a turnover (Iowa’s second successful review of the game, free drinks for the guy in charge of the table when he returns to Iowa City). Stirtz was able to cut it to 71-70 on a midrange jumper. After getting a stop, Stirtz was unable to get the lead for Iowa. Isaiah Brown snagged the board, was fouled, but went just 1/2 at the line.
Iowa’s defense was excellent after the standard review/timeout. Lee got too deep and his pass resulted in no shot attempt for Florida.
HOW SWEET IT IS
More to come in the days ahead but what a moment for this program and this team. They got it from everyone who played. They’ll face a familiar foe, Nebraska, in Houston on Thursday.
There was a time on Saturday when Hyo Joo Kim led by eight strokes at the Fortinet Founders Cup. By the 10th hole Sunday, Nelly Korda had tied it up at 17 under with eight holes to play.
It was a tense finish at the first full-field domestic stop this season, and the primetime showdown, held at the picturesque Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club, marked an important win for LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler, who revamped the event built to celebrate the history of the 75-year-old tour.
Players praised the new venue and Bay Area fans lined fairways as the world's best vied for a $3 million purse. Korda called the crowds unbelievable.
Kim, who started the week with a 63 and held on with her impressive short game to win a second Founders Cup title, stayed cool under pressure, even as things appeared to unravel.
"I don't think I was necessarily shaken up or my emotions were all over the place," said Kim. "I was just trying to keep my focus on my shots and what I was doing."
For Korda, it marked her first start since the weather-shortened Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, which she won, to snap a 14-month victory drought. Not long after Korda's brother Sebastian scored a massive win over world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz at the Miami Open on Sunday, Nelly went gunning for her second straight win, starting the day five back of Kim.
It was a back-and-forth final round, with No. 2-ranked Korda catching Kim, No. 8, early on the back nine and then sputtering a bit down the stretch, including a shocking three-putt on the 17th hole and only her second missed fairway of the day on the reachable par-5 18th.
"I felt great all day," said Korda. "I just kind of made one stupid mistake and that was 17."
Kim had her own bobbles, but a magnificent chip shot from behind the green on the 17th gave her the momentum heading home.
This from Hyo Joo on 17 was fabulous! Just when you think she’s letting it slip away .. pic.twitter.com/tSPSOcwrve
A closing 73, even with a bogey on the 18th, proved enough for Kim to win wire-to-wire with a 16-under total. Even when her own game wasn't as sharp in the final round, Kim enjoyed the view.
"I actually really like Nelly's swings out of all the LPGA players," said Kim. "Instead of even watching a video, I was able to see it real life today, and I think I was just able to learn a lot today."
The tour heads next to Arizona for the Ford Championship, where Kim is the defending champion. She now has eight career victories, and as Grant Boone noted on the telecast, has won in her teens, 20s and 30s.
March breeds unlikely heroes, and another was born on Sunday in Tampa.
With the crowd, the momentum and the talent all on Florida's side, Iowa had one chance to take down the defending champions and drew up a play that got the ball not to star Bennett Stirtz, but to junior Alvaro Folgeurias.
A wide-open Folgueiras drilled a corner 3-pointer for the lead, and Florida couldn't get a shot off on its final possession with 4.5 seconds remaining. Iowa came away with an unlikely 73-72 win to secure its first trip to the Sweet 16 since 1999.
Earlier in the game, Folgueiras was involved in a scuffle with Alex Condon, which drew double technical fouls. Florida coach Todd Golden was furious with the officials after the sequence, seemingly because Folgueiras wasn't ejected.
Iowa's Alvaro Folgueiras & Florida's Alex Condon received technical fouls on this play. pic.twitter.com/IKcZiqsPvP
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 22, 2026
Instead, Folgueiras and Iowa are headed to the second weekend while Golden and the Gators will not have the chance to defend their title.
Here's what you need to know about Folgueiras after Sunday's stunner.
Folgueiras spent his first two collegiate seasons at Robert Morris in the Horizon League before transferring to Iowa after coach Ben McCollum was hired. Folgueiras was the Horizon League Player of the Year in 2024-25, averaging 14.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists as the Colonials reached the NCAA Tournament.
The 20-year-old previously played for Unicaja Baloncesto in Spain before playing at DME Academy in Florida.
While Folgueiras was given the Horizon League's top honor a year ago, he has come off the bench in all but one game for Iowa this season. That reduced role could have ruffled some feathers, but he instead adapted to it well and took advantage of his opportunity in the NCAA Tournament.
Folgueiras points to the sky after every made 3-pointer, as a tribute to his father who passed away when he was nine years old. There is no doubt Sunday's shot, the biggest of his career, had him thinking of his dad.
"March is for the dreamers, and there's no better dreamer than us," Folgueiras said after the victory.
Folgueiras was born and raised in Spain before coming over to the United States to finish his high school career and audition for colleges. He committed to Robert Morris out of high school and spent two seasons with the Colonials before joining the Hawkeyes.
Folgueiras' mother watched him play in-person for the first time in two years when Iowa defeated Clemson in the first round on Friday. "That gave me another reason to fight even harder," he told reporters after the game. On Sunday, Folgueiras gave her a reason to stick around for another week. The two shared an emotional moment after the win"
"It's very special...it's for the dreamers and there's no better dreamer than us."@AJRoss_TV caught up with Alvaro Folgueiras who hit the game-winner to knock off 1-seed Florida to move on to the Sweet 16. pic.twitter.com/wxJGdvN3d3
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 23, 2026
Folgueiras averaged 14.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game in his second season at Robert Morris, shooting nearly 55 percent from the floor, and he is averaging 8.3 points per game off the bench for Iowa this season.
No longstanding NBA scoring records were hurt in the making of the Knicks’ 145-113 victory over the Washington Wizards on Sunday. As for the egos of the players suiting up for the nation’s capital? That’s a completely different story.
Clobbering Time was in full effect at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks — in what’s become typical Knicks fashion — were tied, 38-38, against a 16-win team with 9:05 left in the second quarter, before outscoring the Wizards, 113-86, for their sixth win in a row on Sunday.
The Knicks are now the third-hottest team in basketball behind only the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, who’ve won 11 in a row, and the Los Angeles Lakers, who are riding a nine-game winning streak up the Western Conference standings.
And the performance was par for the course for a Knicks team that has struggled in first quarters this season, regardless of the opponent, but the most glaring instances came against teams with little to play for, just like the Wizards.
The Knicks trailed the Brooklyn Nets, 22-14, before winning at Barclays Center, 93-92, on Friday. They lost the first quarter to the Golden State Warriors without Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler or Kristaps Porzingis, 35-21, before mounting a ferocious comeback in a 110-107 victory. They barely won each of the first quarters in two recent meetings with the Indiana Pacers, and they lost the first quarter to the Utah Jazz, a 20-win team at the time, by 15 points.
The Knicks lost the first quarters against both the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers, and they lost the first quarter to the Denver Nuggets by two before rattling off a 39-point victory.
“There was a time when we were struggling I think in the third quarter, coming out of halftime. Two games ago, we were great. Against Indiana, we were great. Im not gonna lie, I don’t remember who we played before that. Against Golden State, we stunk. I don’t know who we played before that,” head coach Mike Brown recalled ahead of tipoff on Sunday. “So you try to prepare your guys and not overreact to struggles that you may have that could be short-term or temporary. So we’re not to a point where I’m gonna try to do something out of the box with the guys. They are a veteran group and like I said, we’ve struggled in other areas throughout the course of the year before. So I’m gonna keep doing what we’re doing and in due time, if we need to change this or change that I’m definitely not opposed to it, as all you guys know, from our players to our staff, I’m not opposed to somebody else saying ‘hey, let’s do this instead of that.’”
The Knicks did not lose the first quarter against the miserable Wizards — without All-Stars Trae Young (back/quad) and Anthony Davis (finger), budding young talent Alex Sarr (toe), combo guard Tre Johnson (foot), starting wing Kyshawn George (elbow), sharpshooter Justin Champagnie (suspension) or wing Cam Whitmore (deep vein thrombosis). But only beating the shorthanded Wizards by five in the opening period felt like a continuation of the very bad habits that have plagued this team—habit the Knicks gloss over with their supreme firepower in the middle two periods of a ball game.
That won’t work in the playoffs, where possession integrity is at a premium. It will work, however, in games that don’t matter. Games like the six-game stretch of NBA Draft Lottery-bound teams the Knicks will conclude on Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Karl-Anthony Towns scored a game-high 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field to go with 16 rebounds and three assists. Jalen Brunson added 23 points and four assists, and Mikal Bridges scored 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field, his highest-scoring game since 15 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 4.
The Wizards got 25 points off the bench from Jaden Hardy and another 18 points from Anthony Gill, but no Wizards starters scored more than Bub Carrington’s 14 points.
The Knicks’ stretch of tanking opponents concludes with Tuesday’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans. Following that game, the Knicks face a four-game road trip mostly against teams in the playoff or Play-In Tournament picture, including matchups against LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s OKC Thunder, Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets, and, the lone exception of the group, the rebuilding Memphis Grizzlies.
After beating fifth-seeded Michigan State 77-71 Sunday night in Norman, the fourth-seeded Sooners will head to Regional 4 of the NCAA Tournament next weekend in Sacramento, California.
Awaiting OU (26-7) will be the winner of Monday night's game between top-seeded South Carolina and ninth-seeded USC. The Sooners will next play on Saturday at Golden 1 Center. Game time and TV info at TBD.
Jeff Patterson is the sports editor for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jeff? He can be reached at jpatterson@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @jeffpattOKC. Support Jeff's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
After beating fifth-seeded Michigan State 77-71 Sunday night in Norman, the fourth-seeded Sooners will head to Regional 4 of the NCAA Tournament next weekend in Sacramento, California.
Awaiting OU (26-7) will be the winner of Monday night's game between top-seeded South Carolina and ninth-seeded USC. The Sooners will next play on Saturday at Golden 1 Center. Game time and TV info at TBD.
Jeff Patterson is the sports editor for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jeff? He can be reached at jpatterson@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @jeffpattOKC. Support Jeff's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
The Knicks took it to the Washington Wizards on Sunday night with a dominating 145-113 win at MSG for the team's sixth consecutive victory.
Here are the takeaways...
-- New York was off and running from the opening tip in this one, scoring on the first possession of the game and never looking back. They scored 32 points in the first quarter led by Jalen Brunson's 12 and led for the entirety of the frame. The Wizards got close a few times and even tied it for a brief moment in the second quarter, but the Knicks followed that up with an 18-4 run that crushed any chance of a Washington win.
-- By halftime, New York led by 16 points and was firing on all cylinders. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with a game-high 26 points and was a monster on the glass with 16 rebounds. Josh Hart filled the stat sheet with 16 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals and Mikal Bridges had a game-high plus-minus rating of plus-28 in his 30 minutes of action.
-- After scoring 68 points in the first half, the Knicks were even better in the second half and put up a ridiculous 77 points. They shot 58.5 percent from the field and 53.1 percent from deep.
-- With the help of Towns as well as Mitchell Robinson, New York also dominated the interior. The Knicks outrebounded the Wizards, 48-28, and put up 64 points in the paint compared to Washington's 38. Robinson joined KAT with a double-double of his own off the bench in just 17 minutes and New York emptied its bench to give some of its reserves extended minutes.
-- With the game already in the bag, Tyler Kolek still got the Garden on its feet at the end of the game by going 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and scoring 11 points in five minutes. Jeremy Sochan was also able to make a difference in his time on the court, grabbing six rebounds in eight minutes.
-- For the Wizards, who have now lost 16 in a row, their leading scorer was Jaden Hardy who had 25 points.
Game MVP: Josh Hart
The do-it-all guard once again did it all with his 16/6/4 stat line on an efficient 5-for-9 from the floor (3-for-3 from three) in 28 minutes.
What's next
The Knicks have a day off before getting right back to it with a game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.
Michigan State women's basketball is making steady progress.
But the Spartans will have to wait at least one more year to take their next and biggest step forward under head coach Robyn Fralick. No. 5 seed Michigan lost to No. 4 (and site host) Oklahoma, 77-71, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Norman, Okla., on Sunday night.
Michigan State (23-9) fell just shy of making its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2009, and from making it the first year where the Michigan men and women and Michigan State men and women all make the Sweet 16.
Oklahoma (26-7) advances to the Sweet 16, to face either South Carolina or Southern Cal.
Junior guard Rashunda Jones led Michigan State with 20 off the bench, including a nifty reverse layup to pull the Spartans with 69-65 with 3 minutes, 40 seconds left.
Jones had 16 points at the half as the Spartans led, 42-37, before the Sooners scored the first eight points of the second half, and led the rest of the game.
Aaliyah Chavez and Raegan Beers each scored 18 for the Sooners, in the Sweet 16 for a second straight year. Chavez had a big 3 late for Oklahoma, which shot just 18.2% (4-for-22) on 3's. Beers added 14 rebounds.
Fralick is the first MSU women's coach to lead the team to the NCAA Tournament in each of her first three years. Michigan State was a No. 9 seed two years ago and a No. 7 seed last year.
This is a developing story. Check back to detroitnews.com for updates.
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 21: (L-R) Keaton Wagler #23, Ben Humrichous #3, Tomislav Ivisic #13 and David Mirkovic #0 of the Illinois Fighting Illini speak during the second half against the VCU Rams in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 21, 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Let me start with the fact that I’m too young to remember much from Illinois’ run to the national championship game in 2005. I was eight years old, and while I was a fan of the Illini, I didn’t really understand what was going on.
The 20 years since have been a mix of good and bad — mostly bad.
So with Illinois on the verge for the second time in three of the Final Four, let me just say that I LOVE this bracket.
If there was ever a year that Illinois would end up making the Final Four again, I love that it will go through the Big Ten West.
If the Illini can knock off Houston on Thursday night, they will meet either No. 4 Nebraska or No. 9 Iowa in the Elite Eight. The winner of the Big Ten West championship game will book a trip to Indy. Amazing. Just the way it was meant to be.
The Cougars getting one bucket tells me that the oddsmakers are respecting the Illini, even if this game is literally taking place in Houston.
Houston thrives on the boards and is among the nation’s best at rebounding. So are the Illini. If I had to make one prediction, I think this game is won the boards, especially the offensive glass.
Can David Mirkovic put up another Penn-esque effort? Will Tomi & Z be big contributors on the boards, or more passive as we saw at times in Big Ten play?
My heart tells me that Illinois finds a way to get it done, and we’re not repeating 2022. Brad Underwood’s squad advances to the Elite Eight.
Can you blame them? While Nebraska won a lot of games this season, they struggled with Iowa. The Hawkeyes won a January matchup in Iowa City, and on the final day of the regular season, the Hawkeyes took the Huskers to the wire in a 84-75 Nebraska win.
Iowa feels a little bit like a team of destiny. In a year without a lot of Cinderellas, them pulling off that win over No. 1 Florida is making me give them the edge that they can take the rubber match in this Big Ten rivalry.
I’ll take Iowa.
Iowa 75, Nebraska 66
Let’s see how close I am, and if Illinois/Iowa is actually for a trip to the Final Four on Saturday night.
The New York Yankees may have their next elite, flame-throwing arm, even if he won’t immediately show up in the starting rotation or the roster, in general. As the Yankees have always had one of the best pitching labs in baseball, one of their youngsters seems to be next up.
However, that could be him being a reliever rather than a starter.
SNY’s John Harper made predictions for the season, and he projected that right-hander Carlos Lagrange will be a key bullpen arm for the Yankees during the 2026 campaign.
While he was recently sent down, Lagrange has all of the stuff to be a star, and the Yankees recognize that.
“10. CARLOS LAGRANGE EMERGES AS YANKEES BULLPEN WEAPON. Carlos Lagrange won the spring as a somewhat unknown pitching prospect who astonished the Yankees with his eye-popping velocity, his fastball reaching 103 mph. And while he was sent to the minors to open the season, there seems little doubt he’ll bring that high heat to the Bronx at some point in 2026.
“Maybe it will be as a starter, but it would take multiple injuries in the rotation for that to happen. It seems more likely the Yankees eventually will groom the 22-year old right-hander for a bullpen role, even if it’s just for this season, as Lagrange could be a huge late-inning weapon down the stretch of a division race and into the post-season as well,” he wrote.
His velocity immediately makes him someone who could be very, very good in the bullpen. Despite that, I’d like to see him as more of a starter, given how young he is and him doing that for his career now.
However, if the Yankees need him to come out and get a few outs each game, that’s what should happen.
While there will still be long-term hope about his potential as a starter, Harper’s prediction was more about him contributing right now. Young guys don’t have much of a choice but to do what’s needed when called upon.
The Yankees need to make a decision on him in the future, but to start, he’ll be in the minors, still developing.
There was a football game played on Saturday, and I’ll be completely honest, I only watched the highlights through various social media posts.
Saturday’s Fanatics Flag Football Classic featured current and former NFL players like Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Joe Burrow and many others. Social media celebrities like iShowSpeed and Logan Paul also joined the event. Team USA’s flag football team also competed.
As someone who grew up watching Brady, like many of you, I did enjoy seeing him throw some pinpoint passes. His touchdown to Gronkowski brought back so many memories.
It wasn't much of a competition, with Team USA dominating in all three contests that were played, outscoring its opponents 106-44. I'm not surprised that Team USA won, but the margin of victory was surprising.
It's a completely different game than what NFL players know. Going from tackling to pulling flags that move around unpredictably is an adjustment for any high-profile athlete. The field is also 50 yards long and 25 yards wide. Instead of 11 players on each side, it's five on five. Quarterbacks get seven seconds to throw.
Despite the differences in play, this flag football format got me thinking, which Bears players would excel in this game?
Here are my top three choices.
Caleb Williams
This should be a given. Caleb Williams' ability to avoid rushers would give his offense more opportunities to create explosive plays downfield.
Different arm angles and off-platform throws should translate perfectly in the flag football game.
Williams expressed interest in participating in the Olympics last May, and if the Bears' quarterback competed, it would be must-see TV.
Creating explosive plays was one reason why Luther Burden III had such an impactful rookie season. In a condensed field with only five total defenders, the Bears' wide receiver would have a field day playing flag football.
Burden led all Bears receiver with 383 yards after the catch, and that trait would help maxamize any reception the talented playmaker would make throughout a game.
Can't you envision Williams avoiding a rusher, rolling to his right and connecting with Burden, who makes a man miss in the middle of the field and then scores a touchdown?
Those two would be a dynamic combo.
Kyler Gordon
It's not all about scoring touchdowns. Teams need to prevent other teams from reaching the end zone as well.
Kyler Gordon's versatility would allow a defense to use him in many different ways. I'm sure there are some Bears fans thinking, well Gordon needs to prove he can stay healthy first. That's true, but his movement skills in this fast-paced game would make him a valuable assett.
As the Pittsburgh Steelers get ready for a new era under head coach Mike McCarthy, one of his former star players had a lot of love for him in his latest remarks. He also had a message for the fans of the Steelers who are excited to watch McCarthy and this team.
Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb spent the early part of his career playing for McCarthy, and his opinion on him might be as valid as anyone else’s when it comes to speaking about the long-time head coach.
Speaking about McCarthy in Pittsburgh, Lamb said that the immediate energy he’ll bring into the building will do a lot of good for this team.
"Oh, my God, a great guy," Lamb said. "He loves Pittsburgh. That's my mans. I love Mike. I love Mike. Coach McCarthy, he's obviously — for those who don't know, he's my only coach that I've had besides Schotty."
“But just coming in, he's a great time. As soon as you walk in the building, you're gonna feel his energy, and you're gonna feel what he wants to do. He wants to go vertical with the ball. I'm gonna tell you that right now. But he's gonna do everything.
“He's gonna tailor his offense and get things situated, but he's Pittsburgh down. Everything that he's done has been out of love, man. Again, that's another guy that I feel like I would run through a wall for. Mike did a great job of really just developing me my first five years in the league.”
We all knew that McCarthy loved his city after his initial press conference, and his connection to Pittsburgh made that obvious, too.
However, for the Steelers, an emphasis on moving the ball down the field would be a noticeable difference. McCarthy has always had decent offenses and for a lot of the past few years, that’s been the biggest issue with Pittsburgh.
At the same time, the Seelers’ offense might not be where it needs to be for McCarthy. During his time with the Cowboys and Green Bay Packers, he was working with some of the best in the game.
Florida basketball's March Madness title defense is over—ended by a 3-pointer in the final seconds.
Alvaro Folgueiras drilled a 3-pointer in the corner to give the No. 9 seed Iowa Hawkeyes a stunning 73-72 victory over the defending national champions in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Tampa.
Todd Golden and the Gators fought back from a 12-point deficit to take a late lead, only for Folgueiras to break Florida's heart with the dagger.
Alex Condon led Florida with 21 points and Thomas Haugh added 19, but none of it mattered in the end. The defending national champions are going home, eliminated by a team they should have beaten in their own backyard.
Take a look at the three key takeaways from the game below.
Florida's second half run wasn't enough
Down by as many as 12 points and shooting ice cold, the Gators managed to rally from behind and shift the energy of the game. Haugh, Condon and Xaivian Lee made plays when the Gators needed them most.
With eight seconds left and a free throw giving Florida a 72-70 lead, the comeback looked complete. Then Folgueiras caught a pass in the corner, rose up for a 3-pointer and ended it.
The cruelest part of this loss is how close Florida came to escaping this one with a win. The Gators went from close to dead in the water to one possession away from the Sweet 16, only to have it ripped away in the final seconds.
The first half shooting struggles put Florida in a hole it almost climbed out of. Almost.
Foul trouble handcuffed Florida when it mattered most
The Gators couldn't afford to lose anyone in a game like this—and foul trouble made sure they didn't have everyone available when it counted.
Rueben Chinyelu picked up for fouls and was limited to just 19 minutes, a significant blow for a player who averages 11.7 rebounds per game and anchors Florida's defense in the paint.
Iowa was just scoring layup after layup and without the dominant physical presence, the Gators were more vulnerable defensively. Four fouls in a game of this magnitude effectively took one of Florida's best players all season out of the equation.
Condon's four fouls added another layer of difficulty. In a game decided by one point on a buzzer-beater, every single minute and every single decision matters. The foul trouble didn't lose this game alone, but it made an already difficult situation nearly impossible to manage.
March Madness doesn't care about résumés
That's the thing about March. It doesn't owe anybody anything.
Florida came into this tournament as one of the favorites to repeat as national champions. The Gators had won the SEC regular season title, demolished Prairie View in the first round and had the kind of experienced, talented roster that makes deep runs in March look inevitable.
But there's a reason why they call it March Madness.
The defending national champions are going home. It will sting for some time in Gainesville—a season that included a growth in optimism that back-to-back championships could be a possibility in 2026.
Florida will reload and be back and ready to roll next season. But the way the season ended for the Gators hurts. March Madness delivered again, and Florida was on the wrong end of it.
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Chase DeLauter is the type of player who can win you a fantasy baseball league during the 2026 MLB season.
And no, he hasn't ever gotten a regular season at bat before. But the Cleveland Guardians' outfielder is the ultimate sleeper, with quite the low ADP and a ton of talent to do a lot better than expectation.
According to FantasyPros, DeLauter is being drafted 71st among outfield-eligible players.
If he reaches his potential, he can be a top-30 outfielder.
The No. 16 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of James Madison has played just 138 minor league games across three seasons since his selection in the first round in 2022. Injuries have hampered him time and again.
On the field, though, DeLauter has been phenomenal. He has an .888 OPS in his minor league career. That includes 40 doubles and 20 homers in those 138 games.
Cleveland felt so strongly about DeLauater that he was given his debut in the majors in last year's postseason after not having played a regular season game at the MLB level.
That means that when DeLauter plays this week, it'll technically be his MLB debut, even though he's already been out there in the playoffs for the Guardians.
If you've still got a draft, DeLauter is worth considering sometime in the first 15 rounds, and sometime off the board around the same time that Bryan Reynolds, Ian Happ and Jac Caglianone are getting picked.
If teams are already selected, it could be worth a trade offer to see if you can snag DeLauter before he starts raking this season.
He's got the potential for a major season, and he's worth pursuing to help you win your league.
Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith (65) against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Since the turn of the last decade, there have been few, if any, Kansas City Chiefs who have managed to appear on a routine basis in the way that Patrick Mahomes has, but Trey Smith may be one of them. Since his rookie debut in 2021, the two-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion lineman has only missed six starts, making him one of the unsung heroes of the NFL’s latest dynasty.
Casual fans outside of Chiefs Kingdom likely aren’t very familiar with the former sixth-round draft pick, nor his harrowing story about how his NFL dreams almost came to an end before they had even started. During what should have been a routine offseason training session for him at the University of Tennessee, Smith noted that he suddenly felt like he was “dying.”
“I can’t stand up straight. I can barely catch my breath. I’m like ‘Damn. Am I that out of shape? What is going on?’ …I lost 13 pounds in a day. I feel horrible… I remember getting that call. The team doctor was like ‘Hey, man. Wherever you are at, stay right there. We’re going to rush you to the hospital.'”
Within the next few hours of that phone call, Smith would be officially diagnosed with blood clots in not just one but both of his lungs. In recalling the instance in which the doctor informed him that “they can be fatal,” the former Volunteer ultimately noted that it was “good that we caught them when we caught them,” but even that bit of good news was still undercut by the fact that his case was still deemed to be a rather severe one.
Nevertheless, that still didn’t deter him from pursuing his goal of making it to the NFL. “I just remember thinking at the time, almost ignorantly, like ‘Will I still be able to play football?'” he admitted. “Like, what’s my timeline for getting back?”
Although Smith did also admit that once the doctor had reiterated the gravity of the situation to him, he immediately began to come back and start to realize just how serious things could become for him. Thankfully, for both his own sake and that of the Chiefs, he was able to make a full recovery, and there were no health issues to be found by the time that the franchise selected him with the 226th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The rest, as they say, is history. Smith has since managed to blossom into a consecutive Pro Bowler following his 2024 and 2025 nominations, and he even secured himself a four-year, $94-million extension last summer.
At the time, that deal was enough to make him the highest-paid guard in all of professional football, and given the amount of production that he’s been able to churn out in Kansas City, as well as the adversity that he was forced to overcome before he even entered the league, it’s impossible to argue that Smith isn’t deserving of each and every last penny.
SAN DIEGO – By the time the basketball rolled off the tips of his right hand, St. John’s guard Dylan Darling was moving so fast toward the basket that he didn’t even see if the ball went in the hoop.
But he heard the noise that followed: The final buzzer sounded. The crowd roared.
And that’s how he knew. He had just won the game for St. John’s on a banked-in layup as time expired to beat No. 4 seed Kansas Sunday in the second round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament 67-65.
“I didn’t actually watch it go through the net,” Darling told USA TODAY Sports in the hallway outside the St. John’s locker room after the game. “But I heard everybody’s reaction.”
He raised his arms in triumph right afterward. And then he nearly got tackled by his teammates on the baseline as the Red Storm celebrated their first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999. No. 5 seed St. John’s next will play No. 1 seed Duke on Friday in Washington, D.C.
But it’ll be hard to top this in terms of sheer panedemonium at the end.
Here’s how it went down, according the players and Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, who is taking his fourth team the regional round in the tournament.
∎ Darling, a transfer from Idaho State, hadn’t made a shot all game before the buzzer-beater. He missed on his four previous attempts - all from 3-point range.
∎ The ball went in even though the left handed Darling shot and dribbled the ball with his right.
∎ Darling even asked his coach, Rick Pitino, to let him make that play at the end before he did it.
“This is the amazing thing, and the funniest thing I've ever been involved with,” Pitino said.
The final sequence for St. John’s and coach Rick Pitino
St. John’s never trailed and led by as much as 14 points in the second half before Kansas surged at the end to tie the game at 65-65 on two free throws from freshman guard Darryn Peterson with 13 seconds remaining.
St. John’s got the ball back then with a chance to win. But Kansas had four fouls to give before it would force the Red Storm to the free-throw line. Meanwhile, the clock was ticking with no timeouts left, leading Darling to give some feedback to St. John’s coach Rick Pitino.
“We're going to run a play, but they've got fouls to give,” St. John’s coach Rick Pitino said afterward. “And Bells come up to me and says, ‘Run power,’ which is a high, back-screen pick-and-roll. So I walk away and I said, `Wait a second. He hasn't scored a bucket, and he wants to run a play for himself.’ I'm thinking as I'm walking, but he's Bells. And not only did he do it, he went with his right hand. So real proud of him because to want the ball when you haven't made a shot is unbelievable.”
'He hadn't done a damn good thing the whole night'
After the Jayhawks committed four fouls to disrupt the Red Storm’s final possession, St. John’s forward Bryce Hopkins inbounded the ball to Darling with 3.9 seconds left. He took the pass in the backcourt and went straight for the hoop, dribbling three times with his right hand away from his Kansas defender, Elmarcko Jackson.
“He got downhill, and I was kind of trailing the play just in case he missed the layup,” Hopkins told USA TODAY Sports after he inbounded the ball to Darling. “I was gonna be there for the rebound, hopefully, and try to put a tip back in.”
He didn’t need to.
“As soon as Bells said to me to run power, I knew he could get to the rim because he hadn't done a damn good thing the whole night,” Pitino said. “So I knew he was going to do it.”
The St. John’s locker room was loud afterward
Hopkins and St. John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor each scored 18 points for St. John’s. Ejiofor was near the top of the 3-point arc ready to set a screen when Darling fielded the inbounds pass. He didn’t have to do much but watch.
“I was like, ‘Oh my God! Big Bell strikes again,’” Ejiofor told USA TODAY Sports afterward. “That’s what he’s done all season.”
Darling didn’t think there was time for anything else. He could have passed the ball to the corners if necessary, or tossed it to Ejiofor if he didn’t see an opening. There still wasn’t much time.
“I saw the lane, and I just went for it,” Darling said.
It might be the last 'cruel' play for Kansas coach Bill Sefl
It might even send Kansas coach Bill Self into retirement. The Hall of Fame Jayhawks coach said afterward he hadn’t made up his mind about that after experiencing recent health issues. He’s won two national championships, just like Pitino. This loss stings.
“One of the things that makes it so great is that it can be great,” Self said. “But it can also be cruel.”
By contrast, Pitino said he was “jubilant.”
“We've taken another step now,” said Pitino, 73. “So it's just awesome. Proud of our guys, and now it's just starting. The fun is just starting.”
Mar 22, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) celebrates after making a three point shot against the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn Images
PHOENIX – During its five-game losing streak, the Phoenix Suns had struggling shooting the ball, with a 43.2% field goal percentage during the stretch. That wasn’t a problem in the first half vs. the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. Led by the prowess of Collin Gillespie and Jalen Green, Phoenix shot 55% from the field and 58% from beyond the arc. Gillespie and Green combined for 21 points and was five-of-five from the 3-point line. The hot shooting performance gave the Suns a 66-48 lead over the Raptors.
Mar 22, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) looks to pass against Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) in the first quarter at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn Images
1st quarter:
Similar to Saturday’s start, Phoenix got out to a quick run to start the game, jumping to an 8-0 lead. With Booker’s recent struggles, the Suns needed the supporting cast to pull their weight. Jalen Green and Collin Gillespie answered the call scoring 14 of the team’s first 16 points, going four-of-four from beyond the arc.
Mar 22, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) celebrates after making a three point shot against the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn Images
Compared to the last matchup, head coach Jordan Ott covered Brandon Ingram differently by throwing two bodies at him in the post. The change had the two-time All-Star begin the game one-of-four from the field. The adjustment led to Rasheer Fleming to pick the pocket of Ingram from behind to lead to a fastbreak and-one to give Phoenix a 12-point lead early.
The Booker+Bench lineup continue the scorching shooting stretch. Booker was starting to find a rhythm, finishing the frame with eight points, which forced Toronto to trap the All-Star at every opportunity. The double led to wide open looks to Fleming and Jamaree Bouyea from 3. Phoenix finished the quarter shooting eight-of-12 from beyond the arc and a 34-20 lead.
2nd quarter:
Mar 22, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Toronto Raptors forward/guard RJ Barrett (9) goes in for a layup against Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) in the first quarter at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn Images
Green returned to the floor for Booker and continued the team’s flamethrower night from the perimeter. The 24-year-old made a fadeaway three in the corner and ran down the court smiling with his tongue out, playing the most free all season. Phoenix jumped to an 18-point lead and was in store for an easy night.
However, Toronto flung itself to a 12-0 run, seemingly forcing turnovers on ever other possessions. Suns ballhandlers were struggling to overcome the length the Raptors possessed. Scottie Barnes began to wake up and took over the game in the second quarter, attacking the basket and finding the hot hand in Ja’Kobe Waler, who scored 11 points and was three-of-three from 3.
The tides shifted back to Phoenix after an and-one three-pointer by Jordan Goodwin to bring the air back inside Mortgage Matchup Center. The Suns became the aggressor, crashing the offensive glass leading to a thunderous putback slam by Ryan Dunn to push the lead back to double digits. The dunk felt so good, Dunn ran it back on the next possession, ripping the ball from Ingram’s hands for a fast break slam.
Dunn continued his dominant stretch with a catch and shoot corner three near the end of the half to push Phoenix back to a 16-point lead, entering the locker rooms up 64-48.
Spring training is nearly in the books, and we'll see real Major League Baseball in a matter of days.
MLB odds have pegged the Los Angeles Dodgers as betting favorites to win a third straight since the beginning of the offseason, and nothing has happened to dissuade that notion.
No teams are even close in the World Series odds, at least not yet, with the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays looking like the closest competition.
2026 World Series winner odds
2026 World Series odds over time
Here, we'll track how the World Series odds shift throughout the offseason, free agency, spring training, and 2026 regular season.
MLB World Series futures bets
The Los Angeles Dodgers are rightly favored to win the World Series, and you can certainly justify wagering on them at +230 or thereabouts, where they're listed.
However, a lot can happen in a few months. Granted, even their late-season swoon didn't hurt them too much, but the Dodgers were +500 as of the Wild Card Series.
If I'm betting this market now, I'm either going big on the Dodgers or going light on a bit of a longer shot. Below, I examine the latter.
Bet
Odds
Bet date
Units
Detroit Tigers
+2500
February 26
0.25
This might be the Detroit Tigers' best shot at winning the Fall Classic before the window closes a tad before re-opening. Two-time American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is poised to enter free agency after the season, which would greatly diminish their chances going forward, even with fellow southpaw Framber Valdez anchoring the rotation.
But with Skubal and Valdez at the front of the rotation, Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize providing solid innings in the middle, and veteran Justin Verlander returning home for one last shot at glory with the team that drafted him 22 years ago, the pitching side of things is promising enough to inspire confidence.
The lineup is where risk and uncertainty come into play, which is why we can get them for +2500. Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, and Spencer Torkelson are more or less penciled in as the heart of the batting order, which is a bit wobbly. Colt Keith could take another step forward, and Gleyber Torres has a reasonably high floor, but the ceiling feels limited.
However, the Tigers have an abundance of prospects knocking on the door of the major leagues. Shortstop Kevin McGonigle and outfielder Max Clark are the two with the most promise, and they should make their debuts fairly early on. McGonigle is a candidate to crack the Opening Day roster, while Clark is likely to arrive closer to midseason.
Trey Sweeney has already had a taste, Max Anderson is probably the second baseman of Detroit's future, and Hao-Yu Lee and Jace Jung could be useful pieces from the jump.
The point is, the Tigers won't mess around with Skubal's final year. And with the AL Central still in flux, Detroit has a projected 72.6% chance of reaching the postseason — the second-best odds in the American League, behind only the Seattle Mariners at 79.1% — per FanGraphs.
Getting to the postseason is, obviously, the first big hurdle. And if the Tigers are in the mix at the All-Star break, management will likely add at the trade deadline, so the soft spots on the roster today won't be the same in a few months.
The Mariners are +1300 to win the World Series. I'll take the value play on the Tigers at +2500, instead.
Will revisit betting splits as more data is available for the 2026 World Series.
Past World Series winners
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2025 World Series by toppling the Toronto Blue Jays in an epic seven-game series.
Here are the last 10 World Series winners, along with their opening odds.
Season
Winner
Opening odds
Runner up
2025
Los Angeles Dodgers
+240
Toronto Blue Jays
2024
Los Angeles Dodgers
+350
New York Yankees
2023
Texas Rangers
+5000
Arizona Diamondbacks
2022
Houston Astros
+800
Philadelphia Phillies
2021
Atlanta Braves
+1000
Houston Astros
2020
Los Angeles Dodgers
+600
Tampa Bay Rays
2019
Washington Nationals
+1800
Houston Astros
2018
Boston Red Sox
+1200
Los Angeles Dodgers
2017
Houston Astros
+1600
Los Angeles Dodgers
2016
Chicago Cubs
+1050
Cleveland Guardians
The biggest World Series underdogs
Below are the 10 World Series-winning teams since 1985 with the longest opening odds.
Season
Winner
Opening odds
1991
Minnesota Twins
+8000
2003
Florida Marlins
+7500
2023
Texas Rangers
+5000
1987
Minnesota Twins
+5000
2013
Boston Red Sox
+4000
2002
Anaheim Angels
+4000
2010
San Francisco Giants
+2500
2005
Chicago White Sox
+2200
2008
Philadelphia Phillies
+2000
2014
San Francisco Giants
+2000
Teams with most World Series titles
Team
World Series titles
Most recent championship
New York Yankees
27
2009
St. Louis Cardinals
11
2011
Oakland A's
9
1989
Boston Red Sox
9
2018
Los Angeles Dodgers
9
2025
San Francisco Giants
8
2014
Cincinnati Reds
5
1990
Pittsburgh Pirates
5
1979
Detroit Tigers
4
1984
Atlanta Braves
4
2021
Chicago Cubs
3
2016
Baltimore Orioles
3
1983
Minnesota Twins
3
1991
Chicago White Sox
3
2005
The New York Yankees are the most decorated team in MLB history, and it isn't close. In addition to winning a whopping 27 titles, they've played in 41 World Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers are second all-time with 23 World Series appearances, while the St. Louis Cardinals have won the second-most championships at 11.
TAMPA, Fla. — Florida’s hopes for a rare repeat came to a stunning conclusion as ninth-seeded Iowa bounced the Gators from the NCAA Tournament.
A 3-pointer with 4.5 second by 6-foot-10 Spaniard Alvaro Folgueriras ended Florida’s national championship bid during a 73-72 loss to Iowa Sunday night at Benchmark International Arena.
Point guard Xavian Lee took the ensuring inbounds pass the length of the court and behind the basket, but the Hawkeyes deflected his pass attempt to All-SEC forward Thomas Haugh in the lane to secure the Hawkeyes’ upset.
Comebacks carried Florida to the 2025 national championship. Coach Todd Golden’s top-seeded Gators needed another one to reach the Sweet 16 again.
Florida overcame a 10-point first-half deficit and dug out of a 12-point hole after intermission on Sunday, but could not close out the Hawkeyes, who will face Nebraska on Thursday in Houston.
After playing off their back foot much of the night, the Gators had their chances for a comeback — the 2025 team had four in six NCAA Tournament games.
Iowa’s All-Big Ten point guard Bennett Stirtiz missed a driving layup off the backboard with 11 seconds to go and his team trailing 71-70. Fouled on the rebound, sophomore Isaiah Brown, a reserve guard from Orlando, hit his second of two free throws for a 72-70 lead with eight seconds to go.
Iowa inbounded the ball to Stirtz, who raced toward halfcourt and fired a pass to Folgueiras waiting in the corner for the game-winner.
Power forward Alex Condon, the Gators’ top returning starter, played inspired basketball to lead the second-half rally, while Thomas Haugh came alive after struggling much of the night.
A Condon dunk with 7:04 remaining put Florida ahead 60-58, the Gators’ first lead since UF led 11-8. But a 3-pointer by red-hot Hawkeye forward Cooper Koch made it 61-60. A 3 by Haugh, followed by a driving layup made it 65-61, but Koch soon hit his fourth 3 of the half to push Iowa ahead again at 66-65.
Two Haugh free throws and a layup by Condon, off a Haugh assist, made it 69-66, leading the two players to chest bump. Meanwhile, Iowa twice missed the front ends of one-and-ones as Florida seemingly gained control the game.
Instead, the Hawkeyes (23-12), who Hawkeyes finished in ninth place in the Big Ten, but beat the SEC’s regular-season champion Gators (27-8) to end their season.
Condon had a team-high 21 points and seven assists, while Haugh finished with 19 points after failing to scored a field for the game first 26 minutes. Lee had 17 on 7-of-11 shooting.
Tavion Banks Iowa with 20 points, while Stirtz had 13 on just 5-of-16 shooting.
“No, I haven't decided,” Self said in the postgame news conference at Viejas Arena. “I'll get back and visit with family. I've had obviously some issues off the court health-wise. And that will be discussed. But I love what I do. I want to feel good while I'm doing it, though. We'll get back and we'll discuss that when we get back.”
His No. 4-seeded Jayhawks had just suffered a 67-65 loss, preventing them from reaching their first Sweet 16 since 2022, when they went on to win the national championship.
It was a tough loss to swallow. Lefthanded St. John’s guard Dylan Darling took an inbounds pass with 3.9 seconds left, drove to hoop with his right hand and banked the ball in as time expired to win the game.
Self also was hospitalized last year and two stents inserted during a heart procedure. In 2023, he experienced chest tightness and had concerns about his balance as his team was preparing for a Big 12 tournament.
He has won more than 800 games in his career, including two national championships at Kansas in 2008 and 2022.
If he does retire, it won't be because of what happened against St. John's. He made it clear Sunday that his decision will be about his health.
"My career ain't going to be based on one game," Self said.
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 22: (L-R) Dean Huijsen of Real Madrid, Alexander Sorloth of Atletico Madrid during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 22, 2026 in Madrid Spain (Photo by Maria Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dean Huijsen delivered another complete performance in Real Madrid’s 3-2 derby win over Atletico Madrid.
On a night where Madrid needed composure, structure, and reliability at the back, Huijsen stepped up. His performance — marked by near-flawless distribution and a string of crucial clearances — reflected a player growing into both his role and the weight of expectations at the Santiago Bernabéu.
After the match, Huijsen spoke about the importance of the result:
“Yes, well, we all knew how important this match was, especially for the league. And of course, a derby makes it even more special. And we’re very happy that we won and want to keep it up.”
Huijsen emphasized the collective effort behind the victory:
“We played well as a team, we played very close together, and well, if we win, all the better.”
That cohesion hasn’t always been present this season. Madrid have undergone significant changes — a new coach, new signings, and evolving roles — and Huijsen himself experienced a dip in form earlier in the campaign. But he addressed that period with maturity:
“My slump earlier this season? It eventually passes. All footballers have slumps, and I think the injuries didn’t help either. But well, I think all Madrid fans and everyone knows the level I’m capable of, and I think I’m reaching that level right now. And that’s it, that’s what I work for every day, to keep going like this.”
There’s a clear sense that Huijsen is not only regaining his best level but embracing the pressure that comes with wearing the shirt.
“I think that the demands of the Bernabéu are, in a way, good. Because it shows what Madrid fans expect from me, that they trust me, and that they know I can give more.”
One of the game’s most controversial moments, Fede Valverde’s red card, also drew a response from Huijsen.
“Yes, the truth is I was a little incredulous because I didn’t believe it, and well, for me it’s a yellow (not a red card to Fede). He stops an action and that’s it. He doesn’t even hit it with his studs up, he doesn’t hit it too hard, he stops it and that’s it.”
Madrid managed the second half intelligently — something Huijsen credits, in part, to the manager’s intervention at halftime:
“The manager demands a lot from us and knew we could give more, and well, he asked us for that little bit more at half-time and I think we came out very well.”
Huijsen also spoke about the evolution of the team this season:
“I think what you said is true, we’re a new team, we’ve signed a couple of new players, myself included, and we’ve changed coaches. I think the adaptation is normal, and well, of course, they demand a lot from us, and that’s fair because we’re the best club in the world and the best team, and I think we’re now performing at that level and developing that chemistry.
“Is Real Madrid back? Well, I think it never really left, that’s what I’m saying. We had a lot of changes and we have to adapt. We work every day for that.
“We’re going to give it our all and of course we want to win everything, hopefully it will be a special season.”
Finally, Huijsen also shed light on his growing partnership with Antonio Rüdiger — a key factor in Madrid’s recent defensive stability:
“I think Rüdiger is a really good guy, he helps me a lot, we help each other, I think we play well together and of course, matches are always good. We have a really good balance, we have that chemistry, it’s hard to explain but when you have it, you have it.”
The Philadelphia Eagles have done a really good job adding talent in recent years, and one of their moves this offseason was very impressive.
While the Eagles are filled with big names, they took a shot on one of them, even if he’s struggled, and ESPN analyst Seth Walder believes Philadelphia quietly landed one of the better players who were available this offseason.
By bringing in cornerback Tariq Woolen on a one-year deal, the Eagles addressed a need while not paying him much. At best, the Eagles would have a chance to play a guy who has been a standout at points. At the very worst, he’s on a one-year deal and wouldn’t come back next season.
Walder ranked the signing as the third-best move of the offseason and explained why it could be a steal for the Eagles
“The Eagles spent much of last season trying to find a solution at their second outside corner spot. They've found their answer for 2026. With the market seemingly cooler on Woolen than expected (at least, that's what I'm assuming based on this contract), the Eagles were there to strike with a one-year deal.
“Woolen is fascinating because he is not widely considered to be among the game's top cornerbacks, but his numbers are right there with the best. Over the past four seasons, among outside corners with at least 500 coverage snaps, do you know who allowed the fewest yards per coverage snap? Woolen, at 0.7, one spot ahead of new teammate Quinyon Mitchell and two spots ahead of 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II,” he wrote.
Woolen may not be the same player as he was a few years ago, but his production at one point suggests that he can be one of the best corners in the NFL.
For Philadelphia, this is a low-risk, high-upside move. Howie Roseman has proven over his tenure that he can get the best out of players who aren’t what they once were, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Woolen fits in that category.
A few years ago, many viewed him as one of the best in football.
The Minnesota Twins are losing an intriguing arm just days before the 2026 regular season begins.
Relief pitcher Matt Bowman has exercised the opt-out clause in his minor league contract with Minnesota, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
The 34-year-old right-hander was originally scheduled to pitch on Sunday, but that plan is now out the window as Bowman bets on himself and forces the Twins to make a decision on his future with the organization.
A Spring to Remember
What makes this move so surprising is the timing, because Bowman has been nothing short of dominant over the past month.
He posted a perfect 0.00 ERA across 5.1 innings this spring with a strong 6-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio, giving Minnesota's coaching staff every reason to believe he could help a bullpen that needs all the depth it can get.
On top of that, Bowman represented Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, where he allowed just one hit and one walk over three shutout innings in pool play.
Between the WBC and Grapefruit League action, Bowman threw roughly eight-plus innings without giving up a single earned run, and that kind of stretch is hard to ignore no matter who you are.
Why Opt Out Now?
The decision to opt out right before the season might seem confusing on the surface, but it actually makes a lot of sense from Bowman's perspective.
As a non-roster invitee on a minor league deal, he had no guarantee of making the Twins' 26-man roster, and his contract included an opt-out clause that gave him the ability to test the waters if Minnesota did not add him to the 40-man roster by a certain date.
Matt Bowman has exercised his opt-out with the Twins. The righthander, who has a 0.00 ERA this spring and had a 0.00 ERA for Team Israel, is scheduled to pitch today for the Twins.
The Twins now have to decide whether to bring Bowman aboard or let him walk, and there is a real case for keeping him.
Minnesota went just 70-92 last season and lost Pablo Lopez to Tommy John surgery, leaving the pitching staff in a tough spot heading into a year where the front office has preached development and competition.
The bullpen still has questions beyond the top few arms, and a veteran like Bowman who has shown he can get outs at the big league level could provide a helpful bridge option while younger relievers find their footing.
What Comes Next
Bowman owns a career 4.38 ERA across 240.2 big league innings spanning seven different organizations, and while his 2025 numbers with Baltimore were rough at 6.20 over 24.2 innings, his recent performance tells a much different story.
Two scoreless innings today for Kody Funderburk and Matt Bowman, who is in opt-out limbo and waiting to hear from the #MNTwins.
Bowman has allowed an unearned run in 7 1/3 IP w/ the Twins and had 3 scoreless in the World Baseball Classic.
The Princeton product has always been a ground-ball pitcher who keeps the ball on the ground, and when his sinker is working the way it has been this spring, he can be a reliable middle-innings option for just about anyone.
If the Twins pass on Bowman, there will likely be other teams interested in picking him up, especially clubs in need of veteran bullpen depth heading into the regular season.
Either way, Bowman did everything he could this spring to prove he belongs, and now the ball is in Minnesota's court.
NEW YORK (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points and 16 rebounds, Jalen Brunson scored 23 points and the New York Knicks beat the Washington Wizards 145-113 on Sunday night for their sixth straight victory.
Josh Hart made all three 3-point shots and added 16 points as New York handed Washington its 16th straight loss. Mikal Bridges had 14 points and six assists, while Mitchell Robinson came off the bench to make all five shots and finish with 10 points and 10 rebounds in 17 minutes.
The Knicks rang up 77 points in the second half against one of the NBA's worst teams and shot 58.5% from the floor and 53% from 3-point range. They also made 18 of 19 free throws (94.7%).
Tyler Kolek played about 5 1/2 minutes in the blowout and went 4 for 4, including 3 for 3 behind the arc, and scored 11 points after pouring in 42 while playing for the Knicks' NBA G League team earlier in the day.
Jaden Hardy made seven 3-pointers and scored 25 points for the Wizards. Anthony Gill had 18.
The Knicks led 68-52 at halftime, then made nearly 62% of their shots in the final two quarters and led by 33 points in the fourth.
The Knicks beat the Wizards for the 12th straight time, their second-longest winning streak in the series. New York beat Washington 15 straight games between 1992-95.
What started in disaster turned into a very positive weekend for the Texas Longhorns baseball team. The No. 2 Longhorns shutout No. 4 Auburn on Sunday, 5-0. The win gives UT the 2-1 series win in the matchup of top five teams.
Auburn used nine pitchers in Sunday's loss. Tigers starter Alex Petrovic suffered his first loss of the season as the Horns banged out nine hits and five runs.
Texas pitching allowed only four hits by Auburn in the game. Starter Dylan Volantis was a little wild, pitching just four innings. The 6-foot-6 lefty gave up three hits, four walks and struck out four on the day. UT used four pitchers out of the bullpen with the quartet only giving up one more hit the rest of the way.
The series win is a good recovery for a team that had a disastrous end to the game on Friday. With Texas leading 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Auburn loaded bases. Auburn center fielder Bristol Carter hit a line drive to center, which Texas center fielder Aiden Robbins let get through him and to the wall to hand the Tigers a walk-off win.
Saturday, the Longhorns again got out to a lead that Auburn cut into. But this time Texas was able to hold off fourth-ranked Tigers. Robbins and right fielder Jayden Duplantier each homered in the win.
The series victory is a statement win for Texas, who went on the road to a top five opponent and took the series. If it wasn't for Robbins error Friday, it could have been a Longhorns sweep.
Next, Texas will travel on Tuesday to Houston for a one-off game with the Cougars.
How sweet it is! The Iowa Hawkeyes are going back to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999 with an absolutely stunning upset of the No. 1-seeded Florida Gators, the defending national champs, in a pseudo-home game in Tampa, Florida, by a score of 73-72.
In a game that was testy, physical, and saw both teams trade haymakers throughout, the Iowa Hawkeyes found a way late to get the necessary stops and hit clutch shots down the stretch. Not only did Iowa come up big late, but the Hawkeyes dominated this game from start to end.
Iowa shot 51% to Florida's 50%; they made seven threes to Florida's six. Against one of the country's tallest teams, Iowa tied them 27-27 on the boards, and, arguably most important, they outscored them 32-30 in the paint.
This game now sets up one of the most incredible games in Sweet 16 history as the Iowa Hawkeyes stare down the trilogy against the rival Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Iowa was never afraid or intimidated
From the jump, Iowa never blinked or was even once scared of the big, bad defending champs, who had the size, better roster, and were playing essentially a home game just a few hours from campus. Ben McCollum had this team fired up and ready to go.
After some angsty moments in the first half, Ben McCollum got behind his roster and let some emotions show. Iowa responded to this, and it showed by beating Florida in its own game of physicality, points in the paint, and rebounding. Iowa wasn't scared, and they took it right to the Gators.
Cooper Koch found the clutch gene
There were grim moments for the Hawkeyes down the stretch where the Gators started making some shots and got the crowd back into things. Florida took the lead, and things were teetering on the edge of falling apart.
Cooper Koch buoyed Iowa during this onslaught and helped the Hawkeyes weather the storm with some incredibly clutch sharp-shooting down the stretch. On the day, he ended with 12 points on a 4-6 performance from three-point range, all of which proved to be massive.
Tavion Banks played so big
Despite being smaller than Florida's bigs, Tavion Banks was ready to roll in this game and may have been the best player on the court with his play beyond his size and his courage to battle in a game that took every bit of his strength and physicality.
Banks led Iowa with 20 points and did it on a very efficient 7-10 shooting performance. He added six rebounds, four of which were offensive rebounds, and helped give Iowa extra possessions against a team known for its interior presence.
Alvaro Folgueiras is an Iowa legend
What. A. Shot.
Alvaro Folgueiras has sent the Iowa Hawkeyes back to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999 with his late shot to put Iowa up 73-72 as the clock was running out. He received the pass from Stirtz, took a step back behind the three-point line, and unleashed a shot that was good from the moment it left his fingertips.
He played this game feisty, and it was crucial for Iowa. He ended the day with 14 points, five rebounds, and will live on as a legend in Iowa history for a shot that will live among the great moments in the history of Iowa athletics.
Iowa vs. Nebraska in the Sweet 16
Does it get better than this? Iowa and Nebraska get to settle things in their third matchup of the year. Iowa upset Nebraska in the first matchup, 57-52, when they hosted them. When things went back to Nebraska, the Cornhuskers used a late surge to get revenge on Iowa, 84-75.
Up next is a game with a lot more riding on it. Iowa and Nebraska will meet in the Sweet 16 with a spot in the Elite 8 hanging in the balance for two programs riding historic NCAA Tournament runs.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
UNLV Runnin’ Rebels coach Josh Pastner coaches his team while in timeout during the second round of a Mountain West Championship tournament game between the UNLV and Utah State on Thursday March 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nev.
With that, Josh Pastner’s first season at the helm of the UNLV men’s basketball team has come to a close.
On Sunday, the unseeded Rebels bowed out of the National Invitation Tournament with a 77-66 loss to top-seeded Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Reynolds Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Junior and first-team Mountain West point guard and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn paced the Rebels on offense once again with 29 points. Freshmen Tyrin Jones and Isaac Williams also contributed with 18 and 10 points, respectively.
However, the shorthanded Rebels could not compete Tulsa physically, being doubled up in rebounds 54-25, including 23-8 on offensive boards. UNLV also was not as efficient as offense as they would have liked, marked by a 23 percent success rate on three-point shots.
The Rebels did hold their own in some areas, however, primarily on defense. UNLV forced Tulsa to turn the ball over 14 times, including nine steals and four blocks; senior forward Kimani Hamilton lead the way with four steals.
The Rebels officially close the book on the 2025-26 campaign with a 18-17 record, which showed some promise later on in the year despite injuries and inconsistency.
UNLV now waits for the tipoff of next season, with Mountain West realignment and the transfer portal creating the potential for a wide-open conference for Pastner to try and take control of in year two.
Mar. 22—St. John's is finally headed back to the Sweet 16, thanks to Central Valley's Dylan Darling.
Darling, a junior guard for the Red Storm, converted a difficult, driving layup as time expired, lifting fifth-seeded St. John's to a 67-65 win over No. 4 seed Kansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday at Viejas Arena in San Diego.
The former Greater Spokane League MVP hadn't scored before his game-winning bucket. Darling took the ball up the floor with seconds remaining, saw a lane, got an angle on his defender and darted into the paint, putting up a contested layup — almost a running hookshot — with his right hand.
The ball bounced off the backboard and through the net as the buzzer sounded. Darling put his hands up and gestured to the crowd before his teammates mobbed him to celebrate St. John's first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999.
"Four seconds left, didn't have time for much," Darling told TNT reporter Lauren Shehadi after the game as his Red Storm teammates continued to embrace him. "Called on somebody to set me a screen and I went to the rim."
Darling added when asked what legendary St. John's coach Rick Pitino said to him before the final possession: "Yelling at me, per usual. Telling me to do something. It was ugly, but we got it done."
Darling finished with two points on 1 of 5 shooting (0 of 4 from 3-point range). He chipped in four assists, two steals and a rebound in 18 minutes.
During a postgame news conference, Darling said Pitino had another play drawn up, but there wouldn't be enough time to run it, so Darling "threw the suggestion out, and I don't think coach really had a choice at that point in time, so we went with it.
"I probably don't deserve this," Darling added. "I was pretty bad all night long, but my teammates held it down tonight."
The left-handed Darling hadn't made a layup with his right hand this season, according to a post on X from CelticsBlog.com writer Azad Rosay. While breaking down the game-winner during his postgame comments, Pitino said that factored into the play's success.
"He's extremely fast. They probably were looking for him to go left. He went right," Pitino said. "It was the only play we could run, or you could try to throw it into the high-post area, let (star post Zuby Ejiofor) go. But as soon as (an assistant) said to me to run (the play), I knew he could get to the rim. He hadn't done a damn good thing the whole night, so I knew he was going to do it."
St. John's (30-6) will meet No. 1 seed Duke (34-2) on Friday in the Sweet 16 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Before etching his name into St. John's lore on Sunday, Darling produced six points (3 of 10 shooting), five rebounds and five assists during the Red Storm's 79-53 first-round win over No. 12 seed Northern Iowa on Friday. Darling started both games.
The 6-foot-1 junior began his collegiate career in 2022-23 at Washington State after claiming Class 4A Player of the Year honors as a senior at Central Valley High. Darling spent two years in Pullman, then transferred to Idaho State, where he earned Big Sky MVP last season before joining a national contender out of the powerhouse Big East Conference.
Mar. 22—If you ever needed a reason to stay off social media, take this as Exhibit A.
After Gonzaga exited the NCAA Tournament on Saturday in a Round of 32 loss to Texas, a question from the sports betting company FanDuel made the rounds on X: Should Gonzaga fire Mark Few?
Whatever odds they're offering on that proposition, the answer is "no."
Not that statistics need repeating, but Few has made 27 straight tournaments and nine Sweet 16s in the last 11 years. And as of Sunday, GU has the most tournament wins in the last 10 years with 28, more than Kansas, Duke and Kentucky.
Yes, folks, we've reached the point in the Gonzaga story where success has become so commonplace that every minor failure is met with disdain. As a wise man once said: They hate us 'cause they ain't us.
The third-seeded Zags would've expected to make it to the second weekend, but that doesn't explain the droves of people celebrating their loss online. The kids call it "rage-baiting" (offering an absurd opinion to gain attention) and guess what: I'm biting.
Take this from @RockChalkBlog, a Kansas fan page with over 23,000 followers: "Another year where Gonzaga boatraces a swath of crap in the WCC, racks up lots of wins, gets a bloated seed, and comes up short in the NCAA tournament. It's never happening for Mark Few, ever."
Let's take this point by point. Gonzaga was the regular-season and tournament champion of the West Coast Conference, the same one that fielded three teams in the NCAA Tournament. A main antagonist in that swath was Santa Clara, a team that had Kentucky beaten in the first round if not for a desperation half-court heave by the Wildcats.
As for seeding, the Zags accumulated a 30-3 record going into the tournament, including wins over eight Power Four teams and three that advanced in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Gonzaga is the seventh-ranked team in the NCAA's NET. Anything lower than a No. 4 seed would have been unprecedented, and had GU's second-leading scorer Braden Huff stayed healthy all year, the Zags likely would have found themselves on the 2 line.
That's just talking hypothetically, though. If we want to talk in RockChalk's reality, we should mention that Gonzaga is 2-0 against Kansas in the last five years, including an 89-68 win in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, where the Zags were a No. 5 seed and the Jayhawks were a No. 4. How's that for a bloated seed?
Maybe the mainstream is taking a more rational approach to the Zags' exit? Let's check in on former ESPN employee Darren Rovell, who posted this to his 1.8 million followers on X: "Gonzaga was an anomaly. Able to continue to be a power despite its place in the hierarchy. That has changed. With NIL, it's easier for a school to make a move by spending money and scouting well. So it's much easier for High Point to be the next Gonzaga."
After the name, image and likeness program was introduced in 2021, those Zags' next three seasons resulting in an Elite Eight and two Sweet 16s must have been a fluke? Surely a new midmajor would have sprung its wings during this stretch?
Let's remember some of the unlikely runs in recent seasons — (15) Saint Peter's to the Elite Eight in 2022, (15) Oral Roberts to the Sweet 16 in 2021, (14) Oakland over Kentucky in 2024, (13) Furman over Virginia in 2023.
Anyone see the potential for 27 straight tournament appearances coming from any of those programs?
This year's High Point squad is likely set for a similar fate. The coach leaves for a better job, the players follow and the program is reset. That hasn't happened at Gonzaga because Few has been a fixture for nearly three decades. Good luck finding that in this era.
The Zags are set up well for their move into the Pac-12, having the ability to focus the near-entirety of their resources on basketball, while the other schools distribute their largest sums to their football programs. Anything less than a 28th NCAA Tournament appearance next season would come as a shock.
There are plenty more agitators that crossed my feed. Here's a sampling that don't merit a complete response:
—From @KnicksMemes (63,000 followers): "How is Gonzaga ALWAYS a top 5 seed and never does anything." Go ahead and stick to the NBA, pal.
—From Fox Kansas City radio broadcaster @MarkAFunnels (31,000 followers): "It's not March if Gonzaga doesn't come up small. Yearly tradition." No Missouri team has made the Sweet 16 since 2009. How's that for coming up small?
—And finally, Seattle sports radio host Dave Mahler (127,000 followers) chiming in with a sarcastic GIF and: "I probably shouldn't be a smart ass about Gonzaga losing right?" Say whatever you want Dave, but that won't change the fact a Jesuit school in Spokane is the premier program in the state, not the Washington Huskies.
So Zags fans, let them beat up on you while you're down. I have no doubt this team will be back in the Sweet 16 in no time. Let them move the goalposts and call the new Pac-12 a cupcake conference.
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The MSC Sinfonia is currently returning to Europe with no guests onboard after completing a winter season in South America. Having spent the past four months serving the Brazilian market, the MSC Cruises vessel started its repositioning voyage in Santos on March 17, 2026. The 2002-built vessel is now expected to make a technical call...
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Taj Launches Jewel of the Lake at Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, Celebrating the Hotel’s Legacy and Growth as a Leading Luxury Destination in India and GloballyTaj unveils Jewel of the Lake at Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur highlighting the iconic hotel's... Read More
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Samsung Galaxy S26 series is getting the second software update since launch, and this one isn’t random. Samsung is rolling out AirDrop support to the Galaxy S26 phones through the latest AZCF software update.
Recently, Samsung announced AirDrop rollout to the Galaxy S26 series. The update is already available in South Korea. Regions to follow include Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Latin America, North America, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan.
AirDrop support is a bigger upgrade than it sounds. This makes it easier for Galaxy S26 users to share files with Apple device users. There’s no need for third-party apps as Quick Share is now compatible with AirDrop.
Additionally, Galaxy S26’s second update weighs under 900 megabytes. Surprisingly, the software still lacks the latest March 2026 security patch. Hopefully, the Global users will receive AirDrop support along with the March patches.
Expect better performance and user experience after the update’s installation. Even though the OTA lacks the latest patches at core, it would have carried the necessary improvements for the Galaxy’s software system.
Don’t panic if you don’t see the AirDrop update immediately. It’s currently bound to the Korea server, and the distribution is gradual. It will be made accessible to a wider audience once Samsung ensures stability.
For now, Samsung’s AirDrop update is exclusively available for the Galaxy S26 series. Samsung will make a separate announcement on a later date. Eligible devices and the tentative release timeline remain to be known.
Samsung is finally unlocking the AirDrop feature on Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra. Starting with the latest flagship phones, cross-platform sharing compatibility will be rolled out to a range of Galaxy devices sequentially.
AirDrop support lets Galaxy S26 users share files with Apple users via Quick Share. Google first brought it to the Pixel 10 series, then expanded it to the Pixel 9. Now, Samsung is bringing the feature to its Galaxy lineup.
Before the S26 launch, a screenshot of the feature’s interface was leaked. However, the feature wasn’t actually available on the devices. Later, Samsung confirmed that AirDrop support will be available soon for the Galaxy S26 series.
In Samsung’s words, Galaxy’s AirDrop feature makes it easier for users to share content between devices using Quick Share. It resolves a long-standing file-sharing issue that Android and Apple users have faced for years.
Availability begins today, starting in South Korea. The following wave of expansion will cover more regions, including Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Latin America, North America, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan.
Samsung just teased that more devices are eligible for this AirDrop update. The exact models and launch timeline are undisclosed. We need to wait for another Samsung announcement regarding AirDrop support for older phones.
Google made Quick Share functional with AirDrop. It was assumed that Apple could fix the loophole and break this functionality. Apple didn’t so (yet), and is likely to keep AirDrop for Androids alive to comply with regional laws.
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PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a new six-year contract with opening day starter Cristopher Sánchez.
The deal announced Sunday for last season’s NL Cy Young Award runner-up begins in 2027 and will run through 2032 with a club option for 2033.
Terms were not immediately available.
Sánchez had been pitching under a $22.5 million, four-year contract that was through 2028.
He went 13-5 with a 2.50 ERA in 32 starts last season and struck out a career-high 212 batters. He’s 30-21 overall in four full big league seasons.
Originally signed by the Tampa Bay Rays as an amateur free agent in 2013, Sánchez was acquired in a trade by the Phillies on Nov. 20, 2019, for infielder Curtis Mead.
Mead played in just 41 games for the Chicago White Sox last season while Sánchez has blossomed into one of the best pitchers in baseball and helped key the Phillies’ run to consecutive NL East titles in 2024 and 2025.
The Phillies want to keep their postseason run going — four straight appearances headed into 2026 — and have locked up all veteran members of their staff to long-term deals.
Jesús Luzardo earlier this month finalized a $135 million, five-year contract that starts in 2027. Zack Wheeler has a $126 million deal through the 2027 and Aaron Nola a $172 million, seven-year agreement through 2030. Rookie Andrew Painter is under team control through 2031 and earned the fifth starter spot in the rotation.
NEW YORK (AP) — Florida Panthers forward A.J. Greer has been suspended three games for shoving Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary into the boards from behind.
The NHL announced the punishment on Sunday.
The play occurred 11:11 into the third period of Florida's 4-1 loss at Calgary on Friday night. The 29-year-old Greer was assessed a major penalty for interference and a game misconduct.
Greer has a career-high 13 goals and 24 points in 68 games this season. He will miss games against Seattle, Minnesota and the New York Islanders, and he forfeits $13,281.24 in salary that goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
With 27 seconds left, and the Volunteers leading 73-71, Virginia missed a short shot, and in the scrum for the rebound the ball was spiked by Tennessee's Nate Ament and bounced off some bodies before going out of bounds.
The officials gave the ball to Tennessee, which drew a coach's challenge from UVA coach Ryan Odom after replays seemed to suggest the ball was spiked off Vols guard Bishop Boswell's head and then out of bounds without a Virginia player touching it. UVA's Dallin Hall was close to the ball, but pulled his hands away and didn't seem to make contact with the ball, as it didn't change directions.
However, the refs stuck with the original call and gave Tennessee the ball. UT's Ja'Kobi Gillespie would add free throws, and down two possessions, the arithmetic changed and the game was ultimately affected.
Did the refs make right call in Tennessee-Virginia game? Take a look and decide for yourself:
Just so you know, Phillies fans, your annual running-it-back beef doesn’t apply this season. Maybe that was the case in 2024 or 2025. But not now.
The lineup has two new faces – rookie center fielder Justin Crawford and veteran right fielder Adolis Garcia. The rotation will unveil the most-hyped Phillies prospect in a generation – Andrew Painter. And the bullpen will roll out a slew of new arms, along with a closer, Jhoan Duran, whose Durantula show wasn’t in Philadelphia a year ago.
Sure, it’s not a total roster makeover, but this team doesn’t require one and has enough new blood to give an infusion of freshness to behold on Thursday’s Opening Day.
Adolis García is the Phillies new right fielder. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
Diamond Images/Getty Images
What needs to go right?
Philly’s strength is once again its starting rotation. Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo – two dominant lefties – wield some of the most wicked stuff in the league. Veteran Aaron Nola may just bounce back from his dreadful 2025 season after looking ace-like pitching for Italy in the World Baseball Classic.
Then, by mid-April – fingers crossed – Zack Wheeler should return from thoracic outlet syndrome, which ended his 2025 season prematurely with a blood clot in his throwing arm.
Wheeler is reportedly ahead of schedule in his TOS recovery, and according to all reports, looks superb with his bullpen sessions. Once he returns – and if he’s anything close to what he was – the rotation could be the best in baseball, and if that’s the case, look for the Phillies to jaunt into another postseason.
One more thing that needs go right: Phillies superstar Bryce Harper shuts up team president Dave Dombrowski, who caused a big offseason drama by wondering out loud about Harper’s declining eliteness in 2025 to room full of media.
If Harper is the elite Harper in 2026, the Phillies will not only head into the playoffs but head into postseason with swagger.
What could go wrong?
This is obvious. The two names mentioned above – Wheeler and Harper – are no longer the stars they once were. And to be honest, both are question marks. Wheeler is 35 and coming off a surgery that has ended careers, and Harper is 33, whose violent swing abuses his body.
Another potential disaster could be the outfield. Crawford will get his shot to own CF, but if he’s hitting .200 on June 1 and misreading fly balls, there are no backup options on a team that has meager outfield depth.
Rookie Justin Crawford will get the starting CF job for the Phillies. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Also, there’s a reason why the Texas Rangers let Garcia just walk away. Garcia has hit a two-season skid with no proof that he can return to his 2023 form that led Texas to a World Series title. For Garcia, it’s all hope at this point and hope has no value in Philadelphia. See Max Kepler and Whit Merrifield about that.
So what will the Phillies do if both Crawford and Garcia flop? Uh, trade for Harrison Bader?
What to expect?
This is a team chock full of veterans. Really good veterans. And if they stay mostly healthy, expect another 90-plus win season and another playoff run, proving they never really needed Bo Bichette. But are the Phils doomed for another early postseason exit? That question can wait a few months. It’s time for Opening Day.
Shortly after a referee blew the whistle, signaling a held ball and the end of the play, Condon continued to pull at the ball and dragged Folgueiras to the court.
After the play, Iowa and Florida players rushed to the scene, with the two sides eventually separated. A replay on the TBS broadcast showed Folgueiras balling up his fist and throwing it in Condon’s direction, though it appeared that it was Folgueiras’ forearm, not his fist, that made contact with Condon’s chest, with the motion of his arm going in the direction of the tie ball.
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 22, 2026
The TBS announcers working the game initially speculated that Folgueiras, a Robert Morris transfer in his first season at Iowa, might receive a flagrant-2 foul and an automatic ejection, but upon video review, referees determined that it was a double technical foul.
Florida coach Todd Golden was incensed at the call, arguing with the officials after it was made. Following the altercation between Folgueiras and Condon, Golden was also seen shouting in the direction of the Iowa bench and first-year Hawkeyes coach Ben McCollum.
Florida head coach Todd Golden just unleashed on the Iowa bench and Ben McCollum was not having it pic.twitter.com/UymMOz6mds
"I don't know, they were just going for the ball, and then everybody got all sensitive," McCollum said to TBS in a sideline interview at the next timeout. "Their people got sensitive. It's like, you're trying to play ball. It's whatever. We'll compete. We'll fight. We'll see what happens."
Antoine Griezmann to travel to the United States to complete deal with Orlando City
Antoine Griezmann (35) is set to travel to the United States to finalise his upcoming move to Orlando City SC, according to reports from The Athletic.
Under contract with Atlético Madrid until June 2027, the French international – who has 137 caps (44 goals) – will join the MLS next summer to sign for the Lions until the end of the 2027–28 season. A one-year extension option has also been included in the deal.
Eager to secure Griezmann’s services as early as this winter, Orlando ultimately came up against the 2018 champion’s determination to see out the season with the Colchoneros, who are still in the Champions League and have reached the Copa del Rey final.
Having made 43 appearances for Diego Simeone since the start of the 2025–26 term, the Mâcon-born player has found the net 13 times and provided six assists across all competitions.
As Atlético’s all-time leading goalscorer, the Rojiblanco number 7 is now set to bring the most significant chapter of his career to a close – a career that has also seen him play for Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 11: Bryan Woo #22 of the Seattle Mariners looks on in the dugout during a Spring Training game against the Colorado Rockies at Peoria Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s the penultimate night in Peoria, er, Glendale.
Bryan Woo will get the ball in the Mariners’ next to last game of Spring Training. The next time we see him, it’ll count for real. Catching Woo today is newly appointed backup catcher Mitch Garver. The rest of the Mariners lineup is not quite what they’ll send out on Opening Day lineup, but still a group of players who will feature throughout the season.
Also expected to pitch today: Andrés Muñoz, Jhonathan Díaz, Jose Ferrer, Casey Legumina, and Cooper Criswell.
💣 Antoine Griezmann 'flying to USA' to complete shock MLS move
Mere hours after Atletico de Madrid's 3-2 derby defeat against rivals Real Madrid, star man Antoine Griezmann is set to get on a plane and head to the United States.
According to a shock update from The Athletic later on Sunday evening, the French World Cup winner was "authorized" by his LaLiga club to complete a move to Major League Soccer.
Girezmann is set to sign a deal through 2027-28 with Orlando City, including an option to extend. The Florida side is the neighbouring rival of Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi.
The move arrives after lengthy negotiations between the player and the club. Additional details revealed Griezmann will wear No. 7 for Orlando.
He is set to be the latest European star to make the switch to the USA, following Messi, Thomas Müller to Vancouver Whitecaps, and Son Heung-min to LAFC. Back in 2015, Orlando City also signed a celebrity player of their own in Kaka.
The Frenchman will therefore depart LaLiga as one of the all-time greats. He currently holds the title of Atleti's top goal scorer, with over 200 goals for the club.
But it wasn’t just Burrow being Burrow: It was almost by design, too.
During the media circus around the event, Burrow didn’t pull any punches when talking about his desire to hit the Olympics someday.
“I’ve always wanted to play in the Olympics,” Burrow said, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. “I’ve never necessarily played an Olympic sport before, so when this got announced, I was pretty excited about it.”
Burrow continued: “The opportunity to win a gold medal [is] something that I’ve thought about - a moment like that - for a long time, since I was a kid. I think it would be something very special,” Burrow said.
In 2028, flag football will be an Olympic sport for the first time during the games in Los Angeles.
Despite Burrow’s quotes here, it remains unclear whether NFL players will actually compete for and make the U.S. Olympic team.
The fact NFL players got whipped by actual flag football players in a big way doesn’t help that outlook very much. In the pursuit of gold, the team will want the best flag football players, so NFL players with different skill sets might be left behind in the race to make the roster while they focus on their own particular sport.
Roger Goodell has said in the past that USA Football will handle the selection process of the 10-man roster and years sit between now and that happening.
Arizona pitcher Jalen Adams (12) and catcher Sydney Stewart (21) encourage each other during the Wildcats’ 6-4 win vs Arizona State on Mar. 22, 2026 | Photo by Ryan Kelapire
Winning two out of three conference series to start the Big 12 season is a big deal. Winning a rivalry series as one of them is even bigger. The No. 13 Arizona Wildcats (23-8, 6-3) did that on a brutally hot Sunday afternoon as they took down the No. 20 Arizona State Sun Devils* (23-9, 3-6) by the score of 6-4 to win the series 2-1.
“The goal is win the series every weekend,” said Arizona senior Jalen Adams. “Obviously want to sweep whatever, but winning that series is really big, and we want to do that every weekend.”
Catcher Sydney Stewart came up big in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run home run. It was one of very few strikes Stewart saw in the weekend’s three games. She was walked six times to go along with her four hits. This one was a no-doubter to the south end of Candrea’s Corner, and it wasn’t even a hitter’s pitch.
“Even though the pitch was elevated, I knew I could get my hands to it,” Stewart said.
Arizona head coach Caitlin Lowe was just impressed that it came at the end of a weekend when ASU tried to avoid Stewart.
“It takes a special person to get walked all weekend and then be ready for her moment,” Lowe said.
Unlike Friday night, there were no real surprises in the Wildcats’ starting lineup for the rubber game, but that didn’t mean there weren’t surprises during the game. Once again, they didn’t work out quite as planned.
Adams started for the second straight game. Emma Kavanagh was the starting designated player. Everything else was the same as on Friday.
Adams threw 7.0 innings, but there was a surprise in the sixth inning. Adams left the game for two at-bats. At that point, Adams had given up just three hits and was throwing a shutout. She had also hit two batters and walked one, allowing six baserunners in 5.1 innings.
Still, Adams wasn’t surprised when she was lifted. It was something pitching coach Christian Conrad had discussed with her ahead of time.
“That was just part of Christians plan,” Adams said. “We talk about all the possibilities before games. And I fully trust in his plan, trust in all the other pitchers on the staff. So we were just going with the game plan.”
Adams gave way to freshman Rylie Holder with two on and one out in the top of the sixth. Both inherited runners scored without another out being recorded.
The runs were charged to Adams, who was immediately brought back in with a worse situation than she the one she left. Now, she had runners on the corners with one out and her team’s lead had been cut in half.
It might not have worked out, but Lowe said the plan was built with an eye to weather conditions. She noted that ASU also removed and re-inserted its starter during the game.
“It’s 100 degrees outside, and we wanted to get Jalen a little relief too, just like they did Kenzie Brown,” Lowe said. “But, at the same time, we knew Rylie could roll a double play and she’s gonna come into those games all the time, and I trust her to come into those games all the time. So it was the right decision. We didn’t execute.”
Lowe’s confidence in Holder and the rest of the team comes down to their perseverance.
“Rylie was phenomenal yesterday,” Lowe said. “I mean, I watched her get better yesterday. I watched her work through tough moments, breathe through pressure, and we talked a lot about the tough stuff. We’re going to have to go right through. We’re not going around it. So I saw her in bases loaded situations, lots of runners on, and absolutely executing our game plan.”
Because she left during the inning, Adams wasn’t given any warm-up pitches when she returned to the circle in the top of the sixth. The first batter she faced had a controversial at-bat.
Pinch hitter Ryan Brown came in for ASU. She got into a 1-2 count then hit a ball far to centerfield over the outstretched glove of Regan Shockey. During the live play, it looked like it bounced off the top of the wall and back onto the field. That was how it was ruled by the officials, as well, making it a 2-RBI double that tied the game 4-4 with one out.
The question was whether the ball hit the batter’s eye behind the centerfield wall. ASU’s coaches and ESPN+ color commentator (and former Wildcat pitcher) Kenzie Fowler Quinn thought it did, but Sun Devil head coach Megan Bartlett didn’t challenge the call for an extended time period. The rule book gives her 30 seconds to challenge. Well after that time, she asked the home plate umpire for a challenge but was told it was too late. The call stood.
ASU staff members were under the impression that the call should be automatically reviewed by the officiating crew beginning in the sixth inning, but the NCAA’s explanation of the challenge rule doesn’t indicate that. When the review rule was passed in 2021, it allowed (but did not require) the crew chief to initiate a review beginning in the sixth inning. A head coach could challenge at any point in the game.
The video review rules were changed in 2024. One of the changes allowed any official to initiate a review at any point in the game. Once again, there’s no indication that the officials are required to do so; they are allowed to do so when it is not “properly covered.” The coach can use a challenge at any point in the game but must do it within the 30-second time limit after the play in question.
In the end, Stewart’s 2-run home run in the bottom of the inning made the lost run a moot point. The 2-run shot would have given Arizona a 1-run advantage even if the ASU call had been overturned in the top of the inning.
ASU tried to get something going again in the top of the seventh. Kaylee Pond had a leadoff double and got to third with one out on a flyout. The next two batters went down easily with popups. Game and series over.
Arizona’s head coach was impressed by her team’s ability to find different ways to win when the usual way wasn’t working. Sereniti Trice came into the weekend hitting .523 even after facing the phenomenal pitching staff at Texas Tech. She was 1 for 11 in three games against ASU. Shockey was great on Sunday, but she was 2 for 8 in Friday and Saturday’s games.
“Jenna Sniffen swung the bat,” Lowe said. “I thought Kez [Lucas] had a great weekend. Grace [Jenkins] had a great weekend, In a weekend, honestly, where you don’t see Biddy and Regan get on as much, we stepped up, and that hasn’t happened quite yet. So that feels really good that it doesn’t matter if it’s my turn or somebody else’s.”
Adams ended with the win to improve to 13-4 on the season. She gave up two earned runs on five hits, two walks, and two hit batters. She struck out two. She dropped her ERA back down to 3.22 after seeing it climb over the previous two days.
Holder gave up two earned runs on two hits without recording an out.
Six of Arizona’s nine starting hitters got at least one hit. Seven reached base at least once. The four through seven hitters all had at least one RBI with Stewart’s three leading the way.
Both leadoff hitter Shockey and cleanup hitter Stewart reached base safely every time they stepped into the batter’s box. Shockey was 3 for 3 with a walk. Stewart was 2 for 2 with two walks.
Meika Lauppe took the loss for the Sun Devils despite giving up just one of the six Arizona runs. She threw 1.1 inning and surrendered the one earned run on two hits and one walk.
Kenzie Brown started the game and re-entered later. She gave up four runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks in 4.0 IP. She struck out four.
Former Wildcat Aissa Silva also made an appearance for the Sun Devils. She allowed one earned run on two hits and two walks in 0.2 IP.
Arizona will have its fourth straight game against an in-state opponent when GCU comes to town on Tuesday. The Lopes were the last unbeaten team in Division I this season. They finally lost a game to No. 23 Oklahoma State on Tuesday, Mar. 17. They are now 33-1 overall and 6-0 in the Mountain West.
“They’re fantastic, and they’ve been good for a while, and they’re always a competitive game for us,” Lowe said. “They pitch well, they execute offensively well. So it’s going to be really important to take a day off, get rest on our bodies, but then be ready.”
*This website uses the NFCA poll as the official softball poll. Arizona State was ranked in two polls this week, including the NFCA. It was not ranked by USA Softball.
South Mountain High School’s (Ariz.) football program has gone five straight years finishing either .500 or below and are looking to change their fortunes around. On Sunday afternoon, the school announced the hiring of their next head coach they hope can shake things up for the Jaguars.
According to a press release, South Mountain announced the appointment of former Corona Del Sol assistant head coach Larry Davis as the program’s next lead man. With the Aztecs, Davis also coached the defensive line along with his assistant head coaching duties.
“I’m honored to announce that I have been named the new Head Football Coach at South Mountain High School. It’s a privilege to lead and serve the Jaguars program and be part of such a strong community. I’m ready to get to work. Special thank you to the South Mountain Administration and PHX Union School District with trusting me with this opportunity,” Davis said via his social media post.
I’m honored to announce that I have been named the new Head Football Coach at South Mountain High School. It’s a privilege to lead and serve the Jaguars program and be part of such a strong community. I’m ready to get to work. Special thank you to the South Mountain… pic.twitter.com/MlfAnW1zrw
Davis will have a tall task ahead of him as South Mountain has only had five winning seasons since 2006, with only one finishing in the double digits back in 2007 when the Jaguars went 10-3.
“Coach Davis understands our community and shares our commitment to building a strong football program centered on discipline, academic accountability, and character,” South Mountain said in the press release regarding Davis’ hiring. “We are excited to welcome him back to lead Jaguar Football.”
South Mountain is coming off a 1-9 campaign and finished the 2025 season as the No. 156th ranked team, according to the final Arizona 2025 High School Football Massey Rankings.
How to Follow Arizona High School Football
For Arizona high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the Grand Canyon State, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the Arizona high school football excitement across the state.
Chandler (Ariz.) Basha defensive lineman Anitoni Tahi headed out to Wisconsin this weekend.
With the Badgers set to host him for an official visit in the spring, Tahi wanted to get out to Madison before the visit to see what Luke Fickell and his program had to offer.
He was able to take in a spring practice while there.
“Man, it was good,” said Tahi. “The facility is nice and I really like how coach (EJ) Whitlow coaches. He brings the juice for sure.”
Tahi enjoyed being in Madison.
“Madison is a beautiful place,” said Tahi. “It is a college town for sure.”
Watching Fickell up close was also a highlight.
“Coach Fickell is a good coach,” said Tahi. “He also brings the juice.”
Watching the practice and meeting with the defensive line was also a good experience for him.
“Practice was good,” said Tahi. “I love how the defensive line trains. The meeting was good, I love how they set the standard.”
Tahi next heads to Minnesota on April 5 and Kansas State on April 18 for an unofficial and his official visit slate starts with a visit to Minnesota on May 28 with Kansas State a week later on June 5, Wisconsin the following week on June 11 and rounds out with Iowa State on June 19.
He is also planning to take an official visit to Arizona State, working on nailing down the date for that one.
Sean Burke takes his last spring start, for the last home game at Camelback Ranch. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Four, that’s right, four days to go until the games start meaning to mean! Until then, we’ll have to sate ourselves with whatever kind of scrap of news this is.
The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms with catcher Reese McGuire on a one-year, $1.2-million contract.
Uh, alright? Nothing wrong with a little catching depth, I suppose? Korey Lee doesn’t have any options remaining and has had a productive spring, so he’s been a lock to make the roster the moment Kyle Teel pulled up limping in the World Baseball Classic. The whole “$1.2 million” thing there, though, indicates that McGuire has a real possibility of making the roster, if it’s not already foregone. This, to me, is strange, because while I’m interested to see whether Lee’s offseason hitting work has paid off, he doesn’t need to be in the lineup almost every day like both Teel and Edgar Quero do. That would make a third catcher on the roster redundant, so I’m curious to see what it all means.
Anyhow, not a ton interesting about the lineup the Sox are running out against Seattle tonight, but the battle between Tristan Peters, Everson Pereira, and Derek Hill rages on for what may now be two open outfield spots, with Brooks Baldwin out of the picture for the opener on Thursday. It’ll also be the last time Camelback Ranch sees White Sox game action until 2027, as they’ll be on the road for their final outing of the spring season tomorrow.
Sean Burke takes the ball for one final tune-up start before they really start to count, hoping to end with a flourish to offset what to this point has been a somewhat wobbly spring. He did look solid his last time out, nearly making it through five innings against Texas last Monday while surrendering just a single run. He’s on pace to get the nod for game two of the regular season against Milwaukee, on Saturday.
Opposite Burke, Sox hitters will get a look at Seattle’s burgeoning ace in Bryan Woo, who surely wants to come into the regular season hot after injuries kept him out of the 2025 postseason rotation despite a Cy Young-caliber campaign. Outside of Woo, most of Seattle’s big names are getting the night off, as Cal Raleigh dons the tools of ignorance by his lonesome without any of Julio Rodríguez, Randy Arozarena or Josh Naylor buffering him in the lineup.
This one is scheduled to tip off at 8:05 p.m. CT, and for the first time this year, I’ll actually be able to watch a game I’m recapping, as the CHSN TV crew will be on the call like usual. Hallelujah!
The No. 9 Utah State Aggies battle the first-seeded Arizona Wildcats in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. Virginia defeated Wright State 82-73 that same day. After winning the Big 12 Tournament, the Wildcats took down LIU in the first round by a score of 92-58.
Utah State claimed the Mountain West Tournament and then defeated No. 8 seed Villanova by 10 points in the first round. Utah State owns the 3-1 edge in the all-time matchups between the programs. If they win, this would be Utah State's first Sweet 16 appearance since 1970.
Here is a look at the box score from Saturday's second round West Region game in San Diego.
TBS announcers Tom McCarthy and Dan Bonner felt that a flagrant foul could have been called, or at the very least Chinyelu should have been whistled for a common foul.
Freiburg’s Igor Matanovic (22) expresses mixed feelings about beating old youth club St. Pauli in midst of relegation fight
Freiburg striker Igor Matanovic didn’t necessarily wish to strike a hard blow against his former club St. Pauli on Sunday evening. Matanovic’s brace actually ended up leading to an extremely frustrating loss for his hometown side, who are currently fighting relegation. The Hamburg native refrained from celebrating either goal in the 1-2 away Bundesliga victory.
Igor Matanovic’s St. Pauli journey
Matanovic journey the Kiezkicker youth academy in 2010 when he was just seven-years-of-age. Like most German footballing academy products, he worked as a ball boy in the stadium on matchdays. The now seven-times-capped Croatian international broke through to the St. Pauli first team during the 2020/21 2. Bundesliga campaign.
Eintracht Frankfurt took notice of Matonovic’s talent and scooped him up on a €1.8m transfer in the summer of 2021. In order to further his development, however, the RheinMainAdler deemed it prudent to loan him back to the Hamburg outfit on an extended two-year-loan. Matanovic still only scored three goals for St. Pauli in two seasons.
Matanovic’s rise
Matanovic finally broke through in the 2. Bundesliga during a 2023/24 loan stint with Karlsruher SC. He showed some top flight potential with Dino Toppmöller’s SGE last year during the 2024/25 campaign, but still only scored two goals in 25 appearances across all competitions for Frankfurt.
Matanovic has raised his estimated market value by €3m up to €10m over the last three months.
Matanovic’s words for his ex-club
“It was a special game for me,” Matanovic told DAZN after the match. “I really enjoyed being able to play here for 13 years. I was here in the stands as a little boy and worked as a ball boy. I absolutely loved being able to play here today. When I came out onto the field earlier, before it all even started, the fans gave me a really warm welcome. I really appreciate that
“I’m nevertheless wearing the Freiburg crest on my chest today and have to give everything for this club,” Matanovic continued. “That’s what I did today. We [Freiburg] accomplished a lot as a team. We wanted to carry on the momentum from Thursday and didn’t fully accomplish that. My [first goal] also had a lot to do with blind luck. I was lucky the ball bounced that way.“
Freiburg’s Julian Schuster praises Matanovic
“The lad came to us from Eintracht and decided specifically for us,” SCF head coach Julian Schuster added of the 22-year-old at the post match press conference. “It took some time for him to meet our requirements understood our demands in detail. He’s meet those perfectly now. He’s made great strides with his work against the ball in the last six months.
“His quality in the tight spaces with the ball and ability to keep the ball circulating [is also worth noting],” Schuster continued. “And let’s not forget the danger he brings in front of goal. He helps us out immensely with his instinct for scoring and that’s translating to goal scoring form now.“
Schuster also sympathetic to St. Pauli
“We’re pleased to have won against a team that has delivered good performances in recent weeks,” Schuster – who joined the post-match press conference late – also noted in his opening statement. “They have quality and we’re lucky to have comeback against them.
“I also said this last year and will say it again this year,” Schuster continued. “I hope that I’ll have the privilege of playing an away match here again next year.I just find this stadium, this club, these fans, and this team wonderful and great.
“I’m convinced that St. Pauli can do it [avoid relegation],” Schuster concluded. “Alex, I wish you and your team a great deal of strength and energy. I hope that, together, you can all manage to get it done and be a part of the Bundesliga next year.“
For 15 years, Bill Self was college basketball’s most inevitable figure.
The Big 12 couldn’t beat him. The NCAA and even the FBI couldn’t take him down. Maybe he left a couple national championships on the table, but he got two — and every year when March Madness began, Kansas was usually one of the teams to beat.
It’s an all-time run. Is it over?
After Kansas was eliminated Sunday by St. John’s in the NCAA tournament second round, Self said “I haven’t decided” when asked if he will coach in 2026-27, citing health issues that have plagued him going back to 2023 when he was forced to miss the Big 12 and NCAA tournament after needing a stent to treat a blocked artery.
“I’ll get back and get with family and visit and see what’s going on,” he said. “I love what I do. I need to be able to do it where I’m feeling good and healthy to do it fairly well, so I’ll get back home and it’ll all be discussed.”
Kansas coach Bill Self didn't give a definitive answer when asked whether he'd be back for next season after the Jayhawks' NCAA tournament loss to St. John's. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Sean M. Haffey via Getty Images
Sunday marked the fourth straight year for Kansas losing in the first or second round. Over the last three seasons, Self has gone 33-23 in a conference he dominated for more than a decade.
Around the Big 12, there has been speculation among coaches and administrators all season that this might be Self’s final year given both the declining results in the NIL era and the health problems. Self had to miss a game at Colorado in January after being treated for dehydration and atrial fibrillation, a condition that causes an irregular heart rate.
Self, 63, has taken Kansas to four Final Fours — although one of them, 2018, was stripped from the record books due to playing an ineligible player, Silvio De Sousa, after a former Adidas executive admitted in court that he paid $20,000 to De Sousa’s family to attend Kansas.
Self escaped that case, which was part of the FBI’s inquiry into college basketball, with minimal punishments despite the program being charged with five Level 1 NCAA violations stemming from its ties to Adidas.
“It’s certainly a year that didn’t seem like anything about it was very smooth,” Self said. “I’m probably looking at [my career] now more in [two]-year increments so I’ve tried to focus on this season and get us to a second weekend which we failed. So I’ll go back and break it down and see where that leads.”
Tennessee played a nearly flawless first half Sunday to take control of its second-round NCAA tournament game against 3 seed Virginia.
It then survived a late flurry from the Cavaliers for a 79-72 win that was aided by a late officiating break in its favor.
With the win, the 6th-seeded Volunteers advance to the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight season. There, they’ll face an uphill climb to advance to the program’s first Final Four and the second in head coach Rick Barnes’ 39-year career as an NCAA head coach.
Tennessee committed just one turnover and hit 5 of 11 3s while building its first-half advantage. It then committed multiple miscues down the stretch including a pair of turnovers on inbounds plays in the final minutes to allow Virginia back in the game.
Thijs De Ridder hit a 3 to give Virginia a 3 a 71-70 lead, its first of the second half. But Tennessee maintained its composure to retake the lead and caught a late break when officials upheld an out of bounds called in the final minute that favored the Volunteers.
Was this really out on Virginia?
After a Virginia miss, the ball appeared to go out of bounds off the head of Tennessee’s Bishop Boswell. But officials determined on the floor that Virginia’s Dallin Hall touched the ball before it went out of bounds.
Refs currently reviewing if Hall from Virginia touched this ball that bounced off of Tennessee pic.twitter.com/1HbcFwqi54
Replay appeared to show that Hall didn’t touch the ball, and it was out of bounds on Tennessee. But the video evidence wasn’t conclusive, and the call on the floor stood. Tennessee retained possession with a 73-71 lead and 27 seconds remaining on the clock.
Virginia didn’t lead again. The loss ends Virginia’s season short of the Sweet 16 as a 3 seed.
Tennessee advances with its Final Four hopes intact as a distinct underdog in the Midwest Region. Up nest is a Sweet 16 matchup against 2 seed Iowa State, which raced by 7 seed Kentucky earlier Sunday despite playing without injured All-American Joshua Jefferson.
Jefferson rolled his ankle in Iowa State’s first-round win over Tennessee State and watched Sunday’s game in street clothes and with a walking boot on his left foot. His status at this point for a game next week is uncertain.
Either way, Tennessee will face a difficult matchup after an impressive opening 2 rounds of NCAA tournament play. Whomever advances out of that Sweet 16 game will face a potential Elite Eight matchup against No. 1 seed Michigan. The Wolverines will take on the winner of Sunday’s night cap between Alabama and Texas Tech in the Sweet 16.
Tennessee has developed into a consistent winner under Barnes, who’s in his 11th season as head coach in Knoxville. But like their head coach, the Volunteers continue to seek their breakthrough to jump to the next tier in the college ranks.
Tennessee has never advanced to a Final Four. And Barnes has made the Final Four just once in his 39 years of coaching George Mason, Providence, Clemson, Texas and now, Tennessee. Barnes led Texas to the 2003 Final Four, where it lost to eventual champion Syracuse and Carmelo in the national semifinal.
The drought is over. For the first time in 27 years, St. John’s is headed to the Sweet 16.
Dylan Darling delivered a dramatic, buzzer-beating lay-up to give fifth-seeded St. John’s a 67-65 win over fourth-seeded Kansas in San Diego on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Kansas had rallied back from a 14-point second-half deficit, with a pair of Darryn Peterson free throws tying the score with 14 seconds left.
That set up Darling’s instant-classic moment.
The red-hot Red Storm will next face Duke, the top overall seed in this year’s tournament, on Friday in Washington, D.C.
Facing his former team, St. John’s star Zuby Ejiofor scored 18 points with nine rebounds. Bryce Hopkins added 18 points and shot 6 of 9 on 3-pointers.
The Kansas freshman phenom Peterson — a strong contender to be the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft – led all scorers with 21.
St. John’s forced 16 turnovers and shot 11 of 35 on 3-pointers.
It was St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino’s first career win over Kansas’ Bill Self in the Hall of Famers’ second-ever meeting.
St. John’s entered Sunday shooting just 33.3% on 3-pointers and averaging 21.0 attempts from deep per game. But the Johnnies made the 3-point arc a clear priority Sunday in an effort to combat Kansas’ size, led by the towering tandem of 6-9 Flory Bidunga and 6-11 Bryson Tiller.
“We probably haven’t faced anything like them since Kentucky [on Dec. 20], as far as the length, size, [and] size of the backcourt,” Pitino said ahead of the game. They’re certainly very well-coached. They’re certainly extremely talented, and it’ll be interesting to see how we combat their size.”
The 3-point approach served St. John’s well early, as the Johnnies started the game 4 of 9 from behind the arc. An Ian Jackson triple capped an 11-0 run and gave St. John’s an early 14-6 advantage.
The St. John’s defense was similarly stellar to start.
After Peterson drilled a pair of 3-pointers within the game’s first two minutes, Kansas missed 10 consecutive shots, repeatedly struggling with the Red Storm’s pressure.
Even inbounding the ball was a challenge for Kansas as it committed five turnovers in the first eight minutes.
St. John’s continued to live and die with the 3, and a nearly six-minute scoreless drought allowed Kansas to tie the game, 16-16. But the Johnnies finished the half strong, as Ruben Prey and Joson Sanon made back-to-back 3-pointers in the closing minutes.
All told, St. John’s shot 7-of-23 (30.4%) on 3-pointers in the first half, after which it led, 34-26. The 23 attempts were the most in a half by St. John’s in Pitino’s three years there.
St. John’s continued to shoot in the second half, and back-to-back 3-pointers by Jackson and Bryce Hopkins put the Red Storm up, 47-37, with 13:49 remaining.
That lead would grow to 56-42 with 8:08 to go.
But Kansas responded with a furious 19-6 run, during which Peterson delivered a 3-point play and a Bidunga scored on a tip-in that cut the Jayhawks’ deficit to 62-61 with 1:58 to go.
Hopkins answered on the other end, nailing a clutch 3-pointer to put St. John’s back up by four.
Kansas’ Tre White made it a 65-63 game with a lay-up, and after Ejiofor missed a 3-pointer, the Jayhawks had a chance to tie the game or take the lead with less than 30 seconds to go.
Peterson drew a foul on Oziyah Sellers and made both free throws to tie the game with 14.1 seconds left.
Ejiofor spent his freshman season at Kansas as a little-used reserve, but he transferred to St. John’s in 2023 after the Jayhawks landed star center Hunter Dickinson through the portal.
This is the deepest run by St. John’s since 1999, when it advanced to the Elite Eight. That team was led by Bootsy Thornton and Ron Artest.
Mar. 22—GRAND FORKS — It's official, UND is headed to Sioux Falls for the NCAA men's hockey regional.
The Fighting Hawks will take on Hockey East tournament champion Merrimack at 7:30 p.m. Thursday (ESPN2) in Denny Sanford Premier Center.
Providence will play Quinnipiac at 4 p.m. in the other regional semifinal.
The regional championship is scheduled for Saturday. The time is yet to be determined.
Jason Ross and Kevin Weekes will call the Sioux Falls Regional on ESPN.
"Regardless of the opponent, (it's) excitement," UND associate head coach Matt Smaby said. "We've been not just waiting for this time, but working for this time all year. There's always a little bit of uncertainty as to who you're playing and how that's going to shake out.
"On our side, we're really excited for the opportunity. Merrimack has been playing great. We knew there was going to be a challenge some way, somehow, regardless of who we were playing. It's nice to be able to narrow the focus now."
The Fighting Hawks (27-9-1) are the region's No. 1 seed and the NCAA tournament's No. 2 overall seed.
Merrimack (21-15-2), the region's No. 4 seed, reached the NCAA tournament by going on a run in the Hockey East playoffs. The Warriors beat Hockey East's regular-season champion, Providence, in the quarterfinals. Then, they beat UMass 2-0 and UConn 2-1 this weekend in T.D. Garden.
Merrimack goaltender Max Lundgren stopped 49 of 50 in Saturday night's final against UConn and was named the tournament MVP.
Lundgren stopped 107 of 110 shots (.973 save percentage) in the Hockey East quarterfinals, semifinals and championship. He has played every minute in net this season for Merrimack, posting a .920 save percentage.
"Oftentimes, when you see a goalie playing well, there's usually a team in front of him that's not giving up a ton," Smaby said. "Those two things run together. I think, for us, we've always been at our best focusing on what we can control. That will be extremely important for our group heading into the game Thursday."
Merrimack is led offensively by a dynamic group of forwards — Hockey East rookie of the year finalists Parker Lalonde (37 points) and Justin Gill (35), Calgary Flames draft pick Trevor Hoskin (35) and sophomores Caelan Fitzpatrick (29) and Nick Pierre (25), who played high school hockey at Hill-Murray in the Twin Cities.
Merrimack's power play is converting at 30% since mid-December.
"We know we're going to get tested defensively," Smaby said. "We've been preparing for that all year. You've seen our games, throughout the course of the season, things have really started to tighten up. Now, it becomes real. The goalie has been playing great. Their team has been playing really well, so we've got to find a way to be great at what we want to do."
UND and Merrimack have only played two games in program history — an October 2009 series in Ralph Engelstad Arena. UND won 5-2 and 3-2.
The matchup will pit two players against their former teams.
UND forward Tyler Young transferred from Merrimack to UND this summer. Young spent three seasons at Merrimack.
Merrimack forward Michael Emerson spent a semester at UND in the fall of 2023. He left school to return to junior hockey, then committed to Merrimack. Emerson played six games for the Fighting Hawks.
"We've always been at our best focusing on ourselves and not worrying so much about what's coming at us," Smaby said. "That way, you're able to control the things you can control, which I think will be important in those big moments."
This will be UND's first driving trip to a regional since 2021, when the Fighting Hawks played in the Fargo Regional. That year, attendance was restricted due to the pandemic.
UND's last two regional games were in Maryland Heights, Mo., and Albany, N.Y., in 2024 and 2022. The Fighting Hawks lost both of those games by a goal.
"I think being close to home is nice, knowing our fans travel well throughout the course of the year and knowing that we're going to have a lot of green in the stands," Smaby said. "I think that's always a boost for us. We've been great on the road all year long. This is a road game. But we know whenever and wherever we're going, we're going to have the backing of our fans, which is a really exciting thing."
Branden Grace and Dean Burmester wave to the crowd during the final round of LIV South Africa.Getty Images
JOHANNESBURG — Dean Burmester was wondering what a lot of South Africans were wondering at some point this week. He was down near the first green, talking to Jon Rahm, gazing back up the hill at the grandstand they had just teed off from.
“Small taste of the Ryder Cup,” he said to Rahm. “That’s about as good as it will ever get for me. Pretty special.”
The point was not the comparison, nor the fact that Rahm added some context about crowd size. Burmester didn’t even know the TV mics were capturing the convo. The point was more that Burmester was dreaming a bit. Levitating mentally. He will never play a Ryder Cup and he knows it. At this rate, he won’t play a Presidents Cup either. But was LIV Golf’s visit to his home country a little bit like the Ryder Cup for the home team? Yeah, it was a little bit like that.
Burmester was equal parts mascot and player this week, flagging approach shots as often as he thumped his chest, danced for the delirious crowd and twirled on tee boxes, his arms extended wide like Maximus Meridius in “Gladiator.”
It was a full week of that from the 36-year-old journeyman, mainly because the LIV template for massive international events worked again, just like it has in Australia the last few years. More than 100,000 tickets were sold, here in the major, global metro of Johannesburg, and they had a single patriotic squad to cheer for.
“I’ve got a bit of a tan from taking my hat off all the time,” Burmester said in the moments after it finished. “It’s just something — I wanted to do well for the fans and honored to show my appreciation wherever I went. It’s amazing to have that kind of support, and they’re shouting down the fairways and on the greens and stuff like that, and I just wanted to say thank you. That’s basically what I wanted to do. The more noise they could make, the better.”
And noise they made.
Does South Africa party harder than Australia? LIV Golf wanted to test that theory. Its events mimic festivals more than anything else these days. At least the ones that can guarantee attendance records. The template is obvious: bring as many people in for golf, musical acts or sunshine and beer — whichever they want most — spread ‘em out, pump ‘em up with the Beastie Boys and sic ‘em on the traditionally quiet norms of the game. It’s gonna feel different. It’s gonna cost a ton of money. It’s gonna stand out if golf is good, too. Was this the first time Burmester found thousands upon thousands of fans walking with his group? Maybe! And maybe not. He’s been around the block. But we know how he felt about this.
“Greatest week of my life,” he said. And that was after his team settled for second place. His teammate Branden Grace missed a birdie putt that would have pushed the Southern Guards into a playoff for the team competition. Considering the rain-soaked course and the liquified nature of the crowd, it’s maybe better it didn’t happen.
The boisterous Minister of Sports, Art and Culture, Gayton McKenzie spent the morning stoking the fire, shouting into cameras about how his team was going to win Sunday, and they were living up to it early. What was once a nine-stroke lead slowly dissipated over the round and eventually collapsed when the South African boys added just a single birdie over their last 16 collective holes. Louis Oosthuizen finished with a bogey on a par-5. The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, was on hand to thank them for their service, but in the end he was doing a smiley TV hit alongside Bryson DeChambeau, who vanquished their team dreams in regulation, and then vanquished Jon Rahm in a playoff.
When asked how Sunday night would go for LIV’s South African players, who had been promised the biggest party in the country if they won, Louis Oosthuizen said he was headed for bed. They were all tired. There’s your difference between winning and losing.
“I’m ready for a brandy and Coke,” Burmester said, during what had to be his 30th interview of the week. The impromptu press conference was held on the 1st tee box, with countrymen surrounding them from above one final time.
“Each of us got to tee off on this 1st tee here, and each of us walked off saying exactly the same thing: we couldn’t feel anything. It was the greatest thing I’ve ever felt on the golf course. I’m just proud to be South African; that’s it.”
The high noon heat brought out the hitting for both Arizona and Texas Tech on Sunday, as there was no shortage of hits and runs. The Wildcats nearly had a miraculous come back from down five in the 9th but went on to lose 12-10.
It was the Red Raiders’ 6-run 7th inning that ultimately won the series. Arizona (8-15, 2-4 Big 12) will have to wait until next week to try and earn its first Big 12 series win.
“We just keep taking a step forward, like last night, and then a couple steps back,” coach Chip Hale said, referring to Saturday’s 14-6 win over Tech.
Luc Fladda started his day strong with back to back strikeouts but only played through three innings. He finished with four strikeouts but five earned runs. Three pitchers came in after Fladda before Matthew Martinez finished out the day.
Nate Novitske got the day started with a double down the left field line. Tony Lira then went the distance to center field to give Arizona the early 2-0 lead. However, Texas Tech responded and put up five runs in the second inning to take a 5-2 lead.
Caleb Danzeisen doubled down the left field line, similar to Novitske. Lira singled to center field after it was dropped and a throwing error from Texas Tech allowed Danzeisen to go to third and Lira to second.
Maddox Mihalakis singled to bring in both runners and brought Arizona within one. A pop up and single later, Jackson Forbes’ sac bunt brought in Mihalakis to tie the game at five a piece.
Texas Tech found a way to reclaim the lead but Forbes homered to the Terry Francona hitting center and knotted the game at sixes. Novitske then wanted to match Forbes with an identical home run. Novitske’s home run also went to right field and went off of the hitting center to give Arizona the lead.
Texas Tech found a way to tie the game yet again, and from there on it only got worse for Arizona. The air was taken out of Hi Corbett by five more runs.
Late in the bottom of the 9th, Forbes gave Arizona a bit of life when he doubled down the right field line to bring in two runs. After loading the bases, one last run came in on a hit by pitch but ultimately the deficit was too much for Arizona to come back from.
“It’s a good sign, especially for a young team trying to overcome all the mistakes that we made, but again, we need to clean it up,” said Hale on his team’s near comeback.
Novitske led the Wildcats in hits with four and Forbes led in RBIs with four. Fladda and Martinez both had game highs of four strikeouts.
“I think the lineup is starting to take shape, we just got to stay healthy,” said Hale on the outlook for his team moving forward. “(Gavin) Triezenberg got hurt today and dislocated his shoulder. We’ll see how long he’s going to be out, but hopefully Cash Brennan will be back next week.”
Arizona hosts GCU on Tuesday before going to UCF. The Lopes beat the Wildcats 7-5 at Hi Corbett Field earlier this month.
UConn cames into the game looking to slide into the Sweet 16 and did just that. The 73-57 win over No. 7 UCLA wasn't easy, but the Huskies advance to the second weekend of the tourney for the third time in four years.
Alex Karaban finished with 27 points to lead all scorers. UCLA was held to its second-lowest point total this season.
Here is a look at the box score from Sunday's second round East Region in Philadelphia.
TAMPA − As Florida basketball and Iowa played in a Round of 32 matchup with their seasons on the line, tensions boiled over during a first-half, loose ball scrum.
It began when Florida forward Alex Condon and Iowa forward Alvaro Folgueiras hit the floor and wrested for a loose ball, rebound. Folgueiras appeared to throw a punch, which didn't land, and Condon emerged from the fray upright with the ball in his hands.
Florida basketball coach Golden and Iowa coach Ben McCollum then barked a few choice words towards one another as the refs reviewed the tape.
Double technicals were whistled on Condon and Folgueiras, and neither were ejected. Golden appeared to protest the decision made by crew chief Joe Lindsay because Folgueiras appeared to try to throw a bunch. The pro-Gator crowd at Benchmark International Arena booed.
The scrap appeared to initially spark Iowa, as the Hawkeyes extended their lead to 23-13 with a 4-0 run after the call. But Florida fought back from the 10-point deficit to cut Iowa's lead to 33-31 at halftime.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!”— a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com
Former Michigan football assistant coach Jerry Hanlon died Sunday, March 22, at 96 years old.
Hanlon’s lengthy tenure with Michigan began in 1969 when he came to Ann Arbor with Bo Schembechler. It continued after he retired from coaching in 1991, working as an assistant director of development and external relations for the athletic department.
Hanlon was on staff for 23 years (1969-91), one of the longest tenured assistant staffers in the history of Michigan football, coaching multiple positions including defensive line, offensive line, and quarterbacks.
"Michigan Athletics has lost one of the finest ambassadors and mentors our football program has ever known," athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement. "Jerry devoted his life to coaching, teaching, and developing young men –watching them grow into leaders in our community, and into devoted husbands and fathers.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, those he coached, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing Coach Hanlon."
During his time with the Wolverines, Hanlon produced 18 All-American linemen and one All-American quarterback − Jim Harbaugh − while he had 36 players drafted by the NFL. In the 1991 Gator Bowl, the last game he coached in his career, Hanlon's entire offensive line was named the Most Valuable Player.
Hanlon was on staff for every single year of Schembechler's tenure, helping create one of the most dominant eras in the history of the winningest program in the nation. Prior to his time in Ann Arbor, Hanlon coached three seasons at Miami University in Ohio alongside Schembechler (1966-68).
Hanlon was born in North Bend, Ohio, and began his coaching career at Taylor High School. He then spent four years as an assistant coach at Canton Catholic High School and one year as its head basketball coach.
Hanlon graduated in 1956 from Miami where he played halfback for three seasos (1953-55) and won two Mid-American Conference championships.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
Iowa is vying for its first Sweet 16 berth since 1999. The Florida Gators are fighting for back-to-back national championships.
So, when Iowa junior forward Alvaro Folgueiras and Florida junior forward Alex Condon got tied up in the opening half, tempers boiled over quickly.
Just past the first half's midway point with Iowa leading 19-13, Folgueiras and Condon went tumbling to the floor as they fought for the basketball. Condon appeared to pull Folgueiras down to the floor with him. Folgueiras retaliated by closing his fist and nearly punching the basketball.
"Yeah, I don't know. I mean, they were just going for the ball and then everybody got all sensitive. Their people got sensitive, and it's like, we're just trying to play ball. But, that's whatever. We'll compete. We'll fight. We'll see what happens," McCollum said.
At the time of publication, Iowa led Florida at halftime, 33-31, with a berth in the Sweet 16 on the line.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions.Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnHawks
The 2026 NCAA Tournament never disappoints. The matchup with No. 1 seed Florida and No. 9 Iowa in the South Region will be interesting to watch.
Florida dominated in its March Madness opener, putting up the second-worst blowout in tournament history with 114-55 win over16-seed Prairie View A&M. On the other end, Iowa had to fend off No. 8 Clemson for a 67-61 victory. Only one defending champion has advanced past the second round over the last eight NCAA Tournaments. Could this mean a Hawkeye upset on deck ?
Here is a look at the box score from Sunday's second round South Region game in Tampa.
The Providence Friars have hired Bryan Hodgson as their new men's basketball coach.
Hodgson comes aboard from South Florida, and it's a big deal just considered in a vacuum. But in modern college basketball, the former USF head coach very well might not be coming alone.
If you try to read between the lines, it's very possible to see someone who might follow Hodgson to Providence.
South Florida's leading scorer in 2025-26 was junior guard Wes Enis. He put in 16.4 points per game.
With eligibility remaining, it would make a lot of sense for Enis to follow Hodgson to Providence.
Mar 22, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; St. John's Red Storm guard Dylan Darling (0) celebrates after defeating the Kansas Jayhawks in the second half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
St. John’s is going to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999 thanks to the newest ‘Darling’ of March Madness.
After squandering a 14-point lead with eight minutes to go, the Red Storm knocked off Kansas 67-65 on a lay-up from guard Dylan Darling, who hadn’t scored a point all game and had his previous four shot attempts all come from three-point range.
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 22, 2026
The backstory to this final possession is one not often seen in men’s college basketball. With 13 seconds left, Kansas phenom Darryn Peterson sunk two free throws to give the Jayhawks their first tie since it was 6-6 early in the first half. Kansas had only been charged with two personal fouls up to this point, so head coach Bill Self instructed his team to use their remaining four fouls to give. Every foul occurred in the back court and took the clock all the way down to 3.9 seconds. Once the fouling was done, Darling received the final inbound pass, took it straight at Elmarko Jackson and the lefty used his weaker hand to score the first buzzer-beating dagger of this year’s tournament.
In the post-game press conference, Rick Pitino told reporters that it was “the funniest thing he’s ever been involved with” when Darling told him to run a play for himself… even though Pitino hadn’t noticed his scoreless performance.
Darling was just seven for his last 37 shots from the floor stretching back to the Big East tournament. He still called his own number and it paid off brilliantly. In fact, this is the first time an NCAA Tournament winner with zeroes on the clock has ever been scored by someone without a made field goal.
Here is every winner in the men's NCAA Tournament since 2016 with 0.00 on the clock when the ball was in the air.
Per CBS Sports research, Darling is the ONLY player to make an NCAAT game-winner at the horn with zero made FGs in the game prior to hitting a buzzer-beater 🤯🔔🔔 pic.twitter.com/jmLlCegzrr
Pitino is back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since coaching Louisville in 2015, although if we want to be technical about it, his most recent non-vacated appearance was in 2009. Kansas has been bounced before the second weekend for a fourth consecutive year and will be left ruing their 16 turnovers and generally sloppy performance.
St. John’s will fly from San Diego to Washington DC for a highly anticipated showdown with the No. 1 overall seeded Duke Blue Devils.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been good enough to make the playoffs over the past decade, but not good enough to actually do something once they got there.
With Mike Tomlin out and Mike McCarthy in, some fans have dreaded that move, with the thought of another so-so season very much alive. Will Aaron Rodgers return? Who knows, and if he does, this mediocre cycle likely starts again.
And if Steelers fans don't like that, then they won't like Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport's realistic expectations for Pittsburgh in 2026.
It is right where you think -- the middle of nowhere with a 10-7 record.
"McCarthy inherits a team that won 10 games to become the AFC North champions in 2025. They haven't had a losing season in over two decades," Davenport wrote. "The Steelers are the model of stability.
"Aaron Rodgers or not, the Steelers don't have a quarterback that makes them a legitimate Super Bowl contender—and there's no clear path to that guy in the short-term. The more things change, the more they stay the same."
I can't speak for Steelers fans, but looking at this from a wider lens, going 10-7 and being average again isn't something I would like.
Either bottom out completely and rebuild, or go chase a Super Bowl.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like Pittsburgh is going for either option. Instead, option three is to be good enough to make the playoffs, but not good enough to win.
And in turn, you never get that top draft pick that can change your franchise's trajectory.
Davenport is right. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Offense was great, defense was strong, and goaltending was fantastic. It was the perfect storm.
The Carolina Hurricanes were on their game Sunday afternoon as they handed the Pittsburgh Penguins a shocking 5-1 loss. Carolina played a complete game and capitalized on Pittsburgh’s shortcomings in what appeared to be an off-game for the home team.
Going into the 3:00 PM game, the Penguins sat atop the league standings in the penalty kill with a sharp 84.2 success rate, but the Hurricanes’ power play (ranked 12th leaguewide) managed to crack through not just once, but three times in less than 40 minutes.
Carolina’s first three goals were all extremely similar in where they came from and how they reached the net. The first came from Sebastian Aho just 47 seconds into the game after Nikolaj Ehlers drew a tripping penalty on Ryan Graves.
A long-distance wrist shot just between the faceoff circles and blue line, through a screen provided by Jordan Staal.
The next, in the second period, also came on the man advantage. Once again, at the same distance through another screen, Ehlers sent a slapshot buzzing into the back of the net.
Then, just near the halfway point of the game, Jalen Chatfield smacked a slapshot through another yet another screen from the same distance to get the Hurricanes up by three.
Afterwards, the pattern ended as Ehlers sent an incredible pass through the legs of Parker Wotherspoon into the slot and onto the tape of Seth Jarvis for another power play goal. It was Jarvis’ first after a five-game drought.
In the third period, the Penguins finally got a goal on the board thanks to Egor Chinakhov, but the Hurricanes’ defense – and defense through offensive pressure – helped Frederik Andersen to hold them to a single goal allowed throughout the contest.
Hurricanes Succeed in Key Areas in Final Game With Penguins of Regular Season
Throughout the game, one of the Hurricanes’ greatest advantages was their effective use of screens on Stuart Skinner. When it comes to those screens, it’s hard to expect any goalie to stop what cannot be seen. They can’t use the force (even if they seem as though they can sometimes).
Their defense was something else, as they held the Penguins shotless through nearly 12 minutes straight at the opening of the game.
Special teams were one of the biggest things for Carolina, which went two-for-two on the penalty kill and three-for-five on the power play. It also didn’t hurt that calls actually went their way for once.
And last, but certainly not least, Andersen played exceptionally well – something he has greatly improved on since returning from the Olympics. Despite the Penguins’ late start to generate offense, they still managed to put 19 shots on net. On top of that, 15 of those were high-danger scoring chances – five more than the Hurricanes produced.
It was a great game for the Hurricanes, who rocketed to the sole lead of the Eastern Conference.
(Psst! This game was with another team covered by the National Hockey Now Network – sneak behind enemy lines yet again and check out Vince Comunale’s recap from the Penguins’ perspective!)
Danny Silva met the media Saturday after his win over Kurtis Campbell at UFC Fight Night 270.
Silva (11-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) took out Campbell (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) quickly into the second round with a TKO to open up the main card at The O2 in London.
Silva said he put pressure on himself to bounce back from his loss to recent featherweight headliner Kevin Vallejos this past August, but pulled off the upset in hostile territory in part, he said, with inspiration from his coach Cub Swanson.
"I put a little more pressure on myself, but it's been my dream to come to London and fight," Silva told the UFC after his win. "Cub fought here against Dustin Poirier and I want to continue this legacy with such a great friend of mine, and just try to carry it on with our team."
Although Silva was a sizable underdog in the fight, he was left short of a life-changing $100,000 post-fight bonus and instead had to settle for a $25,000 finish bonus while a bigger check went to a 9-1 betting favorite, instead.
Silva said he'll fight anyone – but he'll be chasing redemption from the loss to Vallejos until he gets another crack at him.
"We just saw what he did to a lot of good fighters, and he wasn't able to do that to me," Silva said. "I thought it was a very controversial fight. I know a lot of people – at least my biased fans – saw that I had done enough. But I'm going to be chasing him until we fight again, and hopefully he's in the top 10 or top five. But I'm willing to go through anybody."
Check out Silva's post-fight interview in the video below.
If there’s anything that encapsulates the current state of Vancouver’s hockey scene, it’s the city’s performance in their back-to-back Saturday quadruple-headers. Two weeks in a row, on both March 14 and March 21, all of Vancouver and BC’s representatives in the NHL, PWHL, AHL, and WHL took part in their own respective games.
They did not win a single game during this stretch.
Yeah. Not a great statline.
Things weren’t completely negative during these two jam-packed hockey days, however. The March 14 quadruple-header actually started with the Vancouver Goldeneyes impressing and playing well despite dropping their game by a score of 3–2 in overtime. The Goldeneyes more than doubled their opponent, the Ottawa Charge’s, shot totals, lobbing 36 on Gwyneth Philips. This was the second game in which Vancouver played like a team that deserved to win.
Next up on the dockett were three different 7:00 pm games — the Vancouver Giants against the Victoria Royals, the Vancouver Canucks against the Seattle Kraken, and the Abbotsford Canucks against the Henderson Silver Knights. Unlike the Goldeneyes, none of these three teams were able to push their games to overtime. Both the Giants and the Canucks lost their respective games by a score of 5–2.
To the Giants’ credit, they managed to keep the game tied up until the third period, with Brett Olson and Braydon Riggall scoring the two goals for Vancouver. They managed to put 31 shots on Royals goaltender Jake Pilon, while Giants netminder Kelton Pyne made 32 stops on 36 shots faced.
The Canucks, on the other hand, had a much harder time putting together a winning effort on the 14th. Two goals from Kraken forwards Jared McCann and Bobby McMann put Vancouver down 2–1 by the end of the first period. From there, it was all Seattle, with only Evander Kane and Marco Rossi scoring for the Canucks.
BC’s final game of the day took place at the Rogers Forum, where Abbotsford lost by a score of 4–1 to the Silver Knights. Arshdeep Bains scored the lone goal for the AHL Canucks, while Jiří Patera stopped 19 of 22 shots against. Abbotsfod also welcomed two new faces into their lineup, as Bennett Schimek and Jayden Grubbe played in their first games for the team.
A week later, Vancouver repeated the same record. Once again, it was the Goldeneyes who kicked things off for Vancouver, dropping their afternoon game against the two-time defending Walter Cup champion Minnesota Frost by a score of 3–1. While the Goldeneyes came out with more energy, it was Minnesota who ultimately scored first and didn’t look back from there. Mannon McMahon got the Goldeneyes’ lone goal in the third period.
The Canucks were up next on the 21st, losing 3–1 to the St. Louis Blues during Saturday’s afternoon matchup. This particular effort wasn’t very inspiring from Vancouver, who put together a total of 15 shots through three periods. While St. Louis didn’t have a particularly consistent game either, the Canucks were evidently much worse.
Mar 14, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson (40) pushes Seattle Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson (6) during a stop in play in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
At 6:00 pm, Abbotsford took on the San Jose Barracuda, though this was the lone game of the eight that took place away from BC. Chase Stillman got things off to a good start for Abbotsford, though San Jose scored four unanswered to ultimately win their game by a score of 4–1. The third period of this game was filled with a crop of penalties as well, as four players were given game misconducts at the 16-minute mark.
The Giants were the final team to play tonight, as well as the only team to nab at least a point in their effort, as they dropped their game by a score of 4–3 in overtime against the Kamloops Blazers. Tonight was also the Giants’ last game of the 2025–26 season, during which team awards were handed out to players such as Ryan Lin, who was named Team MVP, the player’s choice award, and the Giants’ leading scorer.
While Vancouver will not have another quadruple-header for the remainder of the season, both the Canucks and the Goldeneyes will play on the same day one more time — April 14. The Goldeneyes will take on the Boston Fleet, while the Canucks will face the Los Angeles Kings in their final home game of the 2025–26 season. Both games will start at 7:00 pm PT.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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With so many world-class players finding form right now, you would be forgiven for overlooking how well Xander Schauffele is playing ahead of major championship season.
It really felt as though the 2025 season was one to largely forget for Schauffele. An injury early in the year halted all of his momentum. He missed out on making the Tour Championship for the first time in his career.
A win at the Baycurrent Classic was a step in the right direction. However, he missed the cut on his first start of 2026 at the Farmers Insurance Open.
Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, is not playing badly at all.
But there are just a few signs that suggest that Schauffele is well-placed to win at least one major.
Xander Schauffele is edging closer to getting back to his best in 2026
Schauffele was arguably the PGA Tour‘s most well-rounded player when he won two majors in the 2024 season.
He was inside the top 12 for every single strokes gained category, except around the greens. He was second from tee to green, and 12th for putting.
Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
Admittedly, he is still some way off that level this season. However, he is 15th from tee to green, 21st for approach, and 33rd off the tee.
While he began the week of the Valspar Championship in 53rd on tour for putting, he gained more than two shots on the field on the greens on Sunday at Innisbrook as he set the clubhouse lead early on.
In fact, it is now the fifth tournament in a row in which he has gained strokes on the field off the tee, approaching the green, and putting, according to Data Golf.
The eerie similarity between Xander Schauffele’s recent results and those from the same events in 2024
It is difficult to not get your hopes up about Schauffele when you compare his recent results to how he performed in the weeks leading into The Masters in 2024.
In 2024, Schauffele finished tied for fourth at the Genesis Invitational, tied for 25th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, tied for second at The Players Championship, and tied for fifth at the Valspar Championship.
In 2026, Schauffele finished tied for seventh at the Genesis Invitational, tied for 24th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, tied for third at The Players Championship, and spent the majority of Sunday around the top five at the Valspar.
Schauffele went on to not finish outside the top eight in the four majors in 2024, winning both the PGA Championship and The Open.
Meanwhile, five of his eight top fives in majors have come in The Masters and the US Open, the two he is yet to win.
And even in 2025, when Schauffele was nowhere near his best, he still registered two top 10s and did not finish outside the top 30 in the majors.
It does appear that so many elite players are finding form at exactly the right time. Schauffele has to be considered part of that conversation now, particularly as he already knows what it takes to win the game’s biggest prizes.
While Donovan Mitchell's time with the Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers hasn't netted the All-NBA guard a lot of success in the postseason, it's hard to deny that his career has been anything but exceptional. The former 13th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft has been one of the best all-around players in the NBA for nearly a decade, especially on the offensive end.
Coming into the league as a rookie, Mitchell has scored at least 20 points per season for his career in each and every season so far. He's currently averaging 28.0 points for the 2025-2026 season and has a career average of 25.0 points per game. He's been named to seven All-Star teams, two All-NBA teams, and has been a Top 6 in the Most Valuable Player of the Year voting twice.
He's been one of the best players in the league since he arrived. Yet,according to Bleacher Report, he's been more than just one of the best players of his generation.
In a recent write-up, Bleacher Report's writer Andy Bailey named Mitchell as one of the 15 best pure scorers in NBA history. Bailey placed Mitchell at 14th, on a list that includes Kevin Durant, Michael Jordan, Steph Curry, George Garvin, and others. The whole list is a bit shocking, as names like Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Luka Doncic are on the list, but guys like Allen Iverson, Dirk Nowitzki, and Carmelo Anthony aren't. Heck, even a universally agreed-upon great scorer like Pete Maravich didn't make the list.
In fact, the list of 15 contains 10 current NBA players. Such a move makes you think that this may be a list of recency bias. After all, Bailey came up with his own weighted evaluation for the list. The list looks at specific efficiency averages, which seem fine on paper, but those numbers don't hold up in a vacuum. No real weight was given to the extreme change in rules for the NBA's defenses from generation to generation. This makes it hard for a guy like Maravich to make the list, as defenses were allowed to do more to prevent scoring in the 1970s, not to mention the lack of a three-point line during a majority of his career.
He's not as successful as a guy like Steph Curry because he didn't have the same rules.
Too many rules have changed from the 1970s to the 2020s for a fair, blind, mathematically driven list to be properly conceived from pure stats. Because the change of defensive rules is essentially ignored, it's impossible to say with any certainty if Mitchell is, in fact, a Top 15 pure scorer all-time.
He's a true talent regardless, but a Top 15 scorer? It's impossible to say by the metrics we're given.
Still, Mitchell has been incredible in his career. Making it even more impressive is that his success largely came out of nowhere. No one really expected the 13th overall pick to become one of, if not the best player in his draft class, but here we are, saying he's become just that. The Bleacher Report Top 15 may not carry a lot of weight, but his career is without a doubt impressive regardless.
As TCU Horned Frogs women’s basketball prepares for a second round matchup with Washington Huskies women’s basketball, the numbers tell part of the story.
The rest starts with Olivia Miles.
Miles enters the night averaging 19.4 points and 6.6 assists per game, but the real shift in her game is harder to quantify. It shows up in rhythm, in confidence, and in the way TCU plays when everything is connected.
“I think that’s what I was most proud of,” Miles said. “Everyone being bought in and everyone being confident.”
That belief did not just happen. It came from a decision that once drew skepticism across the sport.
“To me, no. To the outside world, yes,” Miles said. “To leave what I left on the table seemed stupid…but I knew deep in my heart I needed one more year to be ready.”
That year became something more. It became a reset.
“I found my joy back, my love for the game,” Miles said. “I found a sisterhood and a family that I’ll have forever.”
That joy shows up in how TCU plays together.
“When we are clicking on all cylinders and our chemistry is flowing like it did yesterday, we’re really hard to stop,” she said. “Even if somebody wasn’t having a good shooting night, someone else is there to pick up the slack.”
That balance has defined the Horned Frogs during their surge.
It is not just Miles producing. It is the full group, moving with confidence and purpose, something that head coach Mark Campbell pointed to as the goal this time of year.
“In March, you want to be playing your best basketball,” Campbell said. “This group is doing that.”
Across from them is a Washington team led by Sayvia Sellers, who averages 18.0 points per game and anchors a backcourt capable of controlling stretches. Players like Avery Howell add presence on the glass, and the Huskies’ movement forces discipline on the defensive end.
TCU knows the challenge. But the focus has stayed internal.
“I think, ultimately, it doesn’t matter what team you are playing,” teammate Donovyn Hunter said. “If we are focused and locked in…our team is able to put together a game worth of good defense.”
“We just love hooping together,” she said. “We are excited to be out there and home one last time.”
That emotion carries weight. This is her final game at Schollmaier Arena. A one year stop that turned into something lasting.
“My only goal coming here was to leave it better than I found it,” Miles said. “And I think I have done it.”
The risk, at least publicly, was always about waiting. Financially. Professionally. Timing.
But for Miles, it was never about outside perception.
“I didn’t quite think I was ready enough to be a pro at that moment,” she said. “But now I feel ready.”
Now, that readiness is showing up at the exact moment it matters most.
And if TCU continues to play with the same joy, balance, and confidence she helped restore, Miles’ decision will be remembered for more than just patience.
The UCLA Bruins have won an NCAA Tournament game. But the length of their tournament run may depend on the health of one player.
Star forward Tyler Bilodeau did not play in the Bruins' tournament-opener, a win over UCF, which did not prove consequential. Coming into that game, Bilodeau's status was up in the air — but he was eventually ruled out, extending an absence that began in the Big Ten Tournament.
Bilodeau's next chance to return came on Sunday night against No. 2 UConn. He was listed as questionable for the game.
Here's the latest on Bilodeau's health and if he will be on the floor against the Huskies in round 2.
Bilodeau will not play for UCLA against UConn, per Ben Bolch. He participated in the team shootaround but was ultimately ruled not to have progressed enough to play.
UCLA head coach Mick Cronin said he expected to have Tyler Bilodeau back for Sunday’s game against UConn. It remains to be seen how Bilodeau will respond to participating in the shootaround, but it seems that if UCLA can beat UConn, he could be available in the Sweet Sixteen next weekend.
Tyler Bilodeau injury updates
Bilodeau came into Friday's first-round NCAA Tournament matchup against UCF with a questionable status. However, as the game approached, he was ruled out. The forward, who has been dealing with a knee injury, reportedly experienced some soreness that led to the team holding him out for the contest.
Prior to the NCAA Tournament, reports indicated that Bilodeau would be ready for March Madness. Per Jon Rothstein, UCLA head coach Mick Cronin said the team would "100% have Tyler Bilodeau available" and Bilodeau could have played in more Big Ten Tournament games, but the team was being cautious.
Mick Cronin tells me that UCLA will 100% have Tyler Bilodeau available for the Bruins' first NCAA Tournament game next week.
Cronin on Bilodeau: "He could play today, but we are holding him out." https://t.co/ZwdKk2fRR1
As it turned out, that wasn't the case. Bilodeau sat as the Bruins claimed a close win over UCF.
Cronin said postgame that Bilodeau had practiced on Thursday, but when he had knee stiffness Friday, the coaching staff decided to keep him sidelined, and they would re-assess where he was at on Saturday.
Mick Cronin said Tyler Bilodeau had a good practice yesterday but woke up with his knee stiff today and coach decided to keep him out. He said "we'll see how he is tomorrow."
Earlier in March, Bilodeau sprained his right knee during UCLA's win over Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament. After that game, Cronin said Bilodeau would undergo further testing, but the forward was reportedly "moving around relatively well" in the locker room.
Since then, he has been out, despite some back-and-forth reporting regarding his status entering the NCAA Tournament and whether or not he would play.
He has been seek walking fine and warming up with the team during his absence.
Bilodeau hasn't played since Friday, March 13, when he exited with the knee sprain vs. Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament.
UCLA has played two games without him, going 1-1. The first game was a 73-66 loss to Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament, ending the Bruins' run. However, UCLA then opened the NCAA Tournament with a 75-71 win over UCF despite Bilodeau's absence.
The senior forward's next opportunity to return to the floor will be in the Sweet Sixteen if UCLA is able to get past UConn in the Round of 32 without Bilodeau.
Bilodeau has been an effective lead scorer for UCLA all season, his second with the Bruins after transferring from Oregon State in 2024.
Over 31 games, Bilodeau has put up a team-high 17.6 points per game, including a 46.4% mark from 3-point range. He was an All-Big Ten third-team selection.
Will Tyler Bilodeau play in the second round?
Bilodeau's has been ruled out for UCLA's second round game against UConn.
He was questionable heading into Round 1, but was ruled out closer to game time after previously being considered likely to play against UCF. And this same timeline occurred with the second round. Bilodeau did participate in the shootaround pregame, but was still ruled out.
The Buffalo Sabres are currently at the top of the Atlantic Division standings with a 44-20-6 record and 96 points. Mattias Samuelsson has certainly been a notable reason for the Sabres' success this season, as he has been having an excellent campaign.
After a few tough seasons, Samuelsson has put together the best season of his NHL career in 2025-26. The 6-foot-4 blueliner has set new career highs with 12 goals, 27 assists, and 39 points in 67 games. He also has a team-best plus-35 rating so far this season.
When noting that Samuelsson was the subject of criticism at times, it is great to see him respond by having such a strong 2025-26 season. He has once again cemented himself as a very important part of the Sabres' blueline and has undoubtedly helped Buffalo take a major step forward this season because of it.
It will now be interesting to see how Samuelsson finishes off this season, but it is hard not to be impressed with his strong play.
The G League's OKC Blue made the most of their two-day stay with a 125-115 win over the Memphis Hustle on Sunday. The road victory improved their record to 12-21 in the regular season.
From the jump, the Blue put up buckets. It didn't take long for them to set the high-paced team. They had a 37-25 lead after the first quarter. OKC duplicated that number in the second frame with 37 points. It entered halftime with a 74-60 lead over the Hustle.
Pretty good spot to be at. Even when you consider how high-speed G League games can get. The Blue stiff-armed the Hustle on the scoreboard out of the break. They led by as many as 21 points in the second half. They put up 28 points in the third frame.
By then, the Blue had a 102-85 lead. The fourth quarter was a pretty skippable watch. They were ahead by double-digit points for the remainder of the game. OKC scored just 23 points, but its cushion made up for the difference.
The Blue shot 59% from the field and went 12-of-26 (46.2%) from 3. They shot 10-of-13 on free throws. They had 33 assists on 50 baskets. Eight Blue players scored double-digit points.
Meanwhile, the Hustle shot 48% from the field and went 16-of-37 (43.2%) from 3. They shot 12-of-17 on free throws. They had 18 assists on 39 baskets. Six Hustle players scored double-digit points.
Here are some notable individual performances from both sides:
Nikola Topic: 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, 1-of-2 from 3, 3-of-3 on free throws, nine assists, four rebounds, four steals
Buddy Boeheim: 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 6-of-11 from 3, four rebounds, two assists
Payton Sandfort: 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting, 2-of-4 from 3, seven rebounds, four assists
Zhaire Smith: 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting, 0-of-2 from 3, six rebounds, five assists
Orlando Robinson: 28 points on 7-of-16 shooting, 2-of-5 from 3, 7-of-9 on free throws, eight rebounds, three assists
Paul Watson: 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting, 4-of-10 from 3, five rebounds, three assists
Eric Dixon: 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting, 2-of-4 from 3, 3-of-5 on free throws, two assists
Colby Jones: 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, 2-of-5 from 3, four rebounds, two assists
The full highlights of the Blue's 10-point win over the Memphis Grizzlies' G League affiliate can be watched below:
America’s favorite pastime is back in full swing, with many of the nation’s top teams taking center stage as winter gives way to spring. Among the highlights during these warmer months is high school baseball, where standout programs from across the country are gearing up to hit the diamond. These talented squads are ready to lace up their cleats, grab their gloves, and swing their bats for another exciting season.
The fifth set of rankings remains unchanged with California’s St. John Bosco Braves as the country’s top team as they are in a tight race for the top spot in the latest set of rankings as undefeated Venice continues to be right on their trail. Which new teams made their way this week into in our fifth Rivals High School Top 25 baseball rankings?
We dive into the best high school baseball programs around the nation and give you our take on which teams stay in the conversation as of Mar. 22.
St. John Bosco (Calif.) has started their 2026 high school baseball season with impressive wins so far over La Serna and Gahr, solidifying their spot as the nation’s No. 1 team for a fourth consecutive week. The Braves (7-0) are loaded with returning talent from the 30-4 team from last season, including on the pitcher’s mound. Returning with the most experience of all the hurlers is senior Gavin Cervantes, who went 8-0 with 44 strikeouts in 2025. Another up and coming arm to watch for is sophomore Brayden Krakowski, who went 5-0 with 31 strikeouts last spring. St. John Bosco swept a 3-game home series against JSerra Catholic last week.
The undefeated Venice Indians (16-0) have a case for the top spot in the country as they have moved up another spot as they picked up another impressive win, this time a 6-3 decision over nationally ranked Tampa Jesuit. Venice has shut out two previously undefeated teams in neighboring foe Sarasota and Clearwater Calvary Christian. What has really separated Venice apart from everyone else in the country is the play of their pitching staff as they have only allowed 21 runs through 16 games and scoring 123. This week the Indians look to defend their National High School Invitational title they won a year ago this week against some of the country’s.
Remaining inside of the Top 5 off this week’s rankings are the Corona Panthers as they have rushed out to a strong 7-0 start, though they did not register playing in a game last week. Junior outfielder/first baseman Danny DeLaTorre has impressed via his play at the plate early on this season for Corona, belting two home runs and scoring eight runs. The Panthers swept a 3-game series over King and face off against Santiago this week.
Rounding out the latest Top 5 of the Rivals High School Baseball Rankings for the second straight week are the Orange Lutheran Lancers (3-1), which dropped their first game of the season recently to No. 14 ranked Basic (Nev.). The Lancers went 23-7 last season, but with the talent the team possesses at the plate, it’s hard to not have this group in the conversation of the nation’s best. Player to watch for the Lancers on the mound is senior pitcher Gary Morse, who is already committed to the University of Tennessee. Morse led the Orange Lutheran pitching staff in 2025 with a 8-2 record and a 0.94 ERA. The Lancers next week will take on top-ranked St. John Bosco in a full 3-game series.
Already off to a 13-3 start to the Florida high school baseball season, the Jesuit Tigers look to be the favorites to win it all in the FHSAA’s Class 4A classification. The Tigers have already shown why they’re one of the country’s best programs once again, with the only losses to IMG Academy, Venice and Tampa Catholic. Leading the way for Jesuit this spring is the bat of infielder/outfielder Christian Sheffield (Florida A&M commitment), the son of former MLB star Gary Sheffield. Junior Griffin Boesen has impressed at the plate for the Tigers, batting .408, hitting five home runs and driving in 18 runs.
Facing a series finale against the No. 1 UCLA Bruins, Maryland baseball needed to keep the bats quiet if it hoped to cause a surprise.
But UCLA had run through two Maryland pitchers, who threw a combined total of 68 pitches and allowed seven runs, by the middle of the fourth inning.
Maryland ultimately fell 14-4 in the series finale at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Sunday in Los Angeles, California. This marked the Terps’ second series sweep of the season.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, freshman left-handed pitcher Austin Weiss took the mound for his collegiate debut against the top-ranked team in the country. Weiss was ranked the No. 82 player and No. 8 left-handed pitcher in his class by Perfect Game — he tossed the first scoreless UCLA inning of the game.
Maryland’s lead-off hitter Brayden Martin was walked in the first inning and later claimed his 10th stolen base of the season after the Terps hadn’t attempted to steal a base in the series’ opening two games. Brayden Martin was followed by Ryan Costello and David Mendez, both of whom popped out only a couple feet from the wall.
Meanwhile, the Bruins entered the first inning with their bats on fire.
With runners on first and third, Roman Martin stepped to the plate and blasted the ball to the right field wall for a two-run triple. Payton Brennan grounded out to second base with only one out, sending a runner home and giving UCLA a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
UCLA scored another three runs in the following inning after a walk and two runners being hit by a pitch loaded the bases. Dean West singled to right field to bring in another run, causing Maryland to replace starter Jake Yeager with Logan Hastings.
Although Roch Cholowsky flew out to shallow right field, his out was immediately followed by a two-run single by Mulivai Levu. The Bruins had another three-run inning that ended after Roman Martin grounded into a double play.
The Terps were able to hold the Bruins to only one third-inning run, but were still trailing by seven.
In the top of the fourth, on the first pitch of his second at-bat of the game, redshirt freshman Ryan Costello launched a 401-foot home run over the right field wall. After missing Saturday’s game, Costello proved his worth by scoring Maryland’s first run of the game and recording his 10th home run of the season.
Although Costello’s home run was followed by three other Terps flying out, Weiss dominated the mound, stopping the Bruins from extending their lead any further in the fourth.
Sophomore Jackson Sirois started his first game since March 6 and made sure to make his mark. The sophomore singled to left field in the top of the fifth inning, bringing in another run for Maryland — his fifth RBI of the season.
Right-handed pitcher Jayson Torres took over for Weiss in the second half of the frame. After allowing two runners on base, Cholowsky singled through left field. The runner on second, Cashel Dugger, attempted to make his way home. Left fielder Jordan Crosland fielded the ball and launched it to catcher Rylen Stockton.
Stockton tagged Dugger’s helmet as he slid into the bag on the slide and was initially called safe. After Maryland challenged the call, Dugger was ruled out, marking a second scoreless inning for UCLA.
The Bruins notched four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it an 11-2 game after Ryan Bailey took over the mound for Torres.
The Terps scored another run in the next inning after UCLA placed Zach Strickland on the mound. Crosland blasted his sixth home run of the season over the left field wall to make it an 11-3 game.
Redshirt junior James Gladden took over for Bailey in the bottom of the seventh and pitched the remainder of the game.
Maryland was able to notch another run in the eighth but the Bruins offense found the insurance runs they needed.
UCLA’s third three-run inning in the bottom of the eighth enacted the run-rule as the Terps were down by 10. The rule was also enacted during Game 1 on Friday in the seventh inning when the Bruins defeated Maryland 12-2.
Three things to know
1. Four-game losing streak. Maryland held a five game winning streak during the end of February into early March. However, the Terps are currently facing a four-game losing streak following the series loss against UCLA and their game last Tuesday against Richmond. Maryland has won one out of its past eight games and will be facing another ranked team — No. 9 Virginia — this Tuesday.
2. Multiple hitters. Maryland recorded nine hits against UCLA on Sunday through eight different hitters. Although the Terps outhit the Bruins yesterday, 13-10, they only trailed by two hits on Sunday.
3. Six pitchers. On Saturday, the Terps only went through three pitchers to contain the Bruins. Six pitchers were used on Sunday — four only pitched one inning, throwing a combined total of five strikeouts and allowing nine walks.
The 2026 NFL Draft is approaching quickly, and several prospects are boosting their stock. The NFL Combine, Senior Bowl, and Pro Days have given teams extended looks at draft hopefuls.
These events have also raised some concerns. Teams have uncovered medical, character, and other issues through their due diligence.
While many players still have time to address these concerns, others may not have that flexibility. Here are three prospects to watch as their stock takes a hit and leaves evaluators with questions.
Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Arizona State wideout Jordyn Tyson (WO40) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images
Jordyn Tyson
Medical evaluations have shaken Tyson’s stock slightly. Like many of his peers, he has undeniable, overflowing talent.
However, reports indicate Tyson has dealt with a nagging hamstring injury, and it may be a growing concern as the draft approaches.
Tyson skipped drills at the NFL Combine, likely won’t participate in Pro Day workouts, and now faces injury-related questions. He looks like a first-round pick, but will teams select him in the back half of the first round instead of his original top-10 projection?
Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) gets into position during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Caleb Downs
Like Tyson, Downs carries medical concerns. Teams once viewed him as a unanimous top-five pick, but perceptions have shifted since the NFL Combine.
Reports flagged Downs with an ACL concern during the combine, though evaluators continue to debate its severity.
Still, knee injuries can derail careers. Downs remains an elite talent and a surefire first-round pick, but will this new information cause teams to hesitate early in the first round?
It remains unclear whether he will participate in Pro Day drills after skipping combine workouts.
Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck (15) is pressured by Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks (88) during the third quarter of an NCAA football game Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. Georgia defeated Florida 43-20.
Caleb Banks
Banks may be the biggest mystery in this draft. His talent level could make him the top defensive lineman in the class.
However, a lingering foot injury clouds his outlook. Banks reportedly injured his foot at the end of the 2024 season, re-injured it during 2025 camp, and broke it again before the combine—clear red flags for teams.
For context, Larry Ogunjobi dealt with a foot injury in 2022 that took two years to fully heal. Banks showed toughness by participating in combine activities despite the injury, but will teams drop him on their boards because of it?
Right-handers Jonathan Loaisiga and Joe Ross have made the Diamondbacks’ Opening Day bullpen.
Loaisiga’s inclusion was long anticipated. Signed to a minor-league deal in January, he showcased impressive stuff, including a fastball in the upper-90s, and posted solid results during spring training, logging a 3.86 ERA in seven appearances.
“I thought he had some of the better stuff in our pen,” Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said. “We’re trying to improve the aggregate stuff that we have going out there, from a (swing and) miss standpoint, and he looked good. He had a good spring.”
Loaisiga, 31, has a career 3.54 ERA in parts of eight seasons in the majors, all with the New York Yankees.
Ross had been trending toward making the club in recent weeks as it became apparent that his ability to go multiple innings in relief appealed to the Diamondbacks.
“I think his ability to get out to 50-60 pitches is a big separating factor for us, especially early, as the starters won’t be built out to where they’re going to be in a few weeks,” Hazen said. “So having somebody like that is of critical importance, especially early.”
Ross, 32, has been primarily a starter in his big-league career but worked largely in relief last season with the Philadelphia Phillies. He has a 7.71 ERA in seven innings during the Cactus League, working with a fastball in the 94-96 mph range along with a slider and curveball.
Only a few roster decisions remain
The Diamondbacks optioned left-hander Philip Abner on Sunday, March 22, leaving them with three pitchers, lefty Brandyn Garcia and right-handers Juan Morillo and Andrew Hoffmann, for two spots. The club is also canvassing the trade market for potential additions to the bullpen.
The club made two other roster moves, re-assigning infielder Jacob Amaya and catcher Aramis Garcia to minor league camp.
Amaya’s departure seems to point to infielder Ildemaro Vargas making the club, but the team has not committed to that. It could be that it is keeping its options open to an external addition.
Garcia’s strike-throwing issues in recent outings have pushed him onto the bubble of the roster and have forced the Diamondbacks to consider the possibility of not having a left-hander in the bullpen to open the year.
As of now, six relievers — all right-handers — are assured of being in the Diamondbacks' season-opening bullpen: Paul Sewald, Ryan Thompson, Kevin Ginkel, Taylor Clarke, Loaisiga and Ross.
Hazen declined to comment on the remaining decisions, saying he would explain them further after they have been made, likely on Monday, March 23.
No. 4 Minnesota beat No. 5 Ole Miss on Sunday after a thrilling comeback, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in more than 20 years. Amaya Battle’s buzzer-beating jumper secured the stunning victory, but it didn’t help that the Rebels were playing with their best player, Cotie McMahon on the bench after she fouled out with four minutes left in the game.
McMahon’s fifth and final foul of the game was on offense, as the senior was called for a charge. It was the second offensive foul for McMahon, who picked up her second foul just three minutes into the game on another call that seemed a little soft.
Postgame, when asked about the fouls and the refereeing, Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin was clear on her opinion, if slightly hesitant of getting on the wrong side of an NCAA fine.
“I got to see how to answer that without getting in any trouble,” McPhee-McCuin said to start off, before continuing: “From my point of view, the last call was incorrect. We watched it 1,500 times. One of the things I do understand is that officials are human and environments create them to officiate in a particular type of way. I don't think that's why we lost the game. I just know that Cotie is leading scorer, newcomer of the year, all of the things, and she plays 20 minutes.
“And it's disappointing. These fans deserved more than that. The game deserves more than that, and I just think a officiating as a whole really needs to be looked at. I really do. I'm not just talking about this game. Something has to be done. It has to be better.”
McPhee-McCuin added that she hasn’t seen other star players go through the same situation as McMahon in a high stakes game, mentioning Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark as examples. (She also choose not to name current star players, joking that someone will accuse her of “tampering.”)
“I was in the locker room thinking about other star players on teams. I've just never seen them fouled out in a March Madness game. I just haven't. Paige, Caitlin,” McPhee-McCuin said. “I just haven't seen the best players get fouled out.”
For what it’s worth, McPhee-McCuin is correct that neither Clark or Bueckers fouled out of a NCAA tournament game, but both came close: Clark picked up four fouls in the 2023 final against LSU, while Bueckers ended three March Madness games (the 2021 Final Four, 2022 Sweet Sixteen and 2025 Elite Eight) with four fouls.
McMahon, who transferred from Ohio State for her senior year, fouled out two other times this season, and picked up 75 personal fouls over the course of the season. But that physicality is something that McPhee-McCuin has heavily praised: In a press conference on Saturday, McPhee-McCuin said that McMahon’s presence, especially in a physical conference like the SEC, is what will lead to her success in the WNBA.
“The SEC is the baby WNBA and in the WNBA you're playing with grown women, and so there is a component that if you're not physical enough you won't be able to succeed,” McPhee-McCuin said. “That's why Cotie is going to be a first round pick, because she's physically fit for the next level. So I'm fine when people talk about the physicality of the league because that's what it is. We have a bunch of high level athletes that are preparing themselves to play at the next level.”
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US Passengers Experience Travel Disruptions in Texas as Airports of Dallas and Houston Face over a Dozen Flight Cancellations and Hundreds of Delays by PSA Airlines, Southwest, Spirit and Several other Carriers, New UpdateTexas aviation update: Over a dozen cancellations... Read More
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US Travelers Safety Advisory Sparks Global Alert as Tourists Urged to Stay Vigilant in Crowded Destinations and High-Risk Travel Zones WorldwideUS travelers safety advisory highlights global vigilance for tourists. Learn key safety tips, government advice, and smart travel precautions abroad.... Read More
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Dubai’s Hospitality Boom: Luxury Rooms Lead Growth as Hotel Inventory Hits 158,700Dubai's hotel inventory hits 158,700 rooms, fueled by luxury growth. The city’s hospitality sector continues to thrive, with strong tourist demand and increasing ADR. The post Dubai’s Hospitality Boom:... Read More
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Hundreds of Passengers Stranded in Newark, New Jersey, USA as Newark Liberty International Airport Delays 168 and Cancels 10 Flights, Disrupting Airlines like United Airlines, Delta, American Airlines, and More, Affecting Routes to Chicago, Miami, Orlando, and Other Major DestinationsNewark... Read More
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New Wine And Books By The Sea Algarve Resort Combines Luxury, Culture, And Gastronomy For An Unforgettable StayThe new Wine & Books by the Sea Algarve Resort offers luxury hospitality, highlighting Portuguese culture, literature, and gastronomy. The post New Wine... Read More
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Latest Dominica Travel News: Red Rocks on the North Coast Now Drawing Adventurers to Experience Raw Beauty and Stunning Natural Landscapes in 2026Red Rocks in Dominica gaining attention for its stunning landscapes & unique volcanic formations attracting travelers seeking off-the-beaten-path... Read More
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Gulf Air Overcomes Bahrain Airspace Closure with New Flights to Paris and ManilaGulf Air extends its network to Paris and Manila via Dammam, ensuring global connectivity amidst Bahrain’s airspace closure until March 2026. The post Gulf Air Overcomes Bahrain Airspace... Read More
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Butter Tart Festival 2026 Puts Canada On The Culinary Tourism Map With Midland’s Sweetest CelebrationMidland, Ontario turns into Canada’s butter tart capital this June, as its record‑breaking festival sweetens the province’s booming culinary tourism scene. The post Butter Tart Festival... Read More
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USA Travel Update 2026: Flight Cancellations, Delays and Airport Chaos Disrupt Spring Travel Plans for Thousands Across Major US HubsThousands travelers face disruptions across major US airports as flight cancellations delays skyrocket. Key hubs including NYC LA & Chicago impacted... Read More
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The MacBook Neo is a polarizing device and Apple wants to attract new customers with a starting price of $599 or $499 for the education sector, respectively. There are technological compromises, but you still get the familiar MacBook experience with a comprehensive software package.
Back in November 2025, Google introduced the ability to share files with Apple devices via Quick Share on the Pixel 10 series. Four months later, the newly announced Galaxy S26 lineup now supports the feature as well.
At the time, Google had confirmed that AirDrop and Quick Share interoperability would roll out to older Pixel devices and other Android phones. The feature arrived on the Pixel 9 series last month, and is now expanding to the Galaxy S26 lineup.
In a press release, Samsung confirmed that AirDrop support via Quick Share is available on the Galaxy S26, Galaxy...
With the friendlies against Mexico and the USMNT on the horizon, Bruno Fernandes lamented Cristiano Ronaldo's absence in the Portugal national team.
Cristiano Ronaldo‘s long-awaited return to North America had been one of the most anticipated storylines surrounding Portugal‘s March tour as soon as the friendlies against Mexico and the USMNT were announced ahead of the 2026 World Cup. With the veteran striker ultimately left off coach Roberto Martínez’s squad list due to injury, star teammate Bruno Fernandes has expressed his regret over the absence.
Speaking to TNT Sports Mexico after Manchester United’s game against Bournemouth, Fernandes was asked about the upcoming trip and expressed genuine enthusiasm for the experience at the Estadio Azteca: “We are very excited to play in such a legendary stadium. For us, it’s going to be a great trip to also get to know the country, the climate, and where we might eventually play later on in the World Cup.“
Portugal is scheduled to play two World Cup group stage matches at NRG Stadium in Houston and one at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, meaning their only potential appearance in Mexico would come later in the tournament. “At first, we aren’t going to play there—we’ll see later on—but that’s fine. It is also important to play against a team that is growing and has very good players,” Fernandes added.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes of Portugal celebrating.
The United captain then reflected on the significance of Ronaldo’s absence and what it means for those hoping to see him in person: “For us, I obviously know that the people wanted to see Cristiano because he is the main figure of our national team, and of football as well. I feel very sorry that they won’t be able to see him up close, but it will still be a very good match between two great national teams.“
Over the past 15 years, Cristiano Ronaldo has worn the armband virtually every time he has taken the field for Portugal, leaving little opportunity for anyone else to lead the side. That does not mean, however, that Martínez is short of options in his absence.
In the last two years, Ronaldo has missed just five of Portugal’s 26 matches, either through rest or, most recently, suspension. During those absences, the captaincy has rotated among several players, passing through Pepe, now retired, Rúben Dias, João Cancelo and most recently Bernardo Silva, who has worn the armband on two occasions, making him the only player to do so more than once aside from Ronaldo during that period.
Notably, Bruno Fernandes, despite being club captain at Manchester United, has yet to captain the national side. With both Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias absent from the squad for the upcoming friendlies, Fernandes could finally get his opportunity to lead Portugal out for the first time.
Cristiano Ronaldo (L) and Bruno Fernandes (R) of Portugal.
With the Carabao Cup win against Arsenal, Manchester City's Pep Guardiola has extended his trophy cabinet to 40, sitting second as second most-winning head coach in soccer history.
Pep Guardiola has long been regarded as one of the finest coaches of the modern era, not only for the revolutionary tactics he has deployed across multiple countries, but for the remarkable haul of silverware he has accumulated along the way. With Manchester City‘s Carabao Cup victory over Arsenal, Guardiola now sits second on the all-time list of most decorated managers with 40 trophies.
Manchester City headed into Sunday’s final having been knocked out of the Champions League Round of 16 by Real Madrid, in need of a trophy to salvage something from the campaign. Guardiola delivered, with a disciplined and well-organized City side neutralizing an Arsenal team that struggled throughout to build from the back and create meaningful chances.
Nico O’Riley proved to be the match-winner in the second half, scoring a brace in the 60th and 64th minutes to clinch the 2025-26 Carabao Cup. The victory over his former pupil Mikel Arteta extended Guardiola’s personal trophy count to 40, ending what had been a barren previous campaign without silverware.
“Nobody – even myself – would (bet) £1 today for a victory. Arsenal were on an incredible run and we could not win against Nottingham Forest at home or West Ham away. We lost 5-1 aggregate against Real Madrid despite the fact we were 65 minutes 10 against 11. So few people, really few people, but the players proved it again – the older players and especially the new ones,” he admitted in the post-match press conference.
Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City and Mikel Arteta of Arsenal during the Carabao Cup Final.
Pep Guardiola’s trophy cabinet
Guardiola began his managerial career with Barcelona B before being promoted to the first team in 2008, launching a career defined by sustained success, first at the Camp Nou, then at Bayern Munich, and now at Manchester City. His full trophy breakdown is as follows:
Guardiola’s 14 trophies at Barcelona (2008-2012)
3 La Liga titles (2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11)
2 Copa del Rey (2008-09, 2011-12)
3 Spanish Super Cups (2009, 2010, 2011)
2 Champions League titles (2008-09, 2010-11)
2 UEFA Super Cups (2009, 2011)
2 Club World Cups (2009, 2011)
Guardiola’s 7 trophies at Bayern Munich (2013-2016)
3 Bundesliga titles (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16)
2 German Cups (DFB-Pokal) (2013-14, 2015-16)
1 UEFA Super Cup (2013)
1 Club World Cup (2013)
Guardiola’s 19 trophies at Manchester City (2016-2026)
6 Premier League titles (2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24)
5 League Cups (Carabao Cup) (2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2025-26)
3 Community Shields (2018, 2019, 2024)
2 FA Cups (2019, 2023)
1 Champions League title (2022-23)
1 UEFA Super Cup (2023)
1 Club World Cup (2023)
Who is the most decorated coach in soccer history?
Guardiola’s standing at each of his three clubs is a testament to his consistent excellence, holding the record as the most decorated manager in the histories of both Barcelona and Manchester City, while his three years at Bayern still placed him second on the club’s all-time list behind Ottmar Hitzfeld (11). But he still has ground to make up before reaching the summit of the overall rankings.
Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates with the Premier League trophy.
That distinction belongs to Sir Alex Ferguson, whose 39-year managerial career spanning from 1974 to 2013 produced a staggering 49 trophies. Ferguson claimed 11 during his time in Scotland with St. Mirren and Aberdeen before moving to Manchester United, where he spent 27 years and added 38 more titles across domestic and European competition.
has hailed the “explosive hand speed and power” of Luis Reynaldo Nunez, a Dominican featherweight who he sees becoming a world champion. The 26-year-old returned to action earlier this month, engineering a first-round finish after claiming a more significant points victory over Hector Andres Sosa in December. Despite the limited nature of his opponent, Jhan […]
and ’s rivalry remains unsettled after years of back and forth. In May, Benavidez seeks a legacy-defining win up at cruiserweight against , and now Canelo’s trainer has revealed his prediction for the bout. Benavidez was in hot pursuit of Canelo for a number of years, possessing the WBC Interim super-middleweight title but still unable […]
Bu gün futbol üzrə İspaniya çempionatında (La Liqa) 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 29-cu turunun növbəti oyunları keçirilib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, sonuncu oyun günündə 4 qarşılaşma baş tutub.
Yeddi qolun qeydə alındığı “Selta” – “Alaves” matçında qonaqlar çətin qələbəyə seviniblər. Lider “Barselona” doğma medyanda “Rayo Valyekano”ya, “Atletik” “Betis”ə qalib gəlib. “Real” isə Madrid derbisində “Atletiko”nu üstələyib.
Beləliklə, cari mövsümün geridə qalmış 29 turundan sonra 73 xal toplamış “Barselona” vahid liderdir. “Real” 69 xalla ikinci, “Vilyarreal” 58 xalla üçüncü pillədə qərarlaşıb. “Atletik” 57, “Betis” 44, “Selta” 41 xal toplayıblar.
Videos that include a person talking or that feature a highly visible person in the first three seconds have better retention, according to new data from Emplifi.
A federal jury in California has ordered the X owner to pay as much as $2.6 billion after ruling that he intentionally manipulated the platform’s share price.
Inter’s 1-1 draw against Fiorentina leaves Milan six points behind the Nerazzurri with eight games to play, but it’s all left to play for in Serie A, from the race for a Champions League spot to the fight for survival.
Serie A Round 30 came to a close on Sunday night with Inter’s 1-1 draw against Fiorentina.
Milan and Napoli had beaten Torino and Cagliari earlier this weekend, so both sides have earned two points over the table leaders.
Inter are now winless in their last three league matches, and their advantage over second-placed Milan has been reduced to six points, while Napoli sit third, seven points below the Nerazzurri.
Como sit fourth in the standings following a commanding 5-0 win over Pisa. Juventus and Roma are level on 54 points, three below Cesc Fabregas’ side.
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 22: Yann Bisseck of FC Internazionale and Robin Gosens of ACF Fiorentina in action during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Artemio Franchi on March 22, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
The race for survival also remains wide open with Lecce and Cremonese level on 27 points, Fiorentina sitting 16th with 29, and Cagliari in 15th with 30.
FLORENCE, ITALY – NOVEMBER 22: General view inside the stadium Artemio Franchi during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Juventus FC at Artemio Franchi on November 22, 2025 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Francesco Pio Esposito has ‘regrets’ despite scoring in Inter’s 1-1 draw with Fiorentina and sends a message to fans ahead of Italy’s World Cup play-off.
It was a chaotic and thrilling encounter at the Stadio Artemio Franchi this evening, getting off to the most remarkable start when Esposito scored within 40 seconds with a free header on Nicolò Barella’s cross.
Both teams had goals disallowed for offside before Cher Ndour was ready to turn in the rebound from a Yann Sommer save on Albert Gudmundsson.
Pio Esposito flourishing for Inter
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 22: Pio Esposito of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Artemio Franchi on March 22, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
“I do leave here with regrets, especially over the last opportunity,” Esposito told DAZN Italia, referring to the stoppage-time David De Gea save on his turn.
“De Gea did well to anticipate my movement, perhaps I could’ve done more, but that’s just how it went.”
There aren’t many centre-forwards with Esposito’s characteristics who are Italian, especially now Atalanta’s Gianluca Scamacca is injured.
“I think that getting into the box and getting my head to the ball is my main strength, so I am always happy when the team provides me with great crosses, like the one from Barella.”
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 22: Pio Esposito of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Artemio Franchi on March 22, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
This result means Milan are now within six points of leaders Inter, while Napoli are only seven points behind the Nerazzurri with eight rounds to go.
Meanwhile, Fiorentina are in 16th place, but only two points clear of both Lecce and Cremonese in the drop zone.
Francesco Pio Esposito scores for Italy against Moldova in the 2026 World Cup qualifier (@azzurri)
Esposito is now going to make the very short trip, circa 2km from the Stadio Artemio Franchi, to the Coverciano training camp to join up with Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy squad.
Does he have a message for the fans ahead of the decisive 2026 World Cup play-off against Northern Ireland?
“I urge everyone to put club loyalty aside and unite for the good of Italy. The Nazionale play on Thursday, and that is the most important thing.”
If Italy win that game, they will go on to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off final.
Aleksandar Kolarov insists criticism of Inter’s 1-1 draw with Fiorentina is unwarranted. ‘We are not in our best period, but we are six points clear, we must’ve done something good.’
The Nerazzurri had got off to the perfect start at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, as Francesco Pio Esposito opened the scoring within 40 seconds.
However, Cher Ndour was ready to tap in the rebound from Yann Sommer’s save on Albert Gudmundsson, giving Fiorentina a 1-1 result.
Kolarov stands up for stuttering Inter
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 22: Aleksandar Kolarov vice-manager of FC Internazionale reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Artemio Franchi on March 22, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Cristian Chivu was forced to watch from the stands due to a touchline ban, so his assistant manager Kolarov stood in on the bench and in the media room.
“It wasn’t our best game and we are not in our best period of the season, but we are still six points clear at the top of the table, so it is all in our hands.”
This is becoming a real issue, as Inter have fumbled 12 Serie A points from leading situations this season, more than any other club.
“We are lacking some determination and perhaps sharpness too, as fatigue is accumulated over the many games. It is not our best spell of the season, we are used to seeing Inter dominate matches, but we are still six points clear and it is up to us to kill off the title race,” added Kolarov.
“I want to point out that when it comes to Inter, people act as if we should take everything for granted. You can draw away from home against a strong Fiorentina side, they have been on good form recently, so I see a point here as relatively positive.
“If we are six points clear, it must mean we have done some good things over the course of the season. I understand criticism, but Inter are still the leaders.”
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 22: Pio Esposito of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Artemio Franchi on March 22, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Inter are now without a win in four competitive games, scraping only two points from their last three Serie A matches.
It means Milan have closed the gap on the leaders to just six points, while Napoli are only seven behind, making it a potential three-horse race going into the last eight rounds.
After the break for international duty, Inter will be up against Roma and Como, two huge fixtures, but Milan going head-to-head with Napoli in Week 31 could also benefit them.
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 22: Domilson Cordeiro dos Santos known as Dodo of ACF Fiorentina ina against Marcus Thuram of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Artemio Franchi on March 22, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
It is perhaps no coincidence that the difficulties started when Lautaro Martinez suffered his injury, so are the strikers doing the same job that their captain did?
“The forwards are fundamental for our style of play, we need them to hold up the ball, but I don’t just want to talk about the strikers. We also need better quality building out from the back, and to give the forwards the right service.”
The Italy camp is only 2km from the Stadio Franchi, so Inter and Fiorentina’s Azzurri players will go straight from here to join up with the Nazionale ahead of the World Cup play-offs.
“I think the players are on their way now, they are all healthy apart from Bastoni, but everyone else is at the disposal of coach Gattuso. I wish them all the best,” concluded Kolarov.
Paolo Vanoli thanked his ‘exceptional’ Fiorentina side after holding leaders Inter to a 1-1 draw. ‘Motivation and desire made the difference’ after a stressful week.
This has been a remarkable week for the Viola, who beat Cremonese 4-1 on Monday to break clear of the relegation zone, then won 2-1 in Poland against Rakow on Thursday to reach the Conference League quarter-finals.
They had it all to do here tonight, going behind within 40 seconds to a Francesco Pio Esposito free header, but Cher Ndour was ready to meet the rebound from Yann Sommer’s save on Albert Gudmundsson to hold leaders Inter 1-1.
Vanoli proud of Fiorentina fightback
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 22: Cher Ndour of ACF Fiorentina celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Artemio Franchi on March 22, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
“I congratulated my lads, because it was the fifth game in 14 days, above all the third in a week. They were exceptional, so was my whole staff, because the fact we ended the game in crescendo shows how well we’re working,” Vanoli told DAZN Italia.
“Conceding the goal that early destabilised us, but we got back on track. We often struggled in the fifth game in a row, but this time the motivation and desire made the difference.”
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 22: Moise Kean of ACF Fiorentina reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Artemio Franchi on March 22, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
This result means that Fiorentina are now in 16th place, but only two points clear of both Lecce and Cremonese, so the battle to avoid joining doomed Verona and Pisa could go down to the wire.
“I’ve always said this team has to play football in order to save itself,” continued Vanoli.
“Changing objective to fighting relegation is tough to handle, especially in such a demanding environment as Florence. We’ve built up over time, now we have another very important game coming up against Verona.
“We are improving in our shape, I feel we can do better down the left flank with Gudmundsson, but where we have really done well now is to get shots and crosses from the edge of the area. I felt today where we really impressed was out of possession, not allowing those passes to reach the strikers.”
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 22: Head coach Paolo Vanoli manager of ACF Fiorentina reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Artemio Franchi on March 22, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Fiorentina also have a Conference League quarter-final to prepare for against Crystal Palace, so it is going to be a busy end to the season, not to mention how many players are going off on international duty now.
“I wished Kean all the best, as he will represent Italy in these two very important matches. After 60 minutes on Thursday, he played almost the full 90 today, so his form is improving. I really liked him chasing the ball today, he put in the effort.”
Best Fiorentina player: Fagioli 7 – He always had clear ideas with the ball at his feet. His passing accuracy (per Sofascore) was above 90%. Not all his teammates were as quick or sharp, but every time Fagioli had the ball, the Tuscans felt in a safe place.
Lowest Fiorentina ratings: Kean and Ranieri 5 – Kean is supposed to be the added value in attack for Fiorentina, yet he even struggled to find the right position on the field tonight. He spent most of the second half wide on the left flank and missed the best chance for the Viola in the first half. Ranieri was caught out by Pio Esposito early on, with Inter’s most dangerous chances consistently coming down his flank.
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 22: Moise Kean of ACF Fiorentina reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Artemio Franchi on March 22, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Fiorentina coach: Vanoli 6.5 – The start was shocking, with a goal conceded after less than one minute, and Inter could even have scored more. However, the Tuscans reacted and had a few chances to score, especially with Kean, before the break. Solid performance in the second half and a deserved draw scored by Ndour.
Best Inter player: Pio Esposito 7 – The 20-year-old made an immediate impact, opening the scoring inside the first minute and delivering far more throughout the match. He used his strength effectively to hold the ball and showed sharp awareness in his touches, helping drive the Nerazzurri’s attacks. Positive signs for the Italy national team as well. Based on his and Kean’s performances tonight, there’s no doubt about who should start for Italy in the play-off.
Lowest Inter rating: Thuram 5 – The Frenchman has now gone eight consecutive games across all competitions without scoring a goal. The difference with Pio Esposito was evident tonight. The Italian moved all over the final third; Thuram was quite static and never really dangerous. Another disappointing night.
Inter coach: Kolarov (Chivu banned) 5.5 – Another draw and another sloppy performance, aside from the opening 20 minutes. The Nerazzurri are not sharp enough to be consistent throughout the game, and tonight they lost control of the midfield when Calhanoglu was inevitably replaced (the Turkish star was returning from an injury). Now Milan are once again six points below the Nerazzurri.
For the second year in a row, Wisconsin has defeated Ohio State to with the NCAA women’s hockey championship. After an overtime win over No. 3 seed Penn State in the semifinals, the No. 2-seeded Badgers bested the No. 1 Buckeyes with a third-period game winner from senior forward Claire Enright.
THE WISCONSIN BADGERS ARE WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY NATIONAL CHAMPIONS‼️
It didn’t take long for Wisconsin to pull ahead: Just over a minute into the game, Kelly Gorbatenko got a deflection off a shot from Adéla Šapovalivová. Laney Potter then scored six minutes later to bring the Badgers to an early 2-0 lead.
But in the third period, Ohio State came alive, scoring two goals within two minutes to tie things up. Kassidy Carmichael struck first for the Buckeyes with a tip, before Jocelyn Amos continued the comeback with a goal off the face-off minutes later.
The Badgers didn’t give in, though: With just over six minutes left in regulation, Enright slid the puck past Ohio State goalie Hailey MacLeod to hit the game-winner and secure the championship.
Wisconsin’s win is not entirely surprising given their highly talented roster. Four members of the Badgers squad traveled to Milan as part of Team USA’s gold medal-winning Olympic roster: defenders Caroline Harvey and Laila Edwards, forward Kirsten Simms and goaltender Ava McNaughton. Harvey and Edwards both played incredibly well at the games, scoring two goals each and pitching in seven and six assists, respectively. (Both players are seniors, and are expected to be early picks in the PWHL draft this summer.)
Sunday was just the latest high-stakes meeting between the two women’s hockey powerhouses. Wisconsin and Ohio State have faced off in the Frozen Four final for the past four straight years; the Buckeyes took home the trophy in 2024, but conceded to the Badgers in the other three years.
Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher David Peterson (23) pitches during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The Mets lost their final spring training game 4-3, holding the lead from the fourth inning until the Marlins scored two runs in the ninth to win the game.
David Peterson threw 76 pitches over five innings, giving up one run on five hits and a walk, while striking out four.
Luke Weaver got just one out, giving up a run without giving up a hit, but instead walking three batters.
Zach Peek and Ben Simon both had scoreless outings, going 0.2 innings and 1.0 inning respectively. SImon also struck out two batters and walked one.
Parker Carlson picked up the blown save and the loss, giving up the tying and go-ahead run in the ninth, but overall he went 1.2 innings and struck out three.
Bo Bichette went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk, driving in a run and scoring a run as well.
Brett Baty went 1-for-3 with an RBI, and Jorge Polanco collected an RBI of his own on a sacrifice fly.
Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto each collected a hit as well, and both came around to score.
The Mets don’t play again until Thursday, when they’re back in Citi Field and taking on Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates on Opening Day. It’s a 1:15 PM ET start, and will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock, so you’ll have to wait a little longer to hear Gary, Keith, and Ron’s dulcet tones.
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa disagrees with Fede Valverde red card decision
Real Madrid secured an important 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday, as they kept themselves in the La Liga title race. They had to do it the hard way, as they came from behind to win, while they also had Fede Valverde sent off in the latter stages at the Bernabeu.
Valverde was shown a straight red card for a foul on Alex Baena, whom he has history with. As per Diario AS, Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa disagreed with the decision, although he did credit referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero for how he handled the situation.
“We showed character and mental strength. We had to suffer with one less player. I have a different view of the red card, but I thank José Luis (Munuera Montero) for coming to explain to me why he sent him off. We were able to take the three points, which is what we wanted.
“He told me that it was excessive force and I don’t consider it as such. There is no intent to hurt or injure the opponent. It’s my view, different from his. But he came to explain it and I appreciate it. Sometimes it’s appreciated, even if it doesn’t change anything. The red card made everything more difficult and we had to suffer a lot. Every victory is a turning point. Now comes a fight for the league. Objective accomplished.”
Arbeloa heaps praise on Vinicius Junior
Arbeloa was delighted with Real Madrid matchwinner Vinicius Junior, who was the standout performer at the Bernabeu.
“He had another great game. It was another demonstration of talent, of courage, of not being afraid, of failing and trying again. As I always say, it’s tremendous luck to have him. For his involvement, his talent, his desire to pull the team. I don’t know if it’s the best moment of his career, but he won’t be far off.”
Arbeloa explains Carvajal inclusion
Arbeloa was asked to explain his decision to start Dani Carvajal at right-back over Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been impressive in recent matches.
“Every game he brought out the best eleven and I think Carvajal had very good minutes, he was very much on top of Lookman. Happy with him and with how Trent has come out. Happy to have so many variants. And that everyone contributes as they have done today.”
Arbeloa explain next steps with Bellingham
Jude Bellingham came off the bench against Atleti to make his first appearance in almost two months. Arbeloa spoke on how he intends to re-integrate the Englishman back into the line-up over the coming weeks.
“We will see in the next matches. He arrives after a long time out and I would love for that progression, despite what is coming, to be little by little, like Mbappé. I’ll have to find his place, surround him with players with whom I have a good feeling. Bellingham’s problem is that he’s very good at doing a lot of things. When you’re so good at so many things you have to choose.”
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Tyler Reddick chased down Brad Keselowski and led the final 28 laps Sunday at Darlington Raceway for his fourth NASCAR Cup Series victory this season.
Reddick, who drives for the 23XI Racing team co-owned by Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan, started from the pole position and led 77 laps in his No. 45 Toyota to win by 5.847 seconds over Keselowski.
Ryan Blaney finished third, followed by Carson Hocevar and Austin Cindric.
Keselowski led six times for a race-high 142 laps, but made his final pit stops four laps earlier than Reddick, who made the most of the fresher rubber to make up a seven-second gap on the final run. The NASCAR points leader completed the winning pass on the 266th of 293 laps.
It’s the 12th career victory and first at Darlington for Reddick, who began the year with a Daytona 500 win on the way to becoming the first driver in NASCAR history to win the first three races of a season.
Tire management always matters on Darlington’s abrasive surface, and drivers wrestled Sunday with increased wear because of new car regulations.
But despite predictions of chaos from a 12% increase of horsepower and a 25% reduction in downforce (which helps maintain traction through the turns at high speed), drivers mostly kept their cars from careening out of control.
The race featured four yellow flags — including only one for a multicar incident — the fewest caution periods at Darlington since there were three in the March 21, 1999, race that was shortened by rain. The last full-length race at Darlington with fewer than four cautions was the 1998 Southern 500, which had two yellows on Sept. 6, 1998.
Tame start
Despite predictions of nonstop chaos because of the new car regulations, the first 91 laps unfolded under the green flag without interruption. It marked the fifth consecutive race in which the first stage was completed with the caution flag staying holstered.
Up next
The NASCAR Cup Series will race at Martinsville Speedway, the first short track of the 2026 season, on Sunday, March 29. A year ago, Denny Hamlin snapped a 31-race winless streak with his first victory in 10 years at Martinsville, where he has a series-leading six wins.
TEMPE, ARIZONA - MARCH 15: Manager Warren Schaeffer #4 of the Colorado Rockies looks on after the fifth inning of the spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium on March 15, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today the Colorado Rockies wrapped up their spring training games by defeating The Athletics 6-5. See game highlights here.
First, here are manager Warren Schaeffer’s postgame thoughts:
Starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen discussed his day:
Olympic gold medalist Hilary Knight meets 13-year-old Joanna Gilligan of Milcreek, Utah, on Friday, March 6, at the Utah Mammoth Ice Center. Gilligan made history as the 100,000th girl to register to play hockey for the 2025-2026 season.
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Brandon Gilligan
A Utah teen recently found herself at the center of a historic moment for U.S. girls and women’s hockey.
For the first time in history, USA Hockey saw 100,000 girls register to play hockey in a season, and the honor of being No. 100,000 belongs to 13-year-old Joanna Gilligan of Millcreek, Utah.
On March 6, USA Hockey’s vice president of girls hockey, Kristen Sagaert, celebrated Gilligan — who will play in the Utah Mammoth’s new all-girls league — at the Utah Mammoth Ice Center with a special locker room tour and a visit from a hockey legend.
“Honestly, it was crazy. I had no idea that I would ever get the chance to do something like this, to be the 100,000th girl to register for USA Hockey,” she told the Deseret News.
Gilligan was inspired by her father, Brandon Gilligan, who has been playing hockey since he was 12, to try the sport. She recently finished her first season as one of three girls on a boys team at Salt Lake City Sports Complex.
“When she said, ‘I want to play hockey,’ I was all for it. I have three kids, and she’s the only one that showed any interest so far,” Brandon Gilligan said.
Now, hockey is something he can share with his daughter. Between the father-daughter duo’s games and practices, they’re “at the rink more days than we’re not at the rink it seems like lately,” Brandon Gilligan said.
When Joanna Gilligan, her three friends and family showed up to the Utah Mammoth Ice Center for their locker room tour, they were surprised by Hilary Knight, who just captained the U.S. women’s hockey team to gold at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.
Knight brought her medal and signed a USA Hockey jersey for Gilligan.
“It was amazing. She was so kind,” Gilligan said. “She’s such an inspiration for all girls hockey (players), being a gold medalist in the Olympics, but it was crazy being able to actually meet her in person.”
Sagaert said meetings like the one between Knight and Joanna Gilligan make hockey “a more realistic and attainable goal for little girls around the country.”
“Our Olympians are our best advocates of the game,” Sagaert said. “They live it. Those gold medals are earned by a lot of time and effort, but they also are the best spokespeople. And I love seeing our younger athletes be inspired when they get to meet them in person.”
Growing girls hockey in Utah and across the U.S.
If Sagaert could describe the state of girls and women’s hockey in the U.S. in only one word, it would be “empowering,” she said.
“Because the future of our game is already playing and I’m really excited to see what the future does next.”
Joanna Gilligan is part of that future and an example of the growth of girls and women’s hockey in Utah and across the U.S.
Utah has the highest year-over-year growth in the United States for girls and women playing hockey with 30%, which accounts for 6.2% of USA Hockey’s total female growth, Sagaert told the Deseret News.
“It’s a testament to the infrastructure within Utah, the addition of the Utah Mammoth in town, the work that the volunteers from USA Hockey in that area are putting in, but also I know that the Utah Mammoth has done a lot to encourage growth and access in the community,” she said.
Kristen Bowness, the Mammoth’s youth program director, wants the program to emulate Junior Jazz and its 90,000 kids.
“Right now our mission is basically to introduce as many people as possible to the game while still supporting people who are already playing,” she said.
Olympic gold medalist Hilary Knight meets 13-year-old Joanna Gilligan of Milcreek, Utah, on Friday, March 6, at the Utah Mammoth Ice Center. Gilligan made history as the 100,000th girl to register to play hockey for the 2025-2026 season.
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Brandon Gilligan
Bowness is attempting to do that through the Mammoth’s street hockey initiative with Hockey 101s, clinics, leagues and even PE class takeovers at schools, where they take over classes for the day and leave behind a full set of equipment and a two-week curriculum for PE teachers to use.
The hope is that the kids will “catch the bug” at school and then join street hockey leagues.
The Mammoth are also trying to grow ice hockey through the eight-week “Learn to Play” program, which provides gear for only $250, and its “Continue to Play” program.
The Mammoth Ice Center also offers a rookie league from 6U to 19U, which will include a girls division and an adult league, as well as hockey clinics.
“Everyone should have that opportunity,” Bowness said. “And no matter your gender, your skill level, your age, your ability level — we’ll have some sled hockey programming as well — everyone should just have that opportunity to play.”
The largest area of female growth in both Utah and the U.S. is adult women over the age of 20 with a 29% increase across the U.S., and 100 new adult females playing in Utah since March 2025, a 30% increase, according to Sagaert.
But the age groups with the highest percentage increase over the last year in Utah are the 10U (72%) and the 8U (44%).
Growing up, Bowness wasn’t allowed to play hockey, she said, so providing equal hockey opportunities for girls is personal.
“I want girls to have the exact same opportunities as the boys, and it shouldn’t be a big deal,” Bowness said. “It should just be normal that girls are playing hockey the same way that boys are playing hockey.”
Joanna Gilligan is part of that future Sagaert mentioned, and the 13-year-old thinks more girls should give hockey a chance because “we need more representation in girls hockey,” she said.
“It was a great experience for me, and I think that everybody in the community is so kind and everybody’s all supportive of each other, especially this being my first year, and I joined a team where everybody was still learning and I think it was great and everybody helped each other kind of learn how to play.”
It’s not necessarily atypical, but it’s important to call out that the Minnesota Vikings have watched as one-fifth of their 2025 starters have departed via retirement and free agency.
Minnesota’s offseason turnover hit the starting lineup a bit hard.
The main faces on the coaching staff will remain the same, but from a starter personnel viewpoint, get ready to see a revised Vikings club in September.
Familiar Vikings Starters Have Moved On
In alphabetical order, these are the starters who left.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) slips pressure and breaks outside as Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Allen (93) closes in, Dec 7, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium, extending the play during second-half action while Washington searched for yardage against Minnesota’s front in a tightly contested game through the middle of the field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Jonathan Allen (DT) Where He Went: Cincinnati Bengals
Allen lasted one year in Minnesota after signing a three-year, $51 million contract last offseason during former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s big spending spree. He played decently, basically at a replacement level, making the large financial commitment no longer worth a second look.
Minnesota released him right away during free agency, and he quickly landed in Cincinnati, where his new contract will alleviate most of the Vikings’ 2027 salary cap burden pertaining to his contract.
Allen was a swing-and-a-miss for the Vikings, at least per expectations.
C.J. Ham (FB) Where He Went: His House. Retirement.
Ham came up during the Mike Zimmer era and stood the test of time. Providing support as an outstanding blocker, special teamer, and sometimes-playmaker, Vikings fans adored Ham and are sad to see him go. He was one of the locker room guys in Minnesota, a team captain through and through.
The longtime purple fullback said this week during a retirement ceremony, “There’s nothing like game day at The Bank. From the beginning, I felt all the love. Just a fellow Minnesota kid living his dream of wearing the purple and gold someday. I know that resonated with many Minnesota fans, so I felt as if I was doing it for me and my family, I was also doing it for you.”
Ham called it quits alongside former teammate Adam Thielen at the ceremony, and head coach Kevin O’Connel mentioned about the duo: “Their impacts clearly on and off the field have left a tremendous impact, not only on myself as the head coach of this team, all of our players, but also your families and what you guys were able to establish in the community here in the Twin Cities and beyond.”
“I know I, today, get the opportunity to not only speak for our team and our organization, but Minnesota Vikings fans everywhere, just saying, Thank you for your impact that you guys both had.”
Hopefully, Ham returns to the game as a coach down the road.
Javon Hargrave (DT) Where He Went: Green Bay Packers
You can basically scroll up, read the paragraphs about Allen, rinse, and repeat.
The Vikings added Hargrave last offseason for $30 million over two years, and like Allen, the relationship was not parleyed into a second season. Minnesota dropped Hargrave, and a couple of days later, he did the unthinkable, signing with the Packers.
Minnesota will see him twice next year.
Ryan Kelly (C) Where He Went: His House. Retirement.
Kelly had a bittersweet time in Minnesota, signed with Allen and Hargrave as part of 2025 free agency. When Kelly was on the field in 2025, he was fantastic, very much living up to his four-time Pro Bowl reputation.
Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly (78) walks off the field after an overtime win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jan 5, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium, reflecting a hard-fought finish as Indianapolis secured a 26-23 victory and players exited following a physical divisional matchup with teammates and staff near the sideline. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images.
But concussions ruined everything, as Kelly sustained three in one season alone. He even wore a Guardian cap down the stretch of 2025. It didn’t change anything.
Kelly retired from the NFL, and now Minnesota needs a center, either promoting Blake Brandel or Michael Jurgens, signing a free agent like Ethan Pocic, or drafting a rookie next month.
Jalen Nailor (WR) Where He Went: Las Vegas Raiders
Nailor jelled instantly with Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but it wasn’t enough to secure a second contract beyond his rookie deal. The Raiders pounced earlier this month, granting Nailor a deal worth $35 million over the next three years.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (83) powers through contact from Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker (44), Nov 10, 2024, at EverBank Stadium, fighting for extra yardage during third-quarter action as Minnesota’s offense looked to sustain a drive against Jacksonville’s defense while maintaining balance and momentum near the sideline. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images.
The Vikings need a WR3 to replace Nailor, unless 2025 rookie Tai Felton, from Maryland, is ready for the offense’s bright lights. Nailor, on the other hand, will fill a WR1 or WR2 role in Las Vegas, presumably with rookie passer Fernando Mendoza when the Raiders make the draft pick official next month.
The Waiting Game: Harrison Smith
Smith played flag football with his peers on Saturday afternoon.
VIKINGS HOFER HARRISON SMITH STILL GOT IT. YEAR 15 LOADING…🔜
Meanwhile, he has made no concrete decision on his future, whether to retire or return for Year No. 15. It’s a waiting game. One would think that if Smith planned to retire, he would’ve done so by now. The sipidity of “Will he or won’t he?” regarding Smith continues.
While no one would be shocked by a Smith retirement tweet, the clues hint at a return.
Spencer insists the pressure is all on Italy [Getty Images]
Northern Ireland defender Brodie Spencer said being underdogs against Italy "suits us" for Thursday's World Cup play-off semi-final in Bergamo.
The winner of the semi-final will be rewarded with another game on the road against either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina and the victor of that play-off will clinch a spot in Group B of the tournament.
Michael O'Neill's side are aiming to qualify for their first World Cup in 40 years, while Italy are trying to not miss out on their third consecutive finals.
"Yeah 100%," Spencer replied when asked if the underdog title suited Northern Ireland.
"Coming up through the age groups of Northern Ireland, we've always been seen as the underdogs and I think we thrive with that underdog title.
"It suits us, you know, being the underdogs and a team sort of downplaying us. Then to be able to go out there and put in a good performance against big teams and then you can start to see the teams start to respect us a bit more."
If Italy fail to make this World Cup, they will become the first former winners to not qualify for three tournaments in a row.
The Oxford United defender added that the home side "have more to worry about" in Bergamo.
"I think Italy will have more to worry about than us," Spencer continued.
"We're going into this game as the underdogs, so we'll obviously bring the game to them and it's down to us to perform on the night.
"As a team on the night [we can] put a lot of pressure on them, frustrate them and anything can happen as it's a one-off game."
Spencer has made 19 senior appearances for Northern Ireland but missed the final fixtures of their qualifying campaign through injury.
Now, the 21-year-old is eager to help the side make history and keep the dream of qualifying for their first World Cup since 1986 alive.
"My family, my uncles and my cousins say about back in the day when Northern Ireland were in the World Cup, I think it was 40 odd years ago," he added.
"Just saying like how important it could be if we do and be able to qualify and how much that would mean to, not only the team, but the whole country.
"It would mean so much to everyone and obviously it'll be very good."
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Syracuse University is working to finalize a deal with Gerry McNamara to become the next men’s basketball head coach.
Thamel said that Syracuse athletic director Bryan Blair spoke to McNamara multiple times over the last week, including both virtually and in person, according to his sources.
Gerry McNamara is currently the head coach for Siena men’s basketball where he has been for the last two seasons. McNamara helped guide the Saints to the MAAC Championship this past season, nearly upsetting top-seed Duke in the NCAA Tournament.
Before becoming a head coach, Gerry was an assistant coach at Syracuse from 2011 to 2024. In his 15 seasons at Syracuse, McNamara helped guide Syracuse to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, highlighted by trips to the Final Four in both 2013 and 2016.
As a player at SU, GMac was a two-time first-team All-Big East selection. He scored 18 points in the National Championship game against Kansas in 2003. He helped the Orange to the back-to-back Big East tournament titles in 2005 & 2006. McNamara’s 2,099 points rank 4th all-time in Syracuse men’s basketball history.
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It's probably unwise to leave Filip Forsberg alone in front of the net.
But that's exactly what the Chicago Blackhawks did on March 22, allowing him room to score in overtime as the Nashville Predators won 3-2 at United Center.
"A guy fell behind the net and I got it back from him," Forsberg told FanDuel Sports Network's Lyndsay Rowley after the win. "A lot of room and a lot of time to see if something would open up and thankfully it did."
The play unfolded one minute into overtime with the score tied 2-2. Forsberg was tied up briefly with Andre Burakovsky behind the net, but won the puck and peeled to the front. Inexplicably, no Blackhawks defenders followed him, so he edged forward to create a scoring angle.
His quick wrist shot beat goaltender Spencer Knight over the left shoulder, giving Nashville (33-28-9, 75 points) its fourth straight win.
"I was waiting to see who was coming in," Forsberg told reporters later. "(Brady Skjei) was driving the back side, so that gave me some room, but I found the top corner."
Forsberg also scored to tie the game 1-1 in the first period, and he assisted on Steven Stamkos' game-tying goal with 10:17 left in regulation, giving him his sixth game with three or more points this season.
The win pushed Nashville three points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Predators' next game is at home against the San Jose Sharks on March 24 (7 p.m. CT, FanDuel Sports Network).
The Kings visit the Utah Mammoth later March 22.
Goalie Juuse Saros also made his return from injury. After missing the past two games with an upper-body injury, Saros was back in the lineup and made 26 saves, improving to 25-19-7 this season.
"We stuck with it," Forsberg said. "It wasn't the prettiest game, but we defended pretty well and (Saros) made some incredible saves when we needed him to."
PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Matt Fitzpatrick put the disappointment of a close call at Sawgrass behind him Sunday when he birdied the 18th hole from just inside 15 feet to cap off a 3-under 68 and win the Valspar Championship by one shot over David Lipsky.
Fitzpatrick managed to play bogey-free on a sunbaked Copperhead course at Innisbrook that ruined the hopes of so many others, from Sungjae Im to Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker.
The final hour turned into a duel with Lipsky, the 37-year-old American who has won on four tours around the world but never on the PGA Tour.
Fitzpatrick, who missed four birdie chances from inside 10 feet in a seven-hole stretch around the turn, holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-3 15th to take the lead, only for Lipsky — playing in the group behind him — to make a 7-foot birdie on the 14th to catch him.
Fitzpatrick, who won the DP World Tour Championship to close out the European tour season last November, had the final say. His birdie putt was pure and the 2022 U.S. Open champion was emphatic thrusting his fist down to celebrate.
Lipsky’s birdie chance from just outside 30 feet on the 18th just missed to the left.
The victory, his third on the PGA Tour to go along with nine European tour titles, came one week after Fitzpatrick felt he did everything right only to see Cameron Young beat him on the final hole of The Players Championship.
They were tied when Fitzpatrick hit a drive that he felt was right down the middle, only to run through into the pine needles that forced him to lay up. He wound up missed a 7-foot par par putt. But there was no letdown at Innisbrook.
“The big thing was I felt I was playing well,” Fitzpatrick said. “I wanted to continue that and felt like I had the confidence in myself to do so. To do that for four rounds was special this week.”
Fitzpatrick finished at 11-under 273 on a Copperhead course that was a stern test, with the putting surfaces already having a yellow sheen during the opening round and the course getting firmer and faster each day under an abundance of sun.
Lipsky missed a birdie chance from 15 feet at the par-3 17th — on about the same line as Fitzpatrick missed moments earlier — and his tee shot went into a quirky lie in the rough on the 18th. Adding to the difficulty was hearing the big roar ahead when Fitzpatrick made birdie.
“I was right in between clubs,” Lipsky said. “I took a more aggressive play. Almost pulled it off. It was close. Hats off to Matt.”
It still was a big week for Lipsky, who began the year with conditional status after finishing at No. 107. This matches his best finish on the PGA Tour and moves him to No. 33 in the FedEx Cup and is likely to get him into a signature event after the Masters.
Jordan Smith of England finished third.
Im began the final round with a three-shot lead, and that was gone quickly due to a putter that went cold on him. The South Korean, who had led since the opening round, shot 40 on the front nine and didn’t make his first birdie until the 11th hole. He closed with a 74 and tied for fourth.
Brandt Snedeker, the 45-year-old who last won in August 2018, birdied the opening hole and didn’t make another birdie. He was still tied for the lead until three-putting for double bogey on the 12th hole, the start of a rough back nine that sent him to a 40 and a 76 to tie for 17th.
“Stood on the 10th tee tied for the lead, which is all you can do,” Snedeker said. “My swing left me on the back nine. I really struggled. ... All those putts I’ve been making all week dried up today.”
Marco Penge, among five players tied for the lead at some point in the final round, fell back with bogeys on Nos. 12 and 16. He birdied the 18th for a 71 to join Im and Xander Schauffele (65) in a tie for fourth.
Schauffele finished his round and was ready to drive home to south Florida when he looked at the leaderboard and realized he probably needed to stick around given how firm it was. He finally left two hours later when Smith posted at 9-under 275.
One week after a bogey on the final hole cost him a chance to win the Players Championship, Matt Fitzpatrick birdied the 72nd hole on Sunday to capture the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla.
Fitzpatrick converted from 14 feet for his first birdie in 12 rounds on the par-4 18th hole at the Copperhead Course to break a tie with David Lipsky and secure his third career PGA Tour title and first win since the 2023 RBC Heritage. The 31-year-old Englishman didn’t have a bogey in closing with a three-under 68 and 11-under 273 total to keep Lipsky winless in 145 career tour starts.
A Los Angeles native, Lipsky, 37, settled for his second career runner-up finish and his seventh top-five finish after shooting a final-round 70.
“I think the big thing was I felt like I was playing well,” said Fitzpatrick, who came into the week ranked 15th in the world. “Obviously wanted to continue that, and I felt like I had confidence it in myself to do so. Then obviously to sort of do that over four round was special this week.”
Sungjae Im, who led after each of the first three rounds and began the final day two strokes ahead of Lipsky and 45-year-old Brandt Snedeker, bogeyed five of his first 10 holes to fall out of contention. He ended up T-4 at eight-under 276 after a 74. Snedeker, seeking his 10th career title and first win since the 2018 Wyndham Championship, was in the hunt and tied for the lead with Fitzpatrick, Lipsky and England’s Jordan Smith until he three-putted for double bogey at the short par-4 12th hole. He followed with a bogey at 13 on the way to a 76, which left him in a tie for 18th place at 280.
Smith fired a 66 and ended up third at 275. Joining Im at 276 were Marco Penge, another Englishman, who had a 71, and Xander Schauffele, who tied Emiliano Grillo for low round of the day with a 65.
Fitzpatrick began the day three behind Im but quickly joined a battle atop the leaderboard when Im faltered. Winner of the 2022 U.S. Open, Fitzpatrick was unable to separate himself but fortunate that his main challengers also were stuck in neutral. He finally created daylight when he drilled home a 30-foot birdie putt at the par-3 15th hole. Just as he had the previous week at the Players at TPC Sawgrass, he arrived on the 16th tee at Innisbrook with a one-stroke lead.
It disappeared within minutes, however, when Lipsky joined him at 10 under par with a seven-footer for birdie.
Fitzpatrick, who collected $1.638 million, set up the game winner when he drove perfectly and then found the green right of the pin with a wedge from 118 yards. When the ball rolled in, he shouted and delivered a low fist pump. The win was secured when Lipsky’s 32-foot tying attempt from the fringe died seven inches short of the hole.
“Amazing. Amazing. Particularly, I felt frustrated all day that I had not made anything. Obviously to make something there on 15, and hole the long one there on 18 to in the end to secure the win was an amazing feeling,” said Fitzpatrick, who played his final 36 holes without a bogey and suffered only four bogeys all week—three of which came in the second round.
"I'll be honest, it wasn't an ideal putt that it felt like,” he added. "It was a nice right-to-lefter but me and my putting coach Phil [Kenyon] have been working on less acceleration in my stroke and it comes out more on the up hillers, so, I wouldn't say I was overly keen on it given my putting performance today but to get it done like that was special."
Undeterred after his one-stroke loss to Cameron Young at the Players, where he missed an eight-foot par putt that would have forced a playoff, Fitzpatrick fought through the mental challenge of playing in contention in consecutive weeks. Beyond his good form—particularly his iron game (he ranked first in strokes gained/tee to green, and second in approach)—that achievement sets him up well for the first major of the year in three weeks at the Masters.
“Yeah, I feel like it's obviously a great start to the season now, and particularly in two weeks, because the major season is just around the corner. Two weeks off, just to kind of prepare myself for that and then get better,” he said. “Yeah, this is great. Any win is fantastic. To me, just getting over the line is always difficult. It's so hard to win out here. Three wins now out here is something that, you know, I want obviously plenty more, and more and more big wins. So, yeah, to win this week is a big steppingstone for moving forward.”
It's another 1-1 result for Inter, who were held to a draw by Fiorentina. At the Franchi, on matchday 30 of Serie A, the Nerazzurri went ahead in just 40 seconds thanks to Esposito's powerful header off Barella's cross. Inter started the game fired up, and came close to doubling the lead several times. Fiorentina, however, stayed in the game, and created plenty of danger. It was an intense match in which the hosts found the equaliser in the 77th minute through Ndour. He was quick to convert the rebound after Sommer saved Gudmundsson's attempt. In the 95th minute Inter had one final chance: Esposito turned brilliantly in the box and forced an incredible save from De Gea, who preserved the 1-1.
Michael Jordan's 23XI race car with Tyler Reddick driving had battery issues at Darlington on Sunday. A smart early pit stop and a quick change sent Reddick off and running in the "45." Before his opponents knew, Reddick was rolling. He drove by everyone to win the Goodyear 400 in South Carolina.
The victory was the fourth of the season for 23XI, a mark for the team in one season. What's stunning is it has happened in the first six races of the campaign. Reddick joins Dale Earnhardt (1987) and Bill Elliott (1992) as a driver to take four of the first six races in a Cup season.
Jordan was quick to praise his driver and the "45" team for everything it overcame in the race and complimented his driver, who had all sorts of issues with his cool suit. Reddick has a 95-point lead after "breaking" his two-race losing streak.
Brad Keselowski finished second. His "6" car's paint scheme paid tribute to the late Greg Biffle. Keselowski mentioned in his post-race interview that Biffle, who lost his life in a plane crash with six others in December, would appreciate the Darlington stripe he put on the right side of the car.
Up next is the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville (VA) on March 29, where Jordan and Reddick will look to grill the competition again.
Tyler Reddick wins for Michael Jordan at Darlington
-11 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -10 D Lipsky (US); -9 J Smith (Eng); -8 X Schauffele (US), SJ Im (Kor), M Penge (Eng); -7 SH Kim (Kor), S Jaeger (Ger), W Grillo (Arg), P Cantlay (US)
Selected others: -2 S Power (Ire),D Skinns (Eng), J Thomas (US); -1 M Wallace (Eng)
Fitzpatrick had led last week's Players by one shot on the 17th tee but a par-bogey finish cost him as American Cameron Young closed birdie-par to snatch victory.
But Fitzpatrick earned redemption on Sunday at Palm Harbor, Florida, sinking a 14ft-putt to birdie the 18th hole and beat American David Lipsky by one shot.
The 31-year-old carded a three-under-par 68 to finish on 11 under and had to wait for two groups to complete their rounds before his third PGA Tour win was confirmed.
"To come away with a win this week is really special, considering last week's performance as well," said Fitzpatrick, who last won on the tour in 2023.
"I'll be honest, it wasn't an ideal putt [on 18]. I wouldn't say I was overly keen on it considering my putting performance but to get it done was special."
Fitzpatrick, who won the DP World Tour Championship in November, says he will have a two-week break before preparing for next month's Masters.
"I'm obviously very confident in my game right now but what it takes to win a major is very different to what it takes to win on the PGA Tour," added the 2022 US Open champion.
"Particularly the Masters, there's extra pressure on the Masters, no matter who you are. It just has that standing above all the other events, as well as the majors.
"I'm coming away from this week delighted with where my game's at but there's stuff I want to improve."
Fellow Englishman Jordan Smith, 33, was third on nine under - his best finish on the PGA Tour.
Smith's compatriot Marco Penge, South Korea's Sungjae Imm who had led for three rounds, and Ameircan Xander Schauffele were all tied for fourth on eight under.
England's Matt Fitzpatrick won the US Open in 2022 [Getty Images]
MANHATTAN, KS - MARCH 19: Guard Tess Heal #34 of the Kansas State Wildcats dribbles against guard Erica Moon #3 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the second half at Bramlage Coliseum on March 19, 2026 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) | Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images
It’s late march, which means it’s “win and advance” season.
And that’s just what the Kansas State Wildcats did last Thursday, knocking off a tough Georgia Tech squad 69-65 to keep their season alive. The win means the Wildcats, now 19-17 on the season, have secured a winning final record.
For their efforts, the MittieCats will face of against 3-seed Cal in Bramlage tonight. Cal needed a late comeback to beat Santa Clara in their opening round game last Thursday night, but are 20-14 on the season and have size that could trouble the Wildcats.
This is the first ever meeting between the K-State and Cal women’s basketball teams, though Jeff Mittie has a 2-1 career record against the Golden Bears.
Yet again, this is a game that K-State should win. They have the tools and are really starting to show a maturity that this young team didn’t have earlier in the season.
We’ve got a 6:00pm CT tipoff from the Bramlage Colisuem, and you can catch the action on ESPN+ with Brian Smoller (play-by-play), Shaelyn Floyd (analyst), and Hannah Whetstone (sideline) on the call.
If you don’t have ESPN+, the game can be heard across portions of the 28-station K-State Sports Network with Matt Walters (play-by-play) and Kristin Waller (analyst) calling the action. The game will also be available online at K-Statesports.com and via the Varsity Network app. Live stats are also available at k-statesports.com, and social media updates (@KStateWBB) will also be a part of the coverage.
🤯 Brain freeze? Defender gives away bizarre penalty in Série B
América Mineiro’s 3-1 defeat to Goiás this Sunday (22), in the opening round of Série B, was marked by a mistaken decision from defender Emerson Santos.
A player who has previously played for Botafogo, Palmeiras, and Internacional, the Coelho defender committed a bizarre penalty when América was already losing at Serrinha.
Blue screen?
Emerson Santos thought that Gustavo, Coelho’s number 1, wanted him to take the goal kick.
And he put his hands on the ball when he was “called upon.”
Marcelo de Lima Henrique didn’t hesitate to award the penalty.
Which goalkeeper Tadeu converted (31’).
Anselmo Ramon, also from the penalty spot, had scored the first (9’).
Filipe Machado left Esmeraldino a man down at 43 minutes.
Coelho dominated the second half. But only managed to score at 91’, with Mastriani.
A goal that came after Goiás had scored their third, with Gegê.
Another Brazilian escaped the worst...
An identical incident happened in an Arsenal vs Bayern match in the first leg of the 2023/2024 Champions League quarterfinals.
Gabriel Magalhães made the same decision as Emerson Santos, but the referee ignored the play.
The Gunners – who were losing 2-1 – managed to equalize, but were eliminated after losing the return leg 1-0.
"Hill is a seasoned vet and a borderline Hall of Famer who will command defensive attention if he's even close to 100 percent. Taking a swing on him would make sense for a team with playoff aspirations like the Kansas City Chiefs or Baltimore Ravens," Knox said.
The Chiefs and Ravens could use more talent at receiver for their franchise quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City and Lamar Jackson in Baltimore.
Though Hill played in just four games in 2025 due to a significant knee injury, the 32-year-old can still be an impact playmaker for a contender.
A reunion in Kansas City makes a ton of sense for Hill. He knows the offense well and has terrific chemistry with Mahomes.
Though head coach Andy Reid is skeptical about Hill coming back to the Chiefs, his asking price should be pretty low, given that he's still on the market, and the eight-time Pro Bowler would immediately step in as a potential starter on Eric Bieniemy's offense.
Baltimore could also sign Hill to serve as a dynamic weapon for Jackson, who lacks reliable pass-catchers outside of Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews. Hill would be an upgrade over Rashod Bateman at the other starting receiving spot for the Ravens.
Despite an injury-riddled 2025 campaign, Hill should come off the market soon. It could end up being with a contender, such as the Chiefs or Ravens.
The Boston Bruins have been one of the major surprises this season, and it’s earned them major praise from an NHL analyst.
Bruins analyst Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic believes the team has plenty to build on this season. Shinzawa also believes that even if Boston doesn’t make the playoffs, this will be a season the team can build on.
“Whatever happens, this season is a win for the Bruins considering how poorly things went in 2024-25,” Shinzawa wrote in an article published on Saturday. “Marco Sturm has been very good as a first-year coach. Don Sweeney made sound pickups in free agency. Jeremy Swayman came back to life. The Bruins are trending up.”
However, the goal for the Bruins is to make the playoffs. But, regardless of what happens, Shinzawa believes this is a successful season for Boston as Sturm appears to be a legit NHL head coach, and the moves Don Sweeney has made have paid off.
Boston is 39-23-8 and holding onto the top Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, and is tied in points with the Montreal Canadiens for third place in the Atlantic Division, but Montreal has played one less game.
The Bruins will return to the ice on Tuesday at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, somewhat questionably, appear to be sitting on their hands waiting to see what Aaron Rodgers will do in 2026.
And in doing so, they have wasted a chance for the franchise to get better.
Yes, Rodgers playing in 2026 gives the Steelers a good chance to win, but long-term? It doesn't do anything helpful for the franchise.
As such, for Sports Illustrated's Gilberto Manzano, in a neat piece where writers act as general managers, one move he would have made for Pittsburgh is going after Malik Willis
"If I were Steelers GM Omar Khan, I would have pursued quarterback Malik Willis and given him the three-year, $68 million contract that he got from the Dolphins," Manzano wrote. "Pittsburgh would have been a better fit with an offensive unit featuring DK Metcalf, Jaylen Warren and newcomers Michael Pittman Jr. and Rico Dowdle.
"Strangely, the Steelers are again waiting around for a middle-aged QB with not much upside at this point in his career."
Potentially, Willis would give Steelers fans more reason to hope, given his upside. However, if he crashes and burns in Miami, then fans will likely be glad the Steelers passed on him.
Still, Willis is an intriguing option and would give the Steelers' offense some juice in a way that Rodgers can't, given Willis' dual-threat ability. But Pittsburgh appears intent on waiting for Rodgers, a move not many are on board with.
Did the Steelers miss a chance at getting a young quarterback with big upside? Yes.
Will that prove to be a decision that haunts them? We won't have to wait too long to find out.
ST. LOUIS – On the same afternoon Iowa State overcame the loss of an All-American to stamp its ticket to the Sweet 16 with a 19-point win, Mark Pope lamented the injuries that in his view kept his Kentucky team from realizing its promise this winter.
“I think we were disappointed we never got to run with the roster that we thought we had,” Pope, Kentucky’s second-year coach, said Sunday, following the Wildcats’ 82-63 season-ending second round NCAA Tournament loss. “These guys did an amazing job adjusting.”
Given the juxtaposition, that argument — however fair — will probably fall on deaf ears close to home. Because what might be the most expensively assembled roster in college basketball is going to spend the business end of its postseason watching. And Pope’s bluegrass honeymoon is probably over.
Punishing the Wildcats purely because of their price tag is unfair. There’s nothing wrong with an expensive roster.
It isn’t cheating, and it isn’t unimaginative. In the modern landscape, it’s a choice. A way to win. As much a means to the ultimate end as playing zone defense.
But it comes with greater expectation. When your base invests so directly in your success, its demand for return on that investment is magnified. And if that demand is not met, sympathy tends to be in short supply.
Kentucky offers promise early
For a while, anyway, Sunday did not look like going quite that way. Kentucky (22-14) began the game well. Gave itself hope. Flashed the idea of what it might be, before reverting to form to confirm just what it was.
Early on, Iowa State (29-7) looked like a team without two-way star Joshua Jefferson (ankle), sluggish offensively and a little disoriented at the other end. Like a band trying to play the song after naming someone else lead guitar.
“I credit these guys, they really paced our offense and made sure early that we didn’t score too many points and we didn’t make too many shots,” Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said, tongue planted firmly in cheek.
Kentucky, meanwhile, appeared in the mood early to make the tough ones necessary to win. Denzel Aberdeen (20 points) led the way, Collin Campbell trailing behind him with two corner 3s.
But the Cyclones didn’t need Jefferson to sustain their pressure. Intensity underpins their identity. The erratic basketball forced out of the Wildcats — as has been the case far too often this season — is theirs.
“Iowa State was terrific,” Pope said. “They exert a ton of pressure. They’re very disruptive, and certainly they were very disruptive with us.”
Iowa State's intensity turned the game around
The further the game drifted away from Kentucky, the more ragged its performance became.
The early flow of turnovers did not stop — Kentucky finished with an eye-watering 20 for the game, the Wildcats’ 30.8% turnover rate basically double their season average. Just as damaging, as the game slipped away and a frustrating season wound down, there were aimless, unimaginative offensive possessions marked by a lack of ball movement and a perceptible loss of faith in the wider plan.
The tighter Iowa State squeezed, the more Kentucky came apart, first with sloppy offense and then with deconstructed defense. Otzelberger’s team shot 19 of 30 in the second half, averaging an even 1.5 points per possession after the break.
Where the Wildcats’ early punches seemed to harden undermanned Iowa State, the Cyclones’ response put Kentucky on its heels. Pope’s team never really got back on the front foot.
“We got a little disoriented the last eight or 10 minutes of the first half, and that’s what Iowa State does,” Pope said. “Their defense ratcheted up in the second half, and we had a tough time finding baskets, and more importantly, we had a tough time getting a stop.”
Otega Oweh finished with 18 points but did too much of his scoring once Iowa State led by double digits for his performance to really influence the game. Disparities in fouls and free throws told the story of which team was more aggressive. The sharper Iowa State became, the deeper that cut into whatever confidence and belief Kentucky had left.
Kentucky must find consistency, identity Iowa State enjoys
This was not entirely an indictment of the Wildcats. Iowa State served notice yet again that so long as Otzelberger walks their sideline — All-Americans be damned — the Cyclones are going to deliver these kinds of ruthless, relentless performances.
That’s what Kentucky expects, annually. And at least to a reasonable extent, it has the right to. At times, these Wildcats flirted with delivering something closer to it.
This was the team that swept Tennessee. That beat St. John’s and won at Arkansas. It was also the team that lost at home to Missouri, lost at Auburn and in the aggregate looked like its level would eventually even out roughly where it did.
The Wildcats were competent at many things but excellent at precious few. Per Bart Torvik, they were 9-12 against top-50 competition this season, with pedestrian adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency numbers. That’s about right for a 22-win team that doesn’t get out of the first weekend.
Time might prove Pope able to build the same sort of success in Lexington. But it’s possible to ask questions of why this season never really achieved lift-off, without that turning into a scathing and unanswerable indictment of his stewardship of his alma mater.
For example, whatever Iowa State’s concerns by comparison, Pope’s injury complaints aren’t entirely unfair.
Jayden Quaintance only appeared in four games this season. For Jaland Lowe, so good at Pitt in 2025, that number stopped at nine in 2026.
Lowe scored 13 points in Kentucky’s best win of the season, the 12-point victory over St. John’s in late December. But neither Lowe nor Quaintance has appeared in a game since Jan. 10.
“We didn’t get to play the way we planned to,” Pope said. “We didn’t get to play with the personnel we planned to. All of that changed, and I think our guys raised up and they made the very, very best of a complicated, difficult situation.”
Injuries won't change expectations in Lexington
It’s perfectly reasonable to accept the Kentucky team Pope built in his mind was never the one he got to put on the floor. That won’t change the proverbial indigestion resulting from a season that might have cost Kentucky as much as $22 million, just to end well short of the Final Four.
Tagging Pope with that reported number — one he did not accept but also did not necessarily refute Sunday afternoon — opts for lazy analysis when something sharper isn’t that hard to achieve. No amount of money could speed up Lowe’s recovery from a shoulder injury, but it also does not matter what costs what when the solutions to the problems that arise deliver little better than a team this limited.
Maybe Pope is right about his team’s alternate future. Maybe this roster, and by extension this season, would have been flawed anyway. Whatever the truth, none of it wins the argument with reality.
Kentucky fades into the offseason among college basketball’s big disappointments. And Pope, who provided such fresh air to the stale climate that preceded him in Lexington, enters that offseason fully informed about the weight of expectation on his job, and the price of failing to rise to meet it.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Ty Pence had 23 points, Johnny Kinziger scored 19, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with two seconds left, and Illinois State rallied to beat top seed Wake Forest 78-75 on Sunday in the second round of the NIT.
Fourth-seeded Illinois State (22-12) heads to No. 2 seed Dayton for a campus-site quarterfinal. The last time the Redbirds won twice in a NIT appearance was in 1996.
Illinois State trailed 53-44 with 11:28 remaining before rallying to tie it on Landon Wolf's 3-pointer with 6:29 to go and then taking the lead on a Pence 3-pointer on its next possession.
There were four lead changes and five ties from there — the final tie came on Tre'Von Spillers layup with 28 seconds left to set the stage for Kinziger.
Pence made 8 of 11 shots with three 3-pointers and all four of his free throws. Kinziger buried 5 of 10 from beyond the arc and added five assists. Chase Walker scored 15.
Spillers made all 11 of his shots and scored 24 to pace the Demon Deacons (18-17), adding eight rebounds. Juke Harris totaled 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Harris finished with 750 points this season — the second highest total in program history. Len Chappell set the record with 932 points during the 1961-62 season. Chappell had 745 points his prior season. Dickie Hemric scored 746 in 1954-55.
Omaha Biliew added 11 points and six boards for Wake Forest, while Myles Colvin scored 10 off the bench.
Cooper Schwieger's dunk for Wake Forest in the final minute tied it 32-all at halftime.
The NCAA women’s tournament continues with second-round action on Monday to determine the rest of the teams that will advance to the Sweet 16.
Three of the tournament’s No. 1 seeds take the court with UConn, South Carolina and UCLA each playing on their home floor. No. 2 seeds Iowa and Vanderbilt also play. Virginia, the lone No. 10 seed to advance to the second round, faces the Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Any time two of the most prominent programs in college athletics face off, it’s worth noting. Both the Fighting Irish and Buckeyes faced rugged competition in their respective conferences and struggled against top teams. (Each team lost to UConn by more than 30 points.) This game also features a star matchup between Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo and Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge.
Must-skip: USC vs. South Carolina
Fans of the Trojans and Gamecocks may argue over who is the real “SC” between Southern Cal and South Carolina. But No. 9 USC needed overtime to get past No. 8 Clemson while Dawn Staley’s No. 1 seed demolished No. 16 Southern by 69 points. Jazzy Davidson scored 31 for USC, but will have to contend with Joyce Edwards in this contest. Tessa Johnson and Ta’Niya Latson also figure to give the Trojans major problems on the Gamecocks’ home floor.
Most likely upset: Virginia vs. Iowa
As a No. 10 seed that had to win a First Four game to join the field of 64, Virginia might look like an unlikely upset winner. Especially against No. 2 Iowa on the Hawkeyes’ home court. Yet the Cavaliers have already pulled off one upset, defeating No. 7 Georgia in the first round.
Meanwhile, Iowa struggled early in its first-round matchup versus Fairleigh Dickinson before eventually finishing with a 10-point win. Virginia’s Kymora Johnson is coming off a 28-point performance in the win over Georgia, while the Cavaliers’ frontcourt combo of Sa’Myah Smith and Tabitha Amanze presents matchup problems for Iowa’s Ava Heiden and Hannah Stuelke.
Hidalgo appeared to be on her way to a quadruple-double against Fairfield before finishing with 23 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 8 steals. That was arguably the best performance of the NCAA women’s tournament thus far. She appears to be getting even better as the season progresses, ready to give the Buckeyes far more than they can handle defensively.
Vanderbilt G Mikayla Blakes vs. Illinois
Could it be possible this late in the season that many fans still don’t realize how good Vanderbilt is? The Commodores finished the regular season at 27-3 and ranked No. 6 in the AP poll before earning a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. Blakes is a major reason for that success. She scored 30 points in Vanderbilt’s first-round win over High Point and has scored 30 or more in eight of her past 10 games.
The Dolphins and Cardinals aren't the only teams taking massive dead-money charges for quarterbacks no longer on the team.
The Jets are, too.
As noted by Rich Cimini of ESPN, the Jets will carry $48 million in 2026 for 2023-24 starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers and 2025 starting quarterback Justin Fields.
Overall, the Jets have $104 million in total dead money this year, third highest in the league.
The cap charge for Rodgers arises from his 2025 release, a post-June 1 designation that spread the dead money over two years. The Fields charge comes from the back end of his two-year contract signed in 2025, the recent trade that sent him to the Chiefs, and the fact that the Jets will pay $8 million of his $11 million in 2026 compensation.
The good news is that the Jets got quarterback Geno Smith for only $3.3 million this season. The better news is that, per Cimini, the Jets are expected to have more than $150 million in 2027 cap space.
Still, the Jets will be operating in 2026 with more than a third of the $301.2 million salary cap devoted to players who no longer play for the team.
Mar 20, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) looks on in the second half against the LIU Sharks during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
The NCAA Tournament continues on Sunday, as teams look to advance to the Sweet 16, setting the stage for another day of dramatic finishes. With eyes set on a national title, the tournament always promises the chaos and excitement that make March Madness one of the best events to follow in sports.
In a West Region second-round battle, No. 1 Arizona comes off a 92–58 rout of Long Island, dominating from start to finish with efficient shooting and interior control, while No. 9 Utah State advanced with an 86–76 upset of Villanova, fueled by balanced scoring and clutch late-game execution.
Arizona’s elite offense and top-seed pedigree meet Utah State’s scrappy, momentum-driven play, creating a dynamic matchup where defensive stops, rebounding, and late-game composure will likely determine which team moves on to the Sweet 16.
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With the entirety of the Milwaukee Brewers roster save for Chad Patrick, who was pitching in the game March 22 to get his work in, en route to American Family Field ahead of a pair of exhibition games, the Cubs walloped a watered-down roster.
Patrick gave up seven runs over four innings and a prospect-heavy lineup had six hits.
Athletics prospects 9, Brewers prospects 8
In the second prospect breakout game of the spring for Milwaukee, Eric Bitonti homered while Blake Burke had two hits and three stolen bases.
Tyson Hardin, Brett Wichrowski, Jesus Broca, Ethan Dorchies, Wande Torres and Mark Manfredi pitched for the Brewers. Dorchies and Torres were the highlights, throwing two scoreless, hitless innings each.
Daniel Dickinson also tripled for the Brewers.
Brewers spring training schedule
Brewers vs. Reds, 6:40 p.m. Monday: Milwaukee LHP Aaron Ashby vs. Cincinnati RHP Brady Singer. Radio - 620 WTMJ.
Brewers vs. Reds, 4:10 p.m. Tuesday: Milwaukee RHP Brandon Sproat vs. Cincinnati TBA. Radio - 620 WTMJ.
With the entirety of the Milwaukee Brewers roster save for Chad Patrick, who was pitching in the game March 22 to get his work in, en route to American Family Field ahead of a pair of exhibition games, the Cubs walloped a watered-down roster.
Patrick gave up seven runs over four innings and a prospect-heavy lineup had six hits.
Athletics prospects 9, Brewers prospects 8
In the second prospect breakout game of the spring for Milwaukee, Eric Bitonti homered while Blake Burke had two hits and three stolen bases.
Tyson Hardin, Brett Wichrowski, Jesus Broca, Ethan Dorchies, Wande Torres and Mark Manfredi pitched for the Brewers. Dorchies and Torres were the highlights, throwing two scoreless, hitless innings each.
Daniel Dickinson also tripled for the Brewers.
Brewers spring training schedule
Brewers vs. Reds, 6:40 p.m. Monday: Milwaukee LHP Aaron Ashby vs. Cincinnati RHP Brady Singer. Radio - 620 WTMJ.
Brewers vs. Reds, 4:10 p.m. Tuesday: Milwaukee RHP Brandon Sproat vs. Cincinnati TBA. Radio - 620 WTMJ.
The No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers battle the third-seeded Virginia Cavaliers in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee recently took out Cinderella with a 78-56 win over Miami (Ohio) in Friday's first-round matchup. Virginia defeated Wright State 82-73 that same day.
he Volunteers (23-11), tied for fourth in the SEC and fell in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, have won two of their last three games. The Cavaliers (30-5), finished second in the ACC at 15-3 and lost in the conference tournament final, have won five of their last six games.
Here is a look at the box score from Saturday's second round Midwest Region game in Philadelphia.
What a mess! I sat slumped at my desk with my head buried in my arms, lost under an avalanche of scribbled notes and wadded-up pieces of paper. Player names, spring training stats, roster projections — all of it scratched out, circled, crossed out, and scribbled over again. I lifted my head and sent a small cascade of crumpled wads tumbling to the floor. I pushed the remaining pile aside and tried, for what felt like the gazillionth time, to make sense of it all.
The Guardians had been cutting players left and right and it was getting hard to keep it straight. Every morning brought a new move:
Watson — gone. Rodríguez — gone. Halpin — gone. Jones — outrighted to Columbus.
I stared at the stats. All the numbers were starting to swim. I just couldn’t see the signal through the noise.
I tapped my pencil on the desk. Think, Mario, think! Halpin had looked good out there. Watson too. And sure, Jones hadn’t exactly been setting the world on fire — but it was still just Spring Training. Big decisions were being made with just thirty-some at-bats. Was such a small sample size really enough to know anything? How could I know if the difference between these players was actually significant?
I grabbed my jacket and headed for Case Western. At the math department I found the familiar gray carpet, white walls, and fluorescent lights humming their monotonous hum. I knocked on Professor Saber’s door.
From inside came the familiar sing-song: “Come iiiii-in!”
I turned the handle — and…
To my great surprise the deep navy walls decorated with planets and shooting stars that I remembered from my last visit were gone. In their place was painted a sweeping ocean panorama — pale blue sky meeting open ocean, whitecaps catching the light, and out on the water, half a dozen boats casting large nets into the sea. I could swear I saw one of the boats actually move!
And there at the helm of her desk sat Professor Saber, decked out head to toe in a full Lake County Captains uniform — jersey, hat, and all — looking like she’d just sailed in from Lake Erie.
“Permission to come aboard, Captain?” I asked.
“Permission graaaanted!” she sang out, both arms raised in her signature greeting.
I shook my head, laughing, and dropped into the familiar beanbag chair, turquoise as the ocean. It made that satisfying whoosh sound as I settled in.
“So tell me, my seaward friend,” she said, getting up and absently coiling a large length of rope over her shoulder, “what brings you to my skiff today?”
“Well, Captain,” I said, settling deeper into the beanbag, “the Guardians have been making a lot of moves and I’ve been trying to figure out if they actually make sense based on the data. I’ve got all these spring training stats, but it’s hard to know if the numbers mean anything with such small sample sizes.”
I pulled out my notes — slightly crumpled — and spread them on my knee. “I’ve got batting averages, OBP, at-bats, the whole shebang. But I just can’t tell if the difference between these players is real, or if I’m just staring at noise.”
Professor Saber’s eyes lit up the way they always did. She heaved the coiled rope into the corner of her office and sat down at her desk, kicking her feet up on the desk: shoes… I was half expecting cleats.
“You want to know how confident you can be.”
She said the word like it meant something.
“Yeah…” I said, thinking it over. “I guess I want to know how much I can actually trust what I’m looking at with just thirty at-bats — that’s a tiny sample size. Is that really enough to know anything?”
“Oh, you’d be surprised,” she said, with a mischievous glint in her eye. She swung her feet off the desk, reached up, and grabbed a rope hanging from the ceiling — which I was only just noticing — and gave it one firm pull.
From somewhere above the whiteboard that hung on her wall, a giant eraser swung down connected to a wooden arm on a pulley system and skreeeee — squeaked across the entire board in one clean pass. It then swung back the other way — skreeeee — and vanished back into the ceiling.
Professor Saber was already uncapping a marker.
“Let’s start with batting average,” she said, writing across the fresh board in large, bold letters:
Batting Average = Hits / At-Bats
“Batting average is really just a proportion,” she continued, tapping the equation. “It’s our best estimate of the fraction of at-bats where a batter gets a hit. If we multiply it by 100, it becomes a percentage — a probability — but as a decimal, we call it a proportion. We take the number of hits, divide by the number of at-bats, and there’s our number.”
“Right,” I said. “But that number jumps all over the place when we have just a few at-bats early in the season.”
“Exactly right!” She exclaimed, and excitedly grabbed a green marker. “Let’s say a player steps up for his very first at-bat and gets a hit. He’s batting 1.000. He’s perfect!”
She wrote in green: 1 Hit / 1 AB = 1.000 And then added a big green arrow pointing up.
She continued, “Then he comes up again — and misses. Suddenly he’s batting .500.”
She wrote on the line below: 1 Hit / 2 AB = .500 And added a red arrow pointing down.
“Just one at-bat later and he’s dropped 500 points! He comes up a third time — misses again. Now he’s one for three, and he’s dropped down to .333. But if he gets another hit, he’s back to 2 hits out of 4 at-bats, and he’s batting .500 again. The number is moving wildly!”
“So the batting average is basically meaningless with small sample sizes,” I said.
“Not meaningless — just highly uncertain!” she corrected, wagging the marker. “But what happens as the season goes on and our hitter keeps getting at-bats?”
“The batting average… levels off?” I offered.
“It converges!” she said, spinning back to the board and writing the word in a dramatic swooping hand. “As a player gets more and more at-bats, the batting average starts to stabilize. It converges toward something that looks more and more like their true ability. So the more data we have, the more we can trust the statistic we are looking at. And the less data we have…”
She let the conclusion dangle in the air.
“The less we can trust it,” I finished.
“Very good! The less data we have, the less confident we are,” she echoed, nodding slowly. “So. You’ve got thirty-some at-bats per player. It’s still just Spring Training. How much can you really trust those batting averages?”
“That’s —” I tried to lean forward in the beanbag but I struggled and fell in 3 inches deeper, “— that’s exactly what I’m trying to figure out, Professor.”
Professor Saber had a full-body laugh at my beanbag battle before turning back to the board and writing in enormous letters:
CONFIDENCE INTERVALS
She underlined it twice for good measure.
“What’s a confidence interval?” I asked as I shifted in the beanbag finding a better position.
“I’m so glad you asked,” she said, already halfway around her desk. She crouched down, rummaged around underneath it for a moment, and then hauled out — with considerable effort — an enormous tangled fishing net, dumping it on the desktop with a dramatic thwump.
I stared at the massive net.
“Do you like fishing, Mario?” she asked pleasantly.
“I — what does —”
“Do you like fishing?” she insisted.
I looked at the net. I looked at the ocean painted across the walls. I looked at her Captains jersey. “Sure,” I said with a shrug. “Let’s go fishing, Professor.”
“Wonderful!” She spread the net wide across the desk with both hands. “Here’s the thing about a batting average, Mario. It’s just one number. A single estimate of a player’s ability. And that single number is our best guess at something we can never actually know — a player’s true batting average. The number they would hit if they played forever, in every condition, against every pitcher, across an infinite career. That true value is out there somewhere —” she gestured toward the ocean painted on the wall, “— swimming around in the ocean. And our job is to cast a wide enough net to catch it.”
“Okay,” I said slowly. “So a confidence interval is like the net?”
“The confidence interval is the net,” she said. “It’s a range of likely values for a player’s true batting average, based on the data we have. Instead of pointing at one number and saying that’s who this player is, we cast a net and get a range of values instead. And how wide that net is depends on two things: how much data we have, and how confident we want to be that the true value is somewhere inside it.”
“How confident we want to be,” I repeated. “Like a percentage?”
“Exactly like a percentage. Do we want to be 80% confident our net contains the true value? 95% confident? 99%?” She drew three horizontal lines on the board, each one wider than the last, labeling them 80%, 95%, 99%. “The more confident we want to be, the wider the net has to be to capture the true value.”
I squinted at the board, and then proclaimed loudly, “I want to be 100% certain!”
She laughed, delighted. “Wouldn’t that be something! But to be 100% certain we’ve captured the true value, we’d need a net so enormous it tells us absolutely nothing. I can be 100% confident that Petey Halpin will bat somewhere between .000 and 1.000 — but that doesn’t exactly help us, does it?”
“So there’s a tradeoff,” I said.
“There is always a tradeoff in statistics,” she emphasized.
“So how do we pick what confidence level to use?”
“Well,” she said, leaning forward with that mischievous glint in her eye, “let’s let the data speak for itself.”
She reached under her desk, flipped up a large ship wheel, and gave it a hefty spin. Behind her, a large computer screen dropped down from the ceiling.
“Fortunately,” she said, “with today’s statistical software we don’t have to do the calculations by hand.” She turned to me. “Do you mind giving me your data there, Mario?”
I leaned forward in the beanbag, with some difficulty, and handed over my notes. She smoothed them out and then fed them into a narrow slot on her desk.
The screen flickered to life, and a radar beam began sweeping in slow circles.
Bing.
Bing.
Bing bing bing —
Faster and faster until the screen flashed:
CATCH GATHERED
And the chart appeared.
I looked at the screen. There was clearly an order — Watson sitting on top, albeit with a wide interval, and Jones anchoring the bottom — but every single bar was enormous, stretching way out in both directions, overlapping with the players above and below like a pile of pickup sticks.
“So there’s clearly an order,” I said slowly, “but everything overlaps. I can’t really say anyone is definitively better or worse than anyone else.”
“Exactly right,” she said. “We can see who has the higher batting averages and who has the lower ones. And we can think of these intervals as comparing the floor and ceiling of each player — that’s useful on its own. But look at some of these ceilings, Mario.” She pointed at the top end of Martinez’s bar. “Are we seriously expecting Angel Martinez to hit .505 this season?”
“No,” I admitted. “That’s just him getting hot early with a small sample size. It’s not going to hold in the long run.”
“Right. And DeLauter at .561? Watson at .688?” She shook her head. “At 95% confidence the nets are too wide to tell us much of anything. We need narrower intervals if we’re going to see any real separation between players.”
I looked back at the three lines on the whiteboard — 80%, 95%, 99%, each one wider than the last. Something clicked. “So if we want to be more confident, we need a wider interval… which means if we want narrower intervals, we use a lower confidence level,” I said slowly, working it out as I went.
“I think someone is starting to get their sea legs!” she exclaimed.
I tried not to look too pleased with myself from inside the beanbag. But it was difficult.
“But before I show you what 80% looks like,” she said, holding up one finger, “I want to justify the choice. Because 80% might sound arbitrary.” She perched on the edge of her desk. “95% confidence intervals are the standard that you see most often. But sometimes we need to adjust our approach. Think about presidential election forecasters. If pollsters were to predict a race using 95% confidence intervals, every single race would look too close to call. So the best forecasters in the world — your Nate Silvers, your FiveThirtyEights — they use 80% confidence intervals. Not because it’s a special number, but because it’s the sweet spot between confidence and clarity. Tight enough to see a real pattern. Honest enough to acknowledge what we don’t know.”
“So we’re not being sloppy by dropping the confidence down to 80%,” I said. “We’re being practical.”
“Exactly,” she said, reaching over and giving the ship’s wheel another spin.
Behind her the screen flickered again as the radar swept the ocean, searching for a signal.
Bing.
Bing.
Bing bing bing —
CATCH GATHERED
The chart refreshed and the bars tightened. Professor Saber stepped aside so I could see.
And suddenly — there it was.
“Do you see it, Mario?” she asked breathlessly, leaning forward.
“I sure do!” I said. “Wait… what do I see?”
She laughed. “Look at the top three. Watson, DeLauter, Martinez — their intervals all sit above .250. Every single one of them.” She dragged her finger along the bottom of those three bars. “Now look at Jones at the bottom.”
I looked. His bar stopped at .232.
“His entire interval,” I said slowly, “falls below the intervals of those three players. There’s no overlap at all.”
“Which means?” the Professor edged me on.
“Which means Jones is significantly worse than Watson, DeLauter, and Martinez?”
“Congratulations,” she said, snapping to attention and giving me a crisp salute. “You’ve just been promoted to Lieutenant!”
I tried to sit up straight in the beanbag to accept the honor, but the beanbag had other ideas and I simply sank further in.
“We dropped our confidence to 80% to narrow our intervals,” she continued, “and now we have real separation. Jones doesn’t overlap with the top three players at all. That’s not a small difference. That is a statistically significant gap — and that,” she said, tapping the screen, “is why he’s on a bus to Columbus.“
“But batting average is just one net, Mario,” she continued. “It only tells us about hits. It says nothing about a player’s patience at the plate.” She grabbed the ship’s wheel firmly in both hands. “So let’s cast a second net and see what we get looking at on base percentage!”
She gave the wheel another spin.
Bing.
Bing.
Bing bing bing —
CATCH GATHERED
The results appeared for on base percentage — with Watson, DeLauter, and Martinez on top once again, and Jones all the way at the bottom.
“So the top three are the same,” I said, studying the new chart, “but now Halpin has jumped up to fourth.”
“And do we see any significant differences with OBP?” Professor Saber asked, gesturing at the screen.
I looked carefully. “Jones still falls completely below Watson and DeLauter — no overlap at all. But there’s a little overlap now between Jones and Martinez.”
“Which means what, Mario? Tie it all together.”
“Jones is significantly worse than Watson and DeLauter in OBP — but we can’t say he’s significantly different from Martinez.”
“Tied like a true sailor’s knot!” she exclaimed. “Now —” she pointed at the screen, “— what do you notice about the width of Watson’s interval compared to Jones’s?”
I studied the bars. “Jones’s interval is narrower. So… we’re more certain about where his true value is?”
“Exactly right,” she said. “Jones’s interval is narrower because he had more at-bats — more data gives us a tighter interval. Watson had fewer at-bats, so his interval is wider. We know less about him.” She tapped the screen. “But even with all that uncertainty, you can see exactly why they put Jones on that bus.”
I leaned back in the beanbag and looked at the chart for a long moment. “So when the front office sent him down, they weren’t just going on a gut feeling. The data actually backed it up — even with just thirty at-bats.”
“Even with just thirty at-bats,” she confirmed, pointing the marker at me like I’d just won a prize.
I chewed on that for a second. “Still,” I said, “this feels pretty simple. Is this really what major league front offices are doing to analyze players?”
“Something like it — but they’ve got a bigger boat,” she said, leaning forward. “Teams use a technique called multiple regression, which lets them factor in career statistics, injury history, age, ballpark effects, platoon splits — the works. More data means tighter intervals so their results are even narrower than ours. But the bones of the analysis are the same.”
“And even with our simple version,” I said, “we could still see a significant difference between Jones and the top three players.”
“A statistically significant difference,” Professor Saber said triumphantly.
Saluting, I said, “Aye aye, Captain,” and rolled myself out of the beanbag.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For a second straight year, the Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey team is the national champion after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 3-2 on Sunday.
It took the high-octane Badgers’ offense just 78 seconds to open the scoring, courtesy of a Kelly Gorbatenko deflection on Czech Olympian Adéla Šapovalivová’s shot. Six minutes later, junior defender Laney Potter scored to make it 2-0 on Wisconsin’s third shot of the game.
Ohio State, the top-ranked team in this year’s NCAA tournament, played well, often pinning the Badgers in their own zone in the first period and matching Wisconsin’s shot totals through the first two periods (23-23). But, Wisconsin starter Ava McNaughton — who won a gold medal as the No. 3 goalie for Team USA at the Olympics last month — was sharp, stopping all 23 shots she faced in the first 40 minutes.
But after Wisconsin failed to score on a fourth power-play opportunity in the third period, Ohio State came alive, scoring two goals in just over two minutes to tie the game, setting up another tense, one-goal finish between two powerhouse programs.
Last year, the Buckeyes were 18.9 seconds away from winning the national championship before the Badgers scored three unanswered goals — including a stunning penalty shot by Kirsten Simms — to complete a historic comeback.
“Hopefully, it’s a similar story with a different ending,” said Ohio State coach Nadine Muzerall on Saturday. “We’re excited. We’ve been planning all year since how this season ended last year. Is there a vendetta? Of course there is.”
Muzerall nearly got her wish. But it was Wisconsin forward Claire Enright, an unheralded senior on a roster dotted with superstars, who scored with just over six minutes remaining in regulation to win the Badgers their record ninth national championship.
McNaughton, who made 34 saves in the win, was named the women’s Frozen Four’s Most Outstanding Player.
Sunday night’s game was the fourth consecutive national championship between Ohio State and Wisconsin, which has become one of the premier rivalries in college hockey.
Since women’s hockey became an NCAA championship sport, only Wisconsin and Minnesota-Duluth and the University of Minnesota and Harvard have faced each other in consecutive finals. No two other teams — men’s or women’s — have ever done it four times.
“It may not happen again where two teams face each other four years in a row trying to hoist the trophy,” Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson said on Saturday.
The Badgers — a longtime dynasty program — have now won five of the last seven NCAA championships dating back to 2019.
The 26-year-old Petit was taken by the Tigers in the 14th round of the 2021 amateur draft. He went 10-2 with a 2.44 ERA in two starts and 45 relief appearances last season for Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo. He struck out 79 and walked 22 in 66 1/3 innings.
Petit is 21-15 with a 3.40 ERA and 14 saves in five starts and 182 relief appearances over five minor league seasons, but he has yet to make his big league debut.
The importance of good baserunning is undermined by good hitting, pitching and defending. All four are important, but a good baserunning team will oftentimes have a better season than a team that isn’t good on the bases.
Although the New York Mets had an epic late-season collapse that saw them miss the playoffs in 2025, the team was one of the best baserunning teams in Major League Baseball. The Mets, led by superstar outfielder Juan Soto’s 38 stolen bases, were fifth in the league with 147 swiped bags, eight more than the next-best Boston Red Sox.
Soto, who isn’t known for his blazing speed, tied Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz for the most stolen bases in the National League. His career-high before last season was 12, which he achieved twice. So, how did Soto miraculously steal nearly 40 bases and almost become the seventh member of the elusive 40/40 club? With the help of former Mets first base coach Antoan Richardson.
Under the tutelage of Richardson, Soto became heavily invested in becoming a better baserunner. According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, if you ask New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, he’d tell you anyone can be a good baserunner if they set their mind to it.
Well, it appeared Soto did that last season.
“Soto seemed to do that, swiping 38 bases while getting thrown out just four times; it's as if he carried the attention to detail he has had in his intense plate appearances onto the bases, with Richardson's guidance,” Olney wrote Friday.
Unfortunately for Soto and the Mets, Richardson left New York to join the division-rival Atlanta Braves in the offseason. New York gutted its coaching staff after the disappointing finish, but the Mets wanted Richardson back because of the impact he had on the team’s running game. The Braves gave a better offer and he accepted.
The Mets that remain from last season will surely hold onto the knowledge that Richardson offered, but the Braves will now get the same words of wisdom and attempt to become less reliant on hitting home runs.
Atlanta wasn’t a good baserunning team last year, and sure enough, the team finished 76-86 and missed the playoffs. Granted, a lot of factors play a role in that and baserunning isn’t the be-all and end-all but being 27th in stolen bases certainly didn’t help the Braves’ cause.
New Braves manager Walt Weiss admitted that no player likes to do baserunning drills, but his players had a pep in their step when doing them with Richardson this spring.
Losing Richardson hurts and seeing him join an NL East rival hurts even more, but new first base coach Gilbert Gomez led the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones to a lot of stolen bases in 2025, so maybe the transition will be smooth.
Intrigue over who will feature for Zuffa Boxing since its founding has been prevalent. The possibility of elite boxers and crossover UFC stars occupying the same roster caught the attention of combat sports fans, but Dana White has shut it down.
For almost a decade, the UFC CEO has expressed interest in one day venturing into the world of boxing promotion, and in 2026, he finally achieved that goal. White hosted Zuffa Boxing 01, headlined by Callum Walsh and Carlos Ocampo, at the Meta Apex in Enterprise, Nevada. Hoping to get a taste of the new organization, several MMA fighters threw their name into the hat for a potential future outing in the ring.
Alex Pereira, Ilia Topuria, and Sean O'Malley were some of the big names announcing their interest in competing at a Zuffa Boxing show. While there would be much excitement for the UFC's biggest stars to step into the squared circle, Dana White has dismissed the chances of it ever happening.
"One of the UFC guys fighting in Zuffa Boxing? No. No way in hell," White said. "The crossover fights suck. No. That's not what we do. It's just not what we do. I want to see the best fighters in the world fight the best fighters in the world. I mean, I'd like to see Jai Opetaia fight [Oleksandr] Usyk."
"There's other networks and other people that do that sh*t. It's not what I do. It's just not what I do. I did it once. I did it once. I don't know if it was amazing. It was financially unbelievable. But how many times can you keep fooling people with that? I run a business that every Saturday, basically, I put on fights, right? And we try to put on the best fights with the best fighters in the world. And you hope that the people that came to London, got hotel rooms, bought tickets, and spent all this money to come here, and the people who stayed home on a Saturday, got what they were hoping for. You hope you deliver."
Seemingly not a fan of crossover bouts, Dana White is not being swayed by some fans' wishes for big-name UFC fighters crossing over into the boxing world.
White believes having the UFC's structure in his Zuffa Boxing promotion is a positive for the sport. One key factor in making his mixed martial arts company a success was the promise of making the best fighters in the world compete against each other, which he is committed to doing in boxing.
"What I hope to deliver on Saturdays is as many holy sh*t moments as possible, and you don't get that from crossover fights," White continued. "I don't know. Educate me here, I'm drawing a blank. Tell me a crossover fight that you ever saw that you were like, 'Wow, that was f***ing unbelievable, and I feel like I just saw the best fight the best.'"
"The fights that pull big numbers are the ones that involve Mike Tyson. Other than that, if it's not Tyson, you know. You're going to always have people that are willing to watch that, but it's just not what I do... So what I'm into is the best versus the best, what's at stake, what does this fight mean... That's what matters to me..."
"So, if I took my biggest star in the UFC versus a big star in boxing, and they fight each other and it's a lopsided, horrible fight that means nothing for either of them, what is the point and what's the purpose? It's just not what we do here."
While the Oklahoma Sooners will finally be enjoying some stability when it comes to their play-callers on both sides of the football in 2026, the winds of change blew through a number of other programs in the Southeastern Conference this offseason.
With six new head coaches in the SEC and new assistant coaches all over the conference, the league looks a little different than it did in 2025. Though many of the top contenders also return most of the brain trust, there are some schools who will have a whole different flavor this fall.
Today, we'll take a look at every SEC team's coordinators for next season, on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Some of the names are familiar ones to SEC fans, and some will be experiencing their very first season as a coordinator in the nation's toughest conference.
Here is every coordinator in the SEC for 2026:
Alabama
Head Coach: Kalen DeBoer
Offensive Coordinator: Ryan Grubb
Defensive Coordinators: Kane Wommack and Maurice Linguist
Arkansas
Head Coach: Ryan Silverfield
Offensive Coordinator: Tim Cramsey
Defensive Coordinator: Ron Roberts
Auburn
Head Coach: Alex Golesh
Offensive Coordinators: Joel Gordon and Kodi Burns
Defensive Coordinators: DJ Durkin and Tim Banks
Florida
Head Coach: Jon Sumrall
Offensive Coordinator: Buster Faulkner
Defensive Coordinator: Brad White
Georgia
Head Coach: Kirby Smart
Offensive Coordinator: Mike Bobo
Defensive Coordinators: Glenn Schumann and Travaris Robinson
Kentucky
Head Coach: Will Stein
Offensive Coordinator: Joe Sloan
Defensive Coordinator: Jay Bateman
LSU
Head Coach: Lane Kiffin
Offensive Coordinators: Charlie Weis Jr. and Joe Cox
Defensive Coordinators: Blake Baker and Chris Kiffin
Mississippi State
Head Coach: Jeff Lebby
Offensive Coordinator: None
Defensive Coordinators: Zach Arnett and Matt Brock
Missouri
Head Coach: Eliah Drinkwitz
Offensive Coordinator: Chip Lindsey
Defensive Coordinators: Corey Batoon and Derek Nicholson
Oklahoma
Head Coach: Brent Venables
Offensive Coordinator: Ben Arbuckle
Defensive Coordinator: Todd Bates
Ole Miss
Head Coach: Pete Golding
Offensive Coordinators: John David Baker and Cody Woodiel
Defensive Coordinators: Bryan Brown and Marcus Woodson
South Carolina
Head Coach: Shane Beamer
Offensive Coordinator: Kendal Briles
Defensive Coordinators: Clayton White and Torrian Gray
Tennessee
Head Coach: Josh Heupel
Offensive Coordinator: Joey Halzle
Defensive Coordinators: Jim Knowles and Anthony Poindexter
Texas
Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian
Offensive Coordinators: Kyle Flood and AJ Milwee
Defensive Coordinators: Will Muschamp and Johnny Nansen
Texas A&M
Head Coach: Mike Elko
Offensive Coordinator: Holmon Wiggins
Defensive Coordinators: Lyle Hemphill and Elijah Robinson
Vanderbilt
Head Coach: Clark Lea
Offensive Coordinator: Tim Beck
Defensive Coordinators: Steve Gregory and Nick Lezynski
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions.You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.
Mar 20, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Ivan Kharchenkov (8) reacts in the first half against the LIU Sharks during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
It’s Game Day!
The Arizona Wildcats (33-2) take on the Utah State Aggies (29-6) in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Top-seeded Arizona blew out No. 16 Long Island 92-58 in the first round, while No. 9 Utah State beat No. 8 Villanova 86-76.
Here’s all the info you need to watch, listen to or follow the game online. Come chat with us!
Arizona-Utah State game time, details:
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 4:50 p.m. PT
Location: Viejas Arena; San Diego, Calif.
Line: According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Arizona is a 12.5-point favorite and the over/under is 154.5. KenPom.com gives the UA an 85 percent chance of winning.
How can I watch Arizona-Utah State?
Arizona-Utah State will be shown on TNT. Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Robbie Hummel (analyst), Stan Van Gundy (analyst) and Lauren Shehadi (sideline) will be calling the game.
How can I stream Arizona-Utah State online?
The stream of Arizona-Utah State can be viewed on NCAA.com.
How can I listen to Arizona-Utah State on the radio?
Exclusive: Young defender names Man City star that he ‘admires’
Exclusive: Ricardo Neto reveals his admiration for Ruben Dias
For the first time since the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Portugal will enter a major tournament without Kepler ‘Pepe’ Laveran de Lima Ferreira in defense. With Pepe retiring following the 2024 Euros, Portugal’s new leader in defense won’t be the ex-Real Madrid center back, but instead Rúben dos Santos Gato Alves Dias.
Born on May 14, 1997, Dias rose through the ranks at Benfica’s academy before breaking into the first team and leading them to the 2018/19 Liga Portugal title. These stellar displays didn’t just see him become a regular in Portugal’s backline, but they also drew the attention of Premier League club Manchester City, who paid €68 million that could rise to €71.6 million with performance-related bonuses, with Nicolás Otamendi heading the other way for €15 million.
Dias enjoyed a seamless transition to life in England, offering composure, leadership and stability and helping City wrestle the title back from Liverpool’s grasps as well as win the EFL Cup. It’s these stellar displays which saw him the FWA Footballer of the Year for the 2020–21 season – becoming the first defender to win the award since Steve Nicol in the 1988–89 season – as well as Manchester City’s Player of the Season and the Premier League Player of the Season.
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Another title would follow in 2021/22, which saw Dias miss the final two months of the season with a hamstring problem. However, his greatest season came in 2022/23, with City winning their first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy and completing a continental treble.
He continued his sensational displays in 2023/24, helping the Cityzens claim an unprecedented fourth straight league title. Dias has not only proven essential as a leader in City and Portugal’s backline, but he’s also served as an inspiration for countless other young Portuguese defenders such as Ricardo Neto, who won the U-17 Euros and U-17 World Cup last year.
“I really admire Rubén Dias and his presence on the field,” stated Neto in an exclusive EPL Index interview. “The path he’s taken, it aligns with mine, taking into account that he also started his career at Benfica and completed all his training at Benfica. I greatly admire his leadership on the field, the way he asserts himself in the game, and the way he manages to play within the team and lift them up.”
However, it’s fair to say that Dias’ performances have taken a turn for the worse as of late. He struggled to cover himself in glory as City suffered one of the worst title defenses in recent history in 2024/25, while this season hasn’t proven much better. City’s struggles to hold onto possession has forced him into sticky situations, with Dias defending out wide far more often than he’d like and being faced to track speedy 1v1 demons.
He’s making far more basic mistakes in possession and isn’t quite imposing himself as well in physical duels. This, combined with the recent arrival of Marc Guéhi as well as the ascendance of Abdukodir Khusanov (not to mention the injured Joško Gvardiol) has meant that, for the first time in his City career, Dias is no longer an undisputed starter.
With his compatriot Bernardo Silva potentially on his way out, and with the future of Pep Guardiola still up in the air, Dias’s long-term situation at the Etihad is far from certain. At 28, he should be entering the prime of his career, but it’s clear that he’s missing a step from the start of his City career. Can he turn it around and get back to his best ahead of the World Cup?
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 14: Michael Chiesa walks out prior to facing Court McGee in a welterweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at State Farm Arena on June 14, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)
The UFC’s return to Seattle with a finalized main card, including the U.S. return of Israel Adesanya.
UFC Seattle takes place on Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena, streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the United States. The main card was officially announced during the UFC London broadcast this past Saturday.
Adesanya looks to snap a skid that includes three straight losses, and dropping four of his last five as he faces Joe Pyfer in the main event of the UFC Fight Night card. The co-main event features a pivotal flyweight matchup as former champ Alexa Grasso faces Maycee Barber in a rematch from their February 2021 matchup, which Grasso picked up a decision.
The newest addition to the card was the final opponent of Michael Chiesa’s career, as he’s set to drop the gloves in the octagon in front of a home crowd. Originally slated to face Carlston Harris, it was revealed that Chiesa now faces Niko Price in the featured bout of the card. “Maverick” enters the bout on a three-fight win streak, which includes submissions of Tony Ferguson and Max Griffin.
The Brazilian forward has not been at his most productive in recent matches and has faced increasing criticism for his output. Despite this, he remains one of the most dangerous attacking players within the Arsenal squad. His pace, directness, and ability to stretch defences have often provided the team with a valuable attacking outlet, particularly in high-intensity fixtures.
Selection Decision Under Scrutiny
Leaving Martinelli out of the starting line-up raised concerns, especially given the nature of the opposition. Manchester City’s defensive structure often requires players capable of running in behind and creating space, qualities that Martinelli possesses in abundance. His absence from the starting eleven arguably limited Arsenal’s attacking threat, particularly during key phases of the match.
He was only introduced late in the fixture, by which point the game had largely slipped away. The timing of his involvement reduced his ability to influence proceedings in a meaningful way, further intensifying scrutiny of Arteta’s initial selection.
‘From an Arsenal point of view I would have Gabriel Martinelli in there.
‘Martinelli would always make my team, especially on a day like this at Wembley.
‘Arsenal need to get out and we’re not holding the ball up well enough or long enough. So Arsenal need someone to run us out of problems and cause some problems ourselves.’
Martinelli has delivered several impressive performances for Arsenal, and there is a strong argument that his inclusion from the outset could have made a tangible difference. His energy and attacking intent may have offered an alternative dimension against a side that eventually grew into the game.
However, Arteta selected a team he believed was capable of securing victory, reflecting his clear desire to win the trophy. Had the decision produced the desired outcome, it would not have attracted the same level of criticism. Arsenal continue to place their trust in their manager, and there remains ample time in the season for him to respond and address the shortcomings from this match.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 07: Michael Chiesa reacts to his win in a welterweight bout against Max Griffin during the UFC 310 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
“The Maverick” has a new dance partner.
Veteran Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight and The Ultimate Fighter 15 winner Michael Chiesa is set to make the final walk of his career at UFC Seattle next weekend (Sat., March 28, 2026) — but he’ll now be facing a different opponent.
Fellow veteran Niko Price has agreed to step in on short notice, replacing Carlston Harris, who withdrew for undisclosed reasons. The promotion announced the change during the UFC London broadcast.
Chiesa (19-7), who hails from nearby Spokane Valley, Washington — roughly four hours from Seattle — will essentially get a hometown sendoff for his retirement fight.
And he’s entering it on a high note.
“The Maverick” is riding a three-fight win streak, most recently earning a unanimous decision victory over Court McGee at UFC Atlanta. Prior to that, he picked up wins over Tony Ferguson (watch highlights) and Max Griffin, bouncing back nicely after a rough three-fight skid from 2021 to 2023.
As for Price (16-10), he enters the bout in a much different position.
“The Hybrid” is currently on a three-fight losing streak and has been finished in two of those outings. In his most recent appearance, Price stepped in on short notice against Nikolay Veretennikov and was stopped in the first round (watch highlights).
Over the past six years, Price has gone 2-7 (1 NC), highlighting a difficult stretch for the longtime fan favorite.
Still, his all-action style makes him a fitting opponent for Chiesa’s farewell fight.
Here is what UFC Seattle looks like now (hopefully for the final time:
Israel Adesanya vs. Joe Pyfer Maycee Barber vs. Alexa Grasso Michael Chiesa vs. Niko Price Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Yousri Belgaroui Lerryan Douglas vs. Julian Erosa Terrance McKinney vs. Kyle Nelson Gabriella Fernandes vs. Casey O’Neill Marcio Barbosa vs. Kangjie Zhu Lance Gibson Jr. vs. Chase Hooper Bruno Lopes vs. Navajo Stirling Bruna Brasil vs. Alexia Thainara Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Tofiq Musayev Tyrell Fortune vs. Marcin Tybura
To checkout UFC’s upcoming schedule of events click here.
Three foul calls that favored the Lakers in the final two minutes of Saturday’s game between Orlando and Los Angeles at Kia Center were ruled to be incorrect, the NBA shared Sunday afternoon.
First, Lakers center Deandre Ayton committed a defensive three seconds violation — meaning he stood in the paint for longer than three seconds without imminently actively guarding an opponent — with 1:22 left in the game, according to the NBA’s last two minute report.
Then, Ayton committed a second defensive three seconds violation roughly a minute later with 25.6 seconds remaining, the report said.
Lastly, the NBA found that Magic forward Tristan da Silva didn’t actually foul Ayton with 5.5 seconds left on the clock, according to the report. Da Silva was able to get his hand to the ball to begin to dislodge it before incidental contact occurred with Ayton’s arm, the report said.
Instead, Ayton was sent to the free throw line where he made the first of two shots. Orlando grabbed the rebound on the miss and called timeout. Lakers star LeBron James then forced a Magic turnover on the ensuing inbounds attempt, which eventually set up Luke Kennard’s game-wining 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds left in the game.
The turnover committed by the Magic was challenged and reviewed during the game, but Orlando’s challenge was deemed unsuccessful. The last two minute report confirmed Sunday that the out-of-bounds call was correct.
The report also said the out-of-bounds call from Paolo Banchero‘s block on James was correct as well. Kennard’s game-winner secured a 105-104 victory over the Magic for Los Angeles, its ninth win in a row.
For Orlando, the loss was its fourth straight.
The last two minute report is the league’s assessment of officiated events that occurred in the last two minutes of last night’s games that were at or within three points during any point in the last two-minutes of the fourth quarter (and overtime, where applicable), according to the NBA. The plays assessed include all calls (whistles) and notable non-calls.
Although the league found three calls that went the direction of the Lakers to be incorrect, it’s highly unlikely the final outcome will change.
Teams are required to demonstrate that there was a misapplication of the official playing rules, as opposed to an error in judgment by game officials, according to the NBA.
And it’s rare for protests to be upheld. The last time a protest by an NBA team was upheld came during the 2007-08 season.
Ultimately, the Magic are aware they could have executed better down the stretch in order to give themselves a chance to secure a win regardless of what was called or not by the officials. Orlando led by five points entering the fourth quarter and again by five with 50 seconds left.
“We just didn’t execute,” Magic guard Desmond Bane told the Orlando Sentinel in the locker room after the one-point loss. “Didn’t execute the inbound play. Didn’t execute on defense. … We’ve just got to be better.”
Doncic, Bitadze technicals rescinded
The NBA also reviewed the double technical fouls called on Lakers star Luka Doncic and Magic center Goga Bitadze.
The two were observed talking back-and-forth towards each other when Doncic was at the free throw line late in the third quarter. The conversation continued down the court and they were both handed a technical.
The league said Sunday both technicals were rescinded upon league office review.
Doncic claimed after the game Bitadze used strong language in Serbian about his family.
“He said at the free throw, he would (expletive) my whole family,” Doncic said “And at some point, this is basketball. … At some point, I just can’t stand it. I gotta stand up for myself. But I know I gotta do better.”
Bitadze, in a phone interview with the Sentinel and ESPN, denied making such comments and indicated Doncic said something first.
“I have all the respect for Luka and what he has done,” Bitadze said. “And I really respect everybody’s family. Where I come from, it’s really sacred and we really respect each other’s families, and I would never directly say that. He just said some inappropriate things in the Serbian language, which, I played in Serbia. I understand, I don’t know if he knew I understood what he said. So I just said it back. And it was nothing towards his family or anybody. His family, I really, truly respect them and that’s pretty much it.”
The technical foul was only Bitadze’s fifth of the season, but Doncic’s represented his 16th of the regular season. That meant Doncic would have been suspended for Monday’s game against the Pistons had it not been rescinded by the league.
The New England Patriots can take their pick of positions to address during the 2026 NFL Draft.
It’s easy to see them targeting someone who can rush the passer, depth options at linebacker and/or tight end, competition along the offensive line, someone who can provide a spark to the skill position group, and... well, pretty much anything else you can think of.
I just don't think they can do it all…
If the club intends on putting itself in a position to regularly contend, it will need to prioritize things perfectly and put together another superb draft class -- which might just include Stanford Cardinal tight end Sam Roush:
Roush served as an extension of the running game during his time with the Stanford Cardinal, and eventually developed into the program's most reliable option in the passing game across 2024 and 2025.
ELITE IN-LINE BLOCKER (PROTOTYPE AT 'Y')
FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND, CONTINUES TO BE AN EFFECTIVE BLOCKER NO MATTER THE COMPETITION
GREAT TEMPO IN RUNNING GAME AND PASSING GAME, ALWAYS GOES BALLS TO THE WALL
PHYSICAL WITH THE FOOTBALL, RUNS THROUGH CONTACT
Cons:
Roush is an outstanding athlete, but even though his floor is relatively high there are questions as to whether he can reach his ceiling. If you take him, it could be a long journey toward making him a consistent contributor.
ROUTE-RUNNING LACKS NUANCE
PLAYS BELOW FRAME
UNINTENTIONALLY FUNNY AT TIMES, KIND OF GOOFY
INSERT
Grade and Player Comparison:
Roush checks all of the boxes -- athletic, has several elite traits, fits any and every system -- and will certainly force a few organizations into falling in love with him.
Can he reach his potential? Is the floor high enough to make him a priority? Where should he be drafted?
Roush, much like every other prospect that finds itself in consideration to be drafted, will eventually be the person to answer those questions, though with others the answers are typically a bit easier to forecast...
GRADE: 77/100 PLAYER COMP: Pat Freiermuth
The Patriots ______ Sam Roush:
"already have their"
Roush would have made all the sense in the world before the organization committed decent money to veteran tight end Julian Hill and fullback Reggie Gilliam -- who not only do all of the same stuff, but are proven commodities and believed to be able to extend their responsibilities within their new system.
Roush will find his role elsewhere, and that team will be the one who tries to mold him into what we all believe he could be.
Most of the top NFL free agents have already signed new deals, but there’s one who many have forgotten about, largely because he didn’t play a single snap last season. Yet, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, former Dolphins and Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is interested in returning to the NFL in 2026.
He’s still rehabbing the foot injury that wiped out his season in 2025, but the 30-year-old has also reportedly heard from 26 of the NFL’s 32 teams this offseason. At 6-foot-4, 310 pounds, it’s not hard to see why teams would have such interest in the former 13th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Remember, this is a DT who recorded nine sacks in 2023. That set him up for a four-year, $110 million contract from the Raiders in free agency. Less than a year later, he was released from the team after playing in just five games.
Despite his odd release from the Raiders, several teams are “waiting for Wilkins to be ready.” As Schefter reports, “Wilkins is expected to have a new home as soon as he wants.” So, who should sign him? Let’s have a look.
The Jaguars may want to inject even more talent into their defensive line, especially up the middle. Yet, with no draft selections until the 56th overall pick, that may be tough to do at this stage. Plus, they likely have other priorities than selecting a DT at 56. Meanwhile, the Jaguars could potentially find a solution by signing Wilkins in free agency. Best of all, he won’t impact the compensatory pick formula, which should make Jaguars general manager James Gladstone happy.
Wilkins has played six seasons in the NFL, but he’s only made it to the playoffs twice and has yet to get a postseason win. That could change by signing with a team like the Chiefs, who have reached the playoffs in 11 of 13 seasons under Andy Reid. Plus, with Chris Jones right next to him, Wilkins shouldn’t face many double teams.
The Broncos already have one of the NFL’s very best defenses, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for growth. Plus, Denver did lose John Franklin-Myers to the Titans in free agency. Wilkins could not only replace JFM, but he may be an even better player. Plus, joining the AFC West gives him a chance to face the Raiders at least twice a year, giving him a chance to stick it to his old team.
Another strong fit could be in Minnesota with the Vikings, where he’d get to reunite with defensive coordinator Brian Flores, his head coach in Miami for the first three seasons of Wilkins’ career. Plus, after the Vikings released two former Pro Bowl DTs in Johnathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, they could use another threat up the middle, but they may prefer a run-stuffer to pair with Jalen Redmond instead.
With Wilkins seemingly drawing interest from practically every team, he can essentially pick his next destination. That could lead him to reunite with his former college teammate at Clemson, Dexter Lawrence, who is a franchise cornerstone on the New York Giants. Lawrence wanted the Giants to pursue Wilkins in free agency in 2024; he could push the front office to do the same, especially now that he’ll come at a much more affordable rate.
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 22: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid celebrates with Alvaro Arbeloa, Head Coach of Real Madrid, after being substituted during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 22, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Speaking after a thrilling 3-2 win over Atlético Madrid in La Liga at the Bernabéu, Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa was full of praise for goalscorer Vinícius Júnior as he said: “Another brilliant performance. Another display of talent, of courage, of fearlessness. Of making mistakes and trying again. As I always say, we’re incredibly lucky to have him. For his commitment, his talent, his desire to drive the team forward. I don’t know if this is the best moment of his career, but he’s not far off”.
Arbeloa on Valverde’s red card
“We showed character and mental strength. We had to dig deep with a man down. I see it differently, but I’m grateful to José Luis (Munuera Montero) for coming over to explain why he sent him off. We managed to take all three points, which is what we wanted.”
Arbeloa on what the referee told him
“He told me it was excessive force, and I don’t see it that way. There was no chance of hurting or injuring the opponent. That’s my view, which differs from his. But he came to explain it and I appreciate that. Sometimes it’s appreciated, even if it doesn’t change anything. The red card made everything more difficult and we had to suffer a lot. Every victory is a turning point. Now comes the battle for the league title. Mission accomplished.”
Arbeloa on what has changed
“I’m getting to know them better and better. I arrived without time to work, just to see how they were gelling. It’s not easy. Arriving in the middle of a season and seeing how the team works best. That’s what has changed. I now know what my players are like, where I can get the best out of them. I’m sure there’s still a long way to go. There are still players to come. We’re evolving.”
Arbeloa on whether Mbappé is 100% fit
“Every day I try to field the best starting eleven; when you have the best in the world, you have to make the most of him. After three weeks, almost a month, it’s normal to be making progress, which is what I like. And it’s best for them and for the team. Kylian had a good spell on the pitch. He was a constant threat. He’ll get more playing time with his national team and will come back better prepared.”
Arbeloa on beating Mourinho, Guardiola and Simeone
“When you have the best players, it’s easier. They’re learning to dig deep and be a great team. I always tell the players that. When the crowd gets behind you, it feels like the pitch is sloping in your favour. I’m grateful to everyone for being as united as possible. Let’s show the power of friendship. And let’s keep winning.”
Arbeloa on Carvajal over Trent
“I pick the best eleven for every match and I think Carvajal had a very good spell; he was all over Lookman. I’m pleased with him and with how Trent has come on. I’m happy to have so many options. And that everyone contributes as they have done today.”
Arbeloa on the change in performances from the players
“I don’t know, that’s a question for them. Trying to get the best out of them, seeing how we can be a team, compact, sticking together. Often I had the feeling that we were relying on the player’s talent, on whatever came to mind. And we want to have ideas and our own style of play. You have to bear in mind that we’ve only just arrived.”
Arbeloa on integrating Mbappé and Bellingham
“That’s my main objective as a manager: to be unfair to as many players as possible. To feel that, when I pick the starting eleven, I’m being unfair to many of them. That’s my goal: to feel that I have 25 players and they can all play. Hopefully one day I’ll achieve that.”
Arbeloa on Bellingham’s role after his return
“We’ll see in the coming matches. He’s coming back after quite a long spell out and I’d love for his progression, despite what lies ahead, to be gradual, like Mbappé’s. It’ll be up to me to find his place, to surround him with players he has a good rapport with. The problem with Bellingham is that he’s very good at doing lots of things. When you’re that good at so many things, you have to choose.”
Arbeloa on Brahim
“He’s really getting what I want from him in that playmaker or ‘false nine’ role. When opponents sit deep, he has plenty of freedom to move between the lines. That’s what I asked of him. I wanted him to create chances. He couldn’t just settle for not making mistakes. He’s a player who has to take risks, go one-on-one, shoot at goal, win penalties like today… That’s the Brahim we need.”
Arbeloa on Militão
“Militão will be available for Mallorca.”
Arbeloa on whether Trent was left out because he arrived late
“Every matchday I field the best possible team.”
Arbeloa on the international break coming at a bad time with the team in form
“You never know. That’s just how it is. I don’t dwell on it. It’s all about wins. That’s our objective. As things stand, we need to keep winning.”
Earlier this year, an LSU coach posed a question to Flau’jae Johnson that was deeper than the typical query about defensive coverages or offensive sets.
When the final buzzer sounded on her LSU career, would she be sad?
“Nah,” Johnson recalled telling him. “These last four years, I gave everything. I lived in the gym. I didn’t do much partying. I really poured everything I could into LSU.”
One of the sport’s most well-recognized stars exited her final game at LSU’s Pete Maravich Assembly Center to hugs, tears and a long embrace with Kim Mulkey as the legendary head coach’s first McDonald’s All-American at the program. The senior Associated Press All-American flashed her hands in the signature “four” for her jersey number and took a seat on the bench, her work long ago done in the Sacramento 2 regional’s second round.
“I lost it,” Johnson said afterward. “I knew I was going to lose it, but I was holding strong. And then my teammates came to hug me and it was a roar I heard in that PMAC. … It was the most beautiful thing that I’ve been a part of.”
For a fourth consecutive year, Johnson will play in the Sweet 16 following the No. 2 seed’s 101-47 win over No. 7 Texas Tech. The Tigers (29-5) led by as many as 56 and broke the NCAA record for most 100-plus point games in a season with 16. They’re averaging a DI-best 95.1 points per game.
LSU will play No. 3 Duke next weekend in a rematch of LSU’s 93-77 win in North Carolina on Dec. 4.
The entire journey has been “unimaginable,” Johnson said. When she arrived on campus, known more for her rap career than her basketball accolades — a piece of trash talk junior Mikaylah Williams used on her way back when — she thought nothing more than to be named SEC Freshman of the Year.
She accomplished that and added more: national championship, three Elite Eight berths, two All-SEC honors, All-America honors and two all-region teams.
“Everything else that came with it has been just beyond my wildest dreams,” Johnson said.
Nothing embodies what she’s meant to LSU more than the scenes of her final home game. Since the women’s tournament hosts first- and second-round games on the floors of the top 16 true seeds, the second game of the weekend serves as the ultimate senior day for the nation’s elite programs and players.
There is a finality to it that’s often absent for the official in-season honors. And unlike the crapshoot of a conference opponent that could harm a résuméor seeding, the second round is an opening to flex.
So Johnson did. Many times.
The 5-foot-10 senior opened the day driving into the paint on nearly the entire Texas Tech team, floating a bucket off the glass as at least three sets of hands reached up for the ball. She had 13 points by half and only two missed baskets as she and Williams paced the rout. Late in the third, she one-handed a transition pass halfway up the court to freshman ZaKiyah Johnson in a doozy of a look.
There was a full 7:45 to play when Mulkey called it, safe in a 50-point lead. The timeout substitution gave Johnson her own moment to soak up the crowd’s appreciation before Mulkey pulled Williams and her other starters. Johnson tied for a team-high 24 points in 25 minutes with a thorough stat line of 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
“That’s what you hope happens when they play their last game in their home arena,” Mulkey said. “And that’s what I told her. I said, ‘What a way to go out.’ She was bawling and I was trying not to cry.”
Johnson shared hugs with staffers and arena employees on some of her final game-day runs through the tunnel to the court. Earlier in the day, she signed football coach Lane Kiffin’s jersey. Students paid for tickets to attend the NCAA tournament game, a change from free student sections throughout the year. The national ABC broadcast continually spoke of her philanthropy and community work, financed by her own bank accounts.
As seniors around the country exited their home arenas for the final times, Johnson’s embraces and the PMAC’s response stood louder than the rest.
“I can’t say it enough,” Mulkey said. “Kids don’t stay at institutions for four years anymore. Everybody’s looking for the next NIL deal. And she stayed here, and she’s impacted so many people in this town that we don’t even know about.”
Johnson was their constant for four years, in an era full of sad good-byes said too early.
The Los Angeles Dodgers made the final big decision for their Opening Day roster Sunday, sending Hyeseong Kim to Triple-A.
Kim battled for the final spot on the Dodgers’ roster all preseason, putting up a solid stat line during spring training. He hit a home run and drove in six runs, slashing .407/.448/.519 throughout the spring. Despite his numbers, the Dodgers opted to go with No. 4 prospect Alex Freeland to break camp.
Freeland will likely spend some time at second base, potentially forming a platoon with Santiago Espinal, who the Dodgers added to the roster earlier this week.
Feb 23, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Hyeseong Kim against the Seattle Mariners during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
When asked about the roster situation between Kim and Freeland before the decision, manager Dave Roberts still didn’t have a decisive answer.
“It’s one of those things that you could argue both sides of either decision, as far as Alex or Hyeseong. And so I just don’t think it’s clear cut,” Roberts said. “We still haven’t seen Hyeseong a bunch. Alex, I think he’s taken great at-bats, the numbers, the surface line certainly isn’t there, but it’s still spring training. There’s just deeper conversations that are going to be had.”
Kim also began 2025 in the minors, and will look to force the Dodgers’ hand and give them no choice but to recall him early in the season with a good run of performances with Oklahoma City. The Dodgers will have their sights on Opening Day, which comes Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
As Kentucky fans watched their season end in emphatic fashion Sunday with an 82-63 loss to Iowa State, they saw a team that plays the way many of them probably wish the Wildcats did with an unflinching defensive scheme and attacking offense that never gives the opponent a moment’s rest.
In fact, when you look not just at how Iowa State has played this season but across T.J. Otzelberger’s five years — this will be his third trip to the Sweet 16 — it seems absurd in retrospect that the 48-year-old from Wisconsin wasn’t atop Kentucky’s list two years ago when John Calipari went to Arkansas.
Kentucky probably won’t make the same mistake next time. But the question of when the next Wildcat coaching search will take place is now a topic that promises to dominate the next eight months and beyond in the Bluegrass.
Mark Pope arrived at his introductory press conference in April of 2024 with the entire 1996 national championship team and trophy in tow. He spent his first offseason barnstorming the country for recruits and charming the fan base with public appearances meant to emphasize that he was as much a part of Big Blue Nation as the fans who fill Rupp Arena. And at the end of Year 1, which resulted in a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament and Sweet 16 appearance, it appeared he was set for the long haul.
But a lot has changed in 12 months. And after Kentucky’s season ended with a helpless performance in the second round, Pope’s job status heading into 2026-27 is going to be the most high-wattage topic in college basketball.
Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope is 46-26 in two seasons at the school. (Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERS
Despite going 22-13 with a roster that cost a reported $22 million to put together, Pope is likely not in imminent danger of losing his job. There are several reasons for that.
While the way Kentucky played this season will not be considered acceptable by the school’s stakeholders and boosters, this is nowhere near the disaster the school lived through under Billy Gillispie from 2007-09, which caused them to pull the plug after two years. There is a reasonable path to write off this season as an expensive misadventure in the transfer portal, make changes this offseason and come back with a more thoughtful and coherent roster-building process.
Another issue, at the moment, is Kentucky’s ongoing athletic director transition after Mitch Barnhart announced his retirement at the beginning of March. Without a permanent AD in place, this is not the right moment to make such an important decision — which may have played into why Barnhart, who hired Pope, held off so long on making the announcement that much of the college athletics industry had been waiting on for months.
Make no mistake, however: Pope is now on the clock. He has one year to fix this. In 12 months, when a new AD is in place, it will be abundantly clear whether this season was a one-off underachievement fueled by injuries and poor chemistry or a sign that Pope is in over his head.
If social media is at all representative of the mood in Kentucky, it’s remarkable how quickly the fan base has soured on a coach who is not merely one of their own but came into the job with a full commitment to embrace the 365-day-a-year, statewide intensity around the program as its central brand.
Most coaching searches in college sports are a direct reaction to what the former coach did wrong. In this case, after 15 years of Calipari selling Kentucky as an NBA way station, Pope’s first job was to restore the idea that what mattered most was Kentucky’s one-of-a-kind fan base and honor the eight national championship banners hanging in the Rupp rafters.
The next Kentucky athletic director, however, will almost certainly understand what Barnhart did not: Brands no longer matter in college athletics the way they used to. It would be unfair to say that Kentucky is just another program in the NIL era, but the things that used to set Kentucky apart in the chase for elite players are now tangential. That should be plainly obvious after spending $22 million on a replacement-level roster.
If Barnhart had understood two years ago what wins in college basketball now, he might have looked at his coaching search differently. The ability to evaluate in the portal, spend wisely and build chemistry is everything. Instead, Barnhart leaned into track record and relationships, targeting Baylor’s Scott Drew and checking in with Billy Donovan before quickly zeroing in on Pope, who had never won an NCAA tournament game in nine years at Utah Valley and BYU.
No AD can guarantee that a coaching hire is going to work out, but Barnhart’s process — targeting an established NCAA championship coach from the pre-NIL era, an NBA coach who hadn’t been in college since 2015 and an alum with a decent-but-unspectacular track record at smaller schools showed no real logical consistency. Kentucky didn’t know what it was getting two years ago because its coaching search was led by an AD who didn’t have a good basketball theory for why he wanted who he wanted.
And now Kentucky is in the worst of all worlds. Pope is almost certainly coming back, recruiting so far looks lean and there is going to be a mass of negativity around the program heading into next season. It won’t help that Pope enters a hot-seat season with a lot of questions about his ability to communicate his message to players and fans. Many of his press conferences — including earlier this week when he stumbled all over himself trying to refute a claim by Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg that Kentucky offered him $7 to $9 million in the transfer portal — come off awkward and erode the gravitas a Kentucky coach is expected to have.
All of these issues can be fixed, of course, but only by Pope winning at a level he’s never won at before. More likely, this feels like a miserable 12-month, slow-motion walk toward change.
But the way Kentucky lost Sunday should show the administrators and boosters there what’s possible with the kind of relentless competence Otzelberger has brought to Iowa State. You don’t need the faded banners or the $22 million roster to build a monster team, but you do need coherence and buy-in.
Kentucky got neither this season. If the same trends emerge next year, Pope will deservedly be out of chances to figure that out.
March 15, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama batter Alexis Pupillo celebrates at second base after a double that drove home a run at Rhoads Stadium. Alabama defeated Arkansas 4-1 to claim the series. | Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Patrick Murphy and his delusional disciples will celebrate a “series win”. But this felt like a setback against a team with a losing record.
GAME 1: ALABAMA 2, MISSOURI 1
Continuing a disturbing trend from Tuesday’s game against ULM, the Crimson Tide offense was a bit lackadaisical, outside of two swings. Solo home runs by Brooke Wells in the 1st and Marlie Giles two innings later were the sources of all the Bama scoring.
Outside of the two round-trippers, Alabama produced a double by Audrey Vandagriff and singles by Alexis Pupillo and Salen Hawkins.
Jocelyn Briski (11-0) was again incredible in the circle until an old ghost showed up at the end of the game. Over the previous two seasons, the Tide pitcher had an issue of rolling along with a lead before having a letdown in the waning moments of a game. She had not had that problem thus far this season until the 7th inning on Friday when up 2-0 with one out to go, she gave up a solo home run. To that point, the junior was riding a two-hit shutout with 5 Ks on an economical 80 pitches.
NOTES:
Bama left two runners on base in the 2nd and 3rd innings, and six overall. The Tide had runners on base in every inning but the 7th.
Vandagriff (1-4) struck out on three pitches to start the game, but later had a double.
Patrick Murphy lost a challenge at first base on a ground out.
No errors, no stolen bases for either team.
GAME 2: MISSOURI 5, ALABAMA 2,
The honeymoon is over. After a month and a half of dominating victories, the Alabama offense was lethargic for the third consecutive game. For the second straight game, all the Bama scoring came from two solo home runs.
Not bunting for once, Audrey Vandagriff opened the game with a solo shot.
After those two big swats, Alabama figured two runs was good enough and went nappy time.
Vic Moten got the start in the circle and struggled with her control. In the 3rd inning, she beaned a Tiger and then gave up a single. The next batter hit a nubber to Moten’s right but it trickled off her glove and a run came in to score. Following a strike out, a wild pitch moved the runners up a station. At this point, Patrick Murphy’s Gut® pulled a classic out of his bag of tricks and called for an intentional walk to load the bases for Sophie Smith who is hitting .323 and is second on the team in RBIs. Her ground rule double gave Mizzy a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the 4th, a leadoff walk was erased by a double play on a liner to Mari Hubbard who doubled off the runner at first base. However, The Tigers notched another run on a solo home run.
Kaitlyn Pallozzi took over to start the 5th and retired the side. In the 6th, she gave up a triple and a single to close out the scoring.
NOTES:
Alabama left two runners on in the 5th and loaded the bases in the 7th but could not score. The Tide left eight runners on base.
Ambrey Taylor started at second base. She singled in the 2nd inning and struck out in the 4th. Following that inning, Jena Young replaced her on defense.
Mari Hubbard was 2 for 3 with a double as the starting third baseman.
GAME 3: ALABAMA 4, MISSOURI 3
Alabama got behind early when Jocelyn Briski gave up a leadoff single in the 2nd inning, followed by a two-run jack.
After a few innings of wet noodles, the Tide finally got things going in the top of the 4th when Ana Roman singled, Marlie Giles walked, and our new favorite player, Ambrey Taylor sent a Mizzou offering deep over the left field fence for a 3-2 advantage. What a genius!
Briski’s rocky day continued in the 6th when she gave up a solo four-bagger that shrank the Tide lead to 4-3. But she bounced back in the final inning with two strikeouts to end the game.
NOTES:
Briski (12-0) was not at her sharpest but got the complete game win. She allowed three earned runs on four hits and season-highs in walks (3) and home runs allowed (2) to go with six whiffs.
Roman was 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Kristen White was called out on a stolen base attempt, but the call was overturned on a video challenge.
No errors, two stolen bases for Bama.
[SURGEON GENERAL WARNING: The section below is not all rainbows, lollipops, and unicorns. If we see an issue that we deem worth discussing, RBR is not going to shy away from it. That is the MO that this whole website is based on. If you want sunshine pumped up your nether regions, there are PLENTY of those people more than willing to provide that service. If you are easily triggered, stop reading now and play the above video on repeat. If you live in the real world, carry on my wayward son.]
SERIES NOTES
The Lollipop Rainbow Unicorn Brigade is not going to be happy with this slap of reality.
While the emergence and improvement of Briski is an exciting development, this team is starting to look less special. Outside of Wells and Pupillo, there is not enough consistency at the plate. The Tide has stranded too many players on base and where are the world-famous ‘Green Light Girls’? Moten and Pallozzi have come back down to earth, though they are just freshmen. It feels like the bad parts of ‘mudita’ are creeping in [For those of you new to RBR, the “bad parts” are players being okay with not succeeding at the plate because someone else will get that big 5-run home run and they can be happy for them. No reason to be determined to work hard and get better]. If the Crimson Tide was the special team we thought they were, they would have swept this series as most would expect Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, or Florida to do.
A year ago, Vandagriff was on a torrid pace to set the Alabama record for stolen bases in a single season. She would finish fourth all-time with 50, but set the Bama record for a freshman. In this her sophomore year, she has only eight swiped bags after 31 games and has been thrown out three times. Her on-base percentage has dropped from .493 a season ago to .410, and slugging percentage has gone from .574 to .477. Her batting average has now dipped below .300 for the first time in her collegiate career. Whatever retooling Patrick Murphy and staff tried on her over the off-season is not working. Vandagriff is an immensely talented athlete and needs to forget this bunt/slap antiquated nonsense strategy and get back to being the exciting free-swinger she was in 2025.
Jena Young is another one struggling. The Iowa transfer started off the season with a bang but has slowly been having difficulties with her swing. A month ago on Feb. 24, her batting average was .367. Today, it is down to .274 and she got only one at bat this weekend. Since her time in crimson and white has been short, it is difficult to pinpoint what it is she is doing wrong without pouring over game film from the last three seasons [I ain’t doing that LOL]. Mari Hubbard (.286), Ambrey Taylor (.387), and Gerritt Griggs (.185) have gotten a few opportunities at second base, but none have Wally Pipp’d the starting two-bagger just yet. On the brightside, Young has played well defensively at second base with only three errors and none in SEC play.
Lauren Johnson is also struggling. Since March 6 in which she was hitting .459, she has 1 hit, 1 run, and 1 RBI in the last 13 at bats. She went 0 for 7 this weekend. Her BA now sits at .340.
Brooke Wells was 1 for 10 with a solo homer over the three game set. She struck out a team-high four times.
In 2025, Briski did not earn her 12th win until April 17, when she had 12 wins against 10 losses.
Pupillo has reached base in 27 straight games.
Missouri’s Abby Carr was impressive. The true freshman hit three home runs with four RBI and pitched relief in every game while giving up two hits and no runs.
Although there is a long way to go in the SEC docket, the Tide just finished their 31st overall game of the season. Including potential post-season games, this is right around the halfway mark of the season.
MVPs
Not much to write home about.
GILES: 4-6 (.667 BA), 1 HR, 1 DBL, 1 RBI, 2 RUNS, 4 BB, 2 K, hits in all three games, no stolen bases allowed.
UPCOMING ALABAMA SCHEDULE
Coming up is a weird week of oddball opponents, all in Tuscaloosa.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 4: DJ Reader #98 of the Detroit Lions looks on during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field on December 04, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pre-draft free agency seems to be pretty close to wrapped up, as the market has nearly halted to a complete stop. The typical chronic borrowers (Eagles, Saints, Browns, Dolphins, etc.) didn’t really borrow from the future this year, and more teams than expected decided to punt on compensatory free agents to protect their incoming 2027 draft choices, including the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks — who currently rank sixth in cap space but haven’t signed a single qualifying compensatory free agent.
Because of these factors, prices for 2026 free agents mostly fell in line with 2025 free agents (if they didn’t regress), a massive surprise for those in the industry who saw the “line go up” every year since the pandemic seasons because of teams borrowing heavily to go on top of roughly $25 million per year cap increases. Because of the lack of price increases, a lot of free agents hit the market this year and asked for prices they ultimately weren’t able to receive (cough, Rasheed Walker, cough). Some of those players are even still out there, if you want to flip through the top-200 free agents.
Adding a compensatory free agent north of about $3 million-ish (per year) would cost the Green Bay Packers at least a sixth-round pick, which isn’t the end of the world. To me, though, if you’re going to pay the price tag and give up a four-year, cost-controlled contract along the way, the player you add has to be a starter.
At this point, with the cornerback board blown away, I think it would have to be a defensive lineman, depending on whether the team believes Javon Hargrave should be a 3-4 defensive end or 3-4 nose tackle for them moving forward. Hargrave has been a three-technique defensive tackle (which would be a 3-4 defensive end in this scheme) for his entire NFL career, other than 2025, including when he previously played for Jonathan Gannon in Philadelphia. If that trend continues, then the Packers should be more in the nose tackle market than the three-technique market.
Here are the remaining players who led their teams in nose tackle snaps, including their nose tackle-specific grades via Pro Football Focus, and are still free agents for the 2026 season:
DJ Reader, Lions: 369 snaps, 62.3 grade
Eddie Goldman, Commanders: 258 snaps, 53.7 grade
Jordan Phillips, Dolphins: 233 snaps, 64.6 grade
Shelby Harris (211 snaps, 62.4 grade) also played just two fewer nose tackle snaps for the Browns last year than Mason Graham, who led the team at the position, if you want to count him. DaQuan Jones of the Bills was Buffalo’s best player (176 snaps, 71.8 grade) on the deep interior line, but it was Deone Walker (347 snaps, 57.4 grade) who started at the position, mostly because Jones has been primarily a three-technique for the majority of his NFL career.
Personally, if the Packers are going to burn a draft pick, I’d like them to address the defensive line again. These guys would be at the top of my list, considering the Packers’ roster situation. What do you guys think?
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Bu gün futbol üzrə Fransa çempionatında (Liqa 1) 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 27-ci turunun oyunlarına yekun vurulub.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, sonuncu oyun günündə 5 qarşılaşma baş tutub.
“Renn” – “Mets” matçında qapılara qol vurulmayıb. Lion “Olimpik”i doğma meydanda “Monako”ya, Marsel “Olimpik”i isə “Lill”ə məğlub olub. Beş qolluq “Paris” – “Havr” görüşündə meydan sahibləri, “Nant” – “Strasburq” matçında isə qonaqlar qələbəyə seviniblər.
Beləliklə, geridə qalmış 27 turdan sonra 60 xala malik PSJ vahid liderdir. “Lans” 59 xalla ikinci, Marsel “Olimpik”i 49 xalla üçüncü pillədə qərarlaşıb. Lion “Olimpik”i ilə “Lill” 47, “Monako” 46, “Renn” 44 xal toplayıb.
Bu gün futbol üzrə İtaliya çempionatında (A Seriyası) 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 30-cu turunun növbəti oyunları keçirilib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, sonuncu oyun günündə 5 qarşılaşma baş tutub.
Səfərdə “Bolonya” ilə qarşılaşmış “Latsio” inamlı qələbəyə sevinib. “Komo” doğma meydanda “Piza”ya 5 cavabsız qolla qalib gəlibsə, “Atalanta” “Verona”nı, “Roma” da “Leççe”ni tək qolla yenib. “Fiorentina” – “İnter” matçında isə qalib müəyyənləşməyib.
Beləliklə, geridə qalmış 30 turdan sonra 69 xala malik “İnter” vahid liderdir. “Milan” 63 xalla 2-ci, “Napoli” 62 xalla üçüncü pillədə qərarlaşıb. “Komo” 57, “Yuventus”la “Roma” 54, “Atalanta” 50 xal toplayıb.
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Arena.az xəbər verir ki, sonuncu oyun günündə üç qarşılaşma baş tutub.
“Maynts” doğma meydanda “Ayntraxt”a qalib gəlib. “Sankt Pauli” evdə “Frayburq”a, “Auqsburq” isə “Ştutqart”a məğlub olub.
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Rəhim Həsənov ümumilikdə 6 matçda qeydə alınmış 11 mübahisəli epizodu dəyərləndirib. O, hakimlərin həmin vəziyyətlər zamanı düzgün qərarlar verdiyini bildirib.
Qeyd edək ki, 25-ci turun “Turan Tovuz” – “Qəbələ” matçında 3, “Şamaxı” – “Araz-Naxçıvan” və “Karvan” – “Zirə” görüşlərində 2, “Sabah” – “Sumqayıt”, “Neftçi” – “İmişli” və “Kəpəz” – “Qarabağ” görüşlərində isə 1 mübahisəli epizod var.
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Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma won his first title with Manchester City today, lifting the EFL Cup after a 2-0 win over Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.
Italy star Donnarumma has lifted another piece of silverware at Wembley Stadium after Euro 2020 with the Azzurri.
Today, his Manchester City side beat Arsenal 2-0 in the EFL Cup Final, giving Gigio his first trophy with the Premier League giants.
Gigio didn’t play as Pep Guardiola picked second-choice keeper James Trafford, who had featured in all previous games in the competition.
Donnarumma celebrated his first trophy with Manchester City on social media, showing himself holding the trophy and celebrating with his teammate.
The Italy captain added a simple one-word caption to his social media post: ‘Winners.’
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City celebrates his team’s first goal, scored by Nico O’Reilly of Manchester City (not pictured) during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium on February 21, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Donnarumma is now heading to Italy’s training centre Coverciano, where he’ll prepare for the Azzurri’s World Cup play-off.
Donnarumma has made 79 appearances with the Italy national team.
MADRID, SPAIN – MARCH 11: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City celebrates after saving a penalty by Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid (not pictured) during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 11, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
On Thursday, March 26, Italy will host Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off semifinal.
He has kept 14 clean sheets in 36 appearances with Manchester City this season.
Donnarumma celebrates first trophy with Manchester City
Inter were held to another 1-1 draw by Fiorentina, as Cher Ndour cancelled out the early Francesco Pio Esposito header, so the lead at the top is cut to just six points.
The Nerazzurri were feeling the pressure after Derby della Madonnina defeat and a 1-1 draw with Atalanta, as Milan and Napoli had already won this weekend. Alessandro Bastoni joined Lautaro Martinez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the treatment table, but Hakan Calhanoglu and Denzel Dumfries were finding fitness again. Aleksandar Kolarov stood in for suspended Cristian Chivu and Inter ultras were banned from travelling due to security concerns.
The Viola had a big week, crushing Cremonese 4-1 on Monday and winning 2-1 away to Rakow on Thursday to set up a Conference League quarter-final against Crystal Palace. Moise Kean was ready to shake off an ankle issue, but Manor Solomon, Luca Lezzerini and Tariq Lamptey were still out, with Rolando Mandragora carrying a calf twinge.
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 22: Aleksandar Kolarov vice-manager of FC Internazionale reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Artemio Franchi on March 22, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
It took just 40 seconds to break the deadlock, as a poor Robin Gosens clearance was put back into the box by Nicolò Barella from the right, finding Francesco Pio Esposito for a free header from six yards.
39 seconds in and Inter take lead
Brilliant header from Esposito and the league leaders are ahead
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 22, 2026
Gosens nearly gave away another moments later, his clearance going straight up into the air from a Marcus Thuram run, allowing Esposito to test David De Gea from point-blank range.
Kean was offside when failing to tap in from a Gosens cross, as was Barella when finding the net on a Denzel Dumfries assist.
Inter had penalty appeals on eight minutes for a potential Marin Pongracic handling offence, but the referee and VAR considered the arm in a natural position.
Yann Sommer took the sting out of a Kean curler, then Esposito sprung the offside trap for an angled drive to skim the base of the far post.
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 22: Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale battles for the ball with Moise Kean of ACF Fiorentina during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Artemio Franchi on March 22, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Albert Gudmundsson’s glancing header on a Dodo cross also flashed inches wide, as it struck his shoulder on the way through.
Yann Bisseck’s desperate block prevented Kean tapping in the Gudmundsson roll across from six yards, then on the resulting corner Kean came sliding in at the back post just unable to get onto the Marco Brescianini assist from point-blank range.
Sommer came rushing out to deny Fabiano Parisi, then again as Kean had sent Cher Ndour through on goal.
Kean had the ball in the net with a volley, but was offside when Nicolò Fagioli’s effort from outside the area took a big deflection off Carlos Augusto to loop up into his path.
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 22: Nicolo’ Barella of FC Internazionale in action with Cher Ndour during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Artemio Franchi on March 22, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
The tempo was less frantic after the restart, Manuel Akanji and Thuram unable to keep headers on target from set plays.
Fiorentina had a big chance to equalise on 71 minutes when Sommer got down to parry the first-time Ndour strike from the edge of the area, Bisseck crucial to prevent Brescianini tapping in the rebound.
Fagioli also scuffed a volley wide and Kean only grazed the Dodo cross with his head, as the pressure paid off when Sommer got down to only palm a Gudmundsson angled drive into the path of Ndour at the back post.
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 22: Cher Ndour of ACF Fiorentina celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Artemio Franchi on March 22, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Jack Harrison also bent a left-foot strike just wide of the far post, while Akanji off balance could only prod into De Gea’s arms after a corner.
With the last kick of the game, Esposito managed to control the Acerbi cross with his back to goal and turn Luca Ranieri to shoot, but was denied by a great De Gea reaction save.
Italy international Jorginho alleges that security guards of pop singer Chappell Roan reduced his daughter to tears after a casual encounter in a hotel in Sao Paulo.
Former Napoli and Verona star Jorginho hit out at Chappell Roan on social media, saying that security guards of the pop singer reduced his daughter to tears in a hotel in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Jorginho’s family and the Pink Pony Club singer were having breakfast at the same hotel in the Brazilian city, and the midfielder’s daughter allegedly passed by Roan’s table and smiled at the singer without saying anything.
Jorginho hits out at pop singer Chappell Roan
“What happened next was completely disproportionate,” Jorginho wrote in an Instagram story, as quoted by the BBC.
“A large security guard came over to their table while they were still having breakfast and began speaking in an extremely aggressive manner to both my wife [Catherine Harding] and my daughter, saying that she shouldn’t allow my daughter to ‘disrespect’ or ‘harass’ other people.”
“He even said he would file a complaint against them with the hotel, while my 11-year-old daughter was sitting there in tears. My daughter was extremely shaken and cried a lot.
“I understand very well what respect and boundaries are. What happened there was not that. It was just a child admiring someone.
“It’s sad to see this kind of treatment coming from those who should understand the importance of fans. At the end of the day, they are the ones who build all of this.
“I sincerely hope this serves as a moment of reflection. No one should have to go through this, especially not a child.
“WITHOUT YOUR FANS, YOU WOULD BE NOTHING. AND TO THE FANS, SHE DOES NOT DESERVE YOUR AFFECTION.”
Roan responded to Jorginho’s claims, saying that she was “sad for the mother and child,” who “didn’t deserve” such treatment, but argued the incident did not involve her own personal security.
“I was just sitting at breakfast in my hotel…I did not ask the security guard to go up and talk to this mother and child,” she added.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – JUNE 4: Jorginho of Italy reacts during the international Friendly match between Italy and Turkiye at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on June 4, 2024 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
“They did not come up to me. They weren’t doing anything. It’s unfair for security to just assume someone doesn’t have good intentions when they have no reason to believe that, because there is no action taken.
“I do not hate people who are fans of my music. I do not hate children, that is crazy.
“I am sorry to the mother and child that someone was assuming something, that you were doing something. If you felt uncomfortable, that makes me really sad. You did not deserve that.”
Jorginho is a former Napoli and Verona star, now playing for Brazilian side Flamengo.
The 34-year-old was born in Brazil but holds an Italian passport and has made 57 appearances for the Azzurri, scoring five goals and winning the 2020 European Championship.
Bayern Munich youngster Lennart Karl would love to join Real Madrid in the future, according to Bild journalist Christian Falk. Falk wrote on his website, CF Bayern Insider: “I don’t think there’s more pressure on Bayern as far as contract talks with Lennart Karl are concerned. “He’s already got a contract, which was extended by […]
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was supposed to be a rallying point on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Instead, it became a mirror reflecting the depth of Spurs’ crisis. Nottingham Forest’s emphatic 3–0 win in what was effectively a relegation six‑pointer did more than dent Tottenham’s survival hopes; it crystallized a season spinning alarmingly out of control. […]
Chelsea are more likely than Bayern Munich to sign Rayane Messi in the summer transfer window, according to Bild journalist Christian Falk. Falk wrote on his website, CF Bayern Insider: “It is TRUE: Rayane Messi is a very exciting player – and not just because of his surname! “He’s owned by RC Strasbourg (on loan […]
Nico O’Reilly described Manchester City’s EFL Cup final triumph over Arsenal as “unbelievable” as his two goals helped Pep Guardiola’s side to victory at Wembley Stadium. O’Reilly struck twice in the space of four second-half minutes, first capitalising on an error by Kepa Arrizabalaga before nodding in from Matheus Nunes’ cross in the 64th minute. […]
Tottenham’s fears of Premier League relegation were heightened following a dismal 3-0 home defeat to rivals Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Spurs’ fans lined the streets to welcome Igor Tudor’s side to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of a titanic tussle between two out-of-form teams, but another shambolic display left the Croatian’s future in severe doubt […]
Bayern Munich do not want to sign Nathan De Cat from Anderlecht in the summer transfer window, according to Bild journalist Christian Falk. Falk wrote on his website, CF Bayern Insider: “It is NOT TRUE: Bayern Munich are planning to sign Nathan De Cat in the summer. “So, I have some good news for the Premier […]
Bayern Munich youngster Lennart Karl would love to join Real Madrid in the future, according to Bild journalist Christian Falk. Falk wrote on his website, CF Bayern Insider: “I don’t think there’s more pressure on Bayern as far as contract talks with Lennart Karl are concerned. “He’s already got a contract, which was extended by […]
Chelsea are more likely than Bayern Munich to sign Rayane Messi in the summer transfer window, according to Bild journalist Christian Falk. Falk wrote on his website, CF Bayern Insider: “It is TRUE: Rayane Messi is a very exciting player – and not just because of his surname! “He’s owned by RC Strasbourg (on loan […]
Tottenham Hotspur have delayed their plans regarding Jonathan David, according to Football Insider. Spurs are keen on a 2026 summer deal for the 26-year-old Juventus and Canada international striker, but the Premier League club first need to ascertain that they do not get relegated to the Championship. Journalist Pete O’Rourke said: “Well, Tottenham are long-term […]
Manchester United want to sign Eduardo Camavinga from Real Madrid in the summer transfer window, according to Football Insider. Madrid are said to be open to selling the France international midfielder. Journalist Pete O’Rourke said: “He’s somebody that they will seriously consider, midfield is a key priority for United’s recruitment team. “Casemiro is leaving, so […]
LSU basketball star Flau’jae Johnson took the court at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (PMAC) in Baton Rouge on Sunday afternoon for the final time, as the Tigers stormed past the Texas Tech Red Raiders, 101-47, to punch their ticket to the Sweet 16.
Johnson put on a show in front of the home crowd at the PMAC, tying for a team-high 24 points, adding four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
With the game well in hand midway through the fourth quarter, LSU head coach Kim Mulkey checked Flau’jae out of the game so she could receive a final standing ovation.
It was a special and emotional moment for Flau’jae and Mulkey, who have built a strong relationship throughout her four years at LSU, with both women breaking into tears as the Tigers crowd roared.
Before Sunday’s game, Mulkey was already emotional when speaking about Johnson’s impact on the program.
“She took a chance on LSU before this staff ever won big,” Mulkey said, via FOX Sports. “That’s why you get emotional about a Flau’Jae. And just her spirit, her soul, her joyous personality. I get emotional because that kid just meant so much to our program.”
Apr 2, 2023; Dallas, TX, USA; LSU Lady Tigers guard Flau’jae Johnson (4) lifts up LSU Lady Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the final round of the Women’s Final Four NCAA tournament at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Throughout her illustrious career at LSU, Johnson won a national championship, became a two-time All-American, and was named SEC Freshman of the Year.
This season, Johnson is averaging 14 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.
The Tigers will face the winner of No. 3 seed Duke vs. No. 6 Baylor in their next matchup on Friday, March 27, at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.
Only 12 games remain in this year's regular season. While the Detroit Pistons' NBA Playoffs and home advantage spots are likely secured, they still want to get a huge morale win. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has not been shy at admitting that they want to notch the first seed in the Eastern Conference. This challenge might be harder as the days go by because of not having Cade Cunningham while the Boston Celtics have been on a four-game tear as of late.
Fans should not worry. The Pistons head coach has a solid plan for that and for a successful postseason to materialize.
Pistons plan on changing schemes to ease Cunningham-less squad
Notably, Cunningham has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung. There is still not a definite timeline for his injury return but it might extend into the NBA Playoffs. Coach Bickerstaff knows the difficulty of winning games without their primary ballhandler and a great perimeter defenders. This is why he plans to tighten up on defense more than ever, via Jeff Zillgitt of NBA.com.
"A big picture thing for us is the goal to win the possession game If you’re getting steals, if you’re getting blocks, it lowers the amount of shot attempts that people get. We try to limit that as best we possibly can. It’s everybody taking up a little bit more. You’re not going to be able to replace what he does individually. But collectively, if everybody just plays to the best of their abilities and plays to their strength and ticks it up a little bit more, collectively we can get the job done. And we’ve proven that all year," Bickerstaff said.
The Pistons know that they will have to fill Cunningham's void through committee. This is exactly what they did against a postseason-hungry Golden State Warriors. Coach Bickerstaff's schemes prevented the Warriors from gaining any sort of momentum because they generated 16 steals to notch 32 points off turnovers. Not to mention, the Pistons also bothered nearly all of the Warriors shots which led them to only get a 46.1% field goal percentage and a subpar 36.4% from beyond the arc.
On the offensive side of things, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Daniss Jenkins, and even Paul Reed became offensive facilitators. These four guys combined for 20 assists. There is still much work to do because the Pistons shot at a horrid 23.8% clip from three-point range without Cunningham. Coach Bickerstaff admitted that those woes will be tougher to patch up.
"Tough for Cade to go through what he’s going through now — how important he is to the team, but how important being with his team is to him It doesn’t make it easy. He’s a huge part of what we do from a leadership standpoint. Obviously, the talent’s there, but just being around him every single day makes people’s days better. And we’ll miss that. But it’s our responsibility to keep pushing forward. And we know he’s there rooting for us, pulling for us. When he’s around, he’ll be cheering for us, help coaching, leading, all those things," the Pistons coach added.
The Pistons are still four games ahead of the Celtics in the standings. If they keep this defensive intensity up while also figuring out how to operate the offense better, they are a team to fear in the NBA Playoffs with or without Cade Cunningham.
Real Madrid host Atletico Madrid in a huge La Liga derby on Sunday.
Los Blancos know that a defeat to their city rivals could prove critically damaging in their hopes of hauling in league leaders Barcelona.
Atleti's title hopes are more or less over already, but they could still finish in second place above Madrid if they can string some consistent results together.
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid score
Score
Goal scorers
Real Madrid
1
Vinicius 52'
Atletico Madrid
1
Lookman 33'
Location: Santiago Bernabeu (Madrid, Spain) Referee: Jose Luis Munuera Montero
Starting lineups:
Real Madrid (4-4-2, right to left): Lunin (GK) — Carvajal, Rudiger, Huijsen, F. Garcia — Valverde, Thiago Pitarch, Tchouameni, Guler — B. Diaz, Vinicius
Atletico Madrid (4-4-2, right to left): Musso (GK) — Llorente, Hancko, Le Normand, Ruggeri — Simeone, Cardoso, Koke, Lookman — Griezmann, Alvarez
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid highlights, key incidents
This section will be updated as highlights become available.
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid talking points, analysis
This section will be updated after the match.
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid reaction
Post-match reaction from both teams to follow.
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid upcoming schedules
The No. 5 St. John's Red Storm will face the fourth-seeded Kansas Jayhawks in the second round of the NCAA Tournament East Region on Sunday.
Despite being the the lower-ranked seed, Rick Pitino's team has played better basketball this year compared to Bill Self's Jayhawks as of late, including a Big East Tournament championship. St. John's defeated Northern Iowa 79-53 in the first round on Friday, while Kansas outlasted California Baptist 68-60.
Here is a look at the box score from Sunday's second round East Region in San Diego.
The highly energetic and enthusiastic head coach had to answer for the fact that he dropped Mario Götze from his matchday squad ahead of Sunday’s Bundesliga loss against Mainz. Germans naturally had to know why their 2014 World Cup hero had to watch from the stands.
Mario Götze has been fading from Albert Riera’s sights
Götze has actually started three league fixtures under Riera, but remained unused on the bench in the last two Bundesliga rounds. The 33-year-old is neither injured nor carrying any sort of lingering injury. Much of this has to do with the fact that players such as Ansgar Knauff, Younes Enboutalib, Arthur Theate, and Can Uzun have recovered from injury.
Speaking to DAZN prior to kickoff, Riera cited the need to keep defender Elias Baum on the squad as the lone defensive relief player. Riera then lauded Götze for his “professionalism” and “character” in accepting the decision. The Spaniard cited his experience on the Spanish national team as an example of the fact that sometimes there simply isn’t enough room.
Riera then got feisty at the press conference.
Riera’s press conference rant
“You asked me a question, I’ll ask you a question,” Riera – visibly agitated – began in response to the Götze query. “Which player should I remove from the team to make room for Mario? Who? Tell me one player.
“Don’t tell it to me,” Riera then continued, answering his own rhetorical question. “No, don’t tell it to me. Tell it to him [the player hypothetically dropped for Mario]. No, [Elias] Baumi, you’re not in the squad. No Oscar [Højlund], you’re not in the squad.
“I needed the players who were in the squad today,” Riera went on, deliberately talking over the reporter’s attempt at a follow up question. “I need them. Two defenders injured. Who else do I have but Baumi on the bench? If I could take 21 players, Mario would be there.“
“They can’t all go into the squad,” Riera continued. “Mario is a fantastic professional with a fantastic character. He and everyone else understands that every game is different and requires different players. Maybe next game he’ll be in.“
WATCH: Nahuel Molina wondergoal pegs Real Madrid back in Madrid derby
Atletico Madrid have responded to conceding twice in five minutes to Real Madrid by bringing themselves back level at the Bernabeu.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s side had a couple of big chances in the opening half hour, with Dani Carvajal denied by Juan Musso and Fede Valverde seeing an effort crash against the post. Atleti had to absorb a lot of pressure, but they were the team to make the breakthrough when Matteo Ruggeri’s cross was brilliantly flicked into the path of Ademola Lookman by Giuliano Simeone, with the Nigeria international making no mistake to score.
Atleti did so well to nullify Real Madrid for the most part in the first half, but seven minutes into the second, they were pegged back. David Hancko took down Brahim Diaz inside the penalty area, and that allowed Vinicius Junior to score from 12 yards. And minutes later, Fede Valverde struck to make it 2-1, although Diego Simeone’s side are now back level.
It’s a brilliant strike to bring Atleti back into the game, as Nahuel Molina has piledriven an effort into the top corner from 25 yards.
Arizona guard Brayden Burries (5) celebrates making a three point shot during an NCCA March Madness game against LIU Friday March 20, 2026 in San Diego, California.
The month of March is a fascinating time for the sport of basketball.
In the NCAA, you have the arrival of March Madness, the most bet-on sporting event of the year and the biggest stage of college sports, which through five days has already brought us exciting and iconic moments like Kentucky guard Otega Oweh’s epic 32-foot buzzer-beater in regulation of the Wildcats’ overtime victory over Santa Clara.
Meanwhile in the NBA, a third of the league is aggressively tanking and the rest of the league is focused on just getting to the postseason healthy, leading to anomalies like Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game and a random 11-game win streak for the Atlanta Hawks.
First Pick: No. 1 Arizona -11.5 vs. No. 9 Utah State
Rundown: Unlike other No. 1 seeds like Duke and Michigan, there was no slow start to be found for the No. 1 Arizona Wildcats in their first round stomping of No. 16 Long Island University on Friday, March 20.
One of the premier favorites to be the last ones dancing this March, the Wildcats have shown to not overlook inferior opponents, making them a solid pick to cover over an Aggies team that simply does not have the horsepower to keep up with one of the best teams in the nation.
Against Long Island, the Wildcats needed just seven points from senior guard and Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley, demonstrating their depth.
Utah State likes to pound the interior, outscoring Villanova 42-26 in the paint in its first round matchup, but struggles against fast-paced offenses, making them a bad matchup for an Arizona team that is 18th in the nation in fast-break points per game.
Second Pick: Boston Celtics -10 vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves
Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart (36) defends Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) in the first half at crypto.com Arena.
Eric Lambkins II
Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart (36) defends Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) in the first half at crypto.com Arena.
Rundown: There’s not a hotter stock to buy in the NBA right now than the Boston Celtics. The return of star forward Jayson Tatum has skyrocketed the Celtics up to second in NBA Championship odds, and the news of Cade Cunningham’s collapsed lung injury has made it not unfathomable for Boston to catch the Detroit Pistons for the No. 1 seed over the course of the final 12 games of the season.
To do that, though, they will need to keep up the momentum of their recent four-game win streak, which they should be able to do decisively against a Timberwolves team missing star guard Anthony Edwards to injury.
Since Tatum’s return, the Celtics are 6-1 in games he’s played, with the only loss being to the San Antonio Spurs in a game where Jaylen Brown got ejected in the first half.
Speaking of Brown, the all-star guard is only heating up more late in his breakout season, scoring over 30 points in four of his last five outings.
The Timberwolves have actually been decently impressive playing without their lone all-star, going 8-5 without Edwards this season and posting a slightly higher offensive rating.
This is a wholly surprising stat considering Minnesota's lack of offensive creators around Edwards, but if anything were to reset that anomaly to its mean, it would be a date with Boston’s fearsome defense that ranks No. 4 in defensive rating this season.
CHICAGO — Too often over the course of the past five weeks, Billy Donovan found himself forgetting.
It happened in quiet moments, a too-rare phenomenon since the trade deadline upended the Chicago Bulls roster. The team was struggling. Most of the players whom Donovan had spent the last four years pouring into were scattered across the country in new jerseys. The Bulls slumped into an 11-game losing streak.
The last month was one of the hardest of Donovan’s life. It had nothing and everything to do with basketball.
In those hard moments — as always — Donovan reflexively went to call his father, Billy Sr.
And then he’d remember.
The last day Donovan called his father was Feb. 13. It was a Friday, the second day of the All-Star break. Billy Sr. didn’t feel great, but he didn’t want his son to worry. He believed his health was trending in the right direction. They swapped a few stories from the day, hung up with their typical goodbyes. The next morning, Donovan’s father died.
Donovan and his wife, Christine, drove from Chicago to Florida for his father’s funeral Mass and burial. Those days brought a peace, a welcome celebration of a man who injected joy and faith into every aspect of his life. But they weren’t the end.
As the couple drove back to Chicago on Feb. 19, Christine received a panicked phone call from her father — he had found her mother, Patricia, unresponsive in their home. Christine took the car back to Jupiter, Fla. Billy flew home to Chicago. Patricia died three days later, eight days after Billy Sr.
The family gathered again for Patricia’s funeral on Feb. 28. That same morning, Billy’s mother, Joan, began to suffer circulation issues that required hospitalization and eventually the amputation of her leg. Donovan’s sisters stayed with their mother while Billy returned to Chicago once again, trusting his family to relay updates and take point on Joan’s recovery.
Sitting on a folding chair at the Mo Ostin Basketball Center after a shootaround in Los Angeles, Donovan recited this onslaught of tragedy and turmoil in a matter-of-fact tone.
It’s not that Donovan has turned numb to the pain of these losses. There just simply hasn’t been enough time or space for the grief to settle in.
“I don’t think I’ve had time to really process or digest any of it,” Donovan told the Chicago Tribune. “It’s been too much.”
Donovan missed only one game during the span, a Feb. 19 home tilt against the Toronto Raptors that served as the team’s reintroduction after the All-Star break. He was absent for three practices in total — two before his father’s funeral, one before Patricia’s.
The Bulls front office and ownership encouraged Donovan to take as much time as he needed. But that was an easier edict to give than receive. Donovan felt trapped between two urgent situations — caring for his family and guiding a Bulls roster through the turmoil of trading eight players and gaining seven new ones at the deadline.
Donovan repeatedly used two words to describe the week of the trade deadline: “chaos” and “unprecedented.”
On the evening of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, new additions such as Guerschon Yabusele had to introduce themselves to the coaching staff barely a half-hour before their Bulls debut in Toronto. Donovan spent the ensuing week ripping his system down to the bare bones while attempting to learn the personalities and tendencies of eight men he barely had met or scouted before.
Perhaps a different team in a different scenario could have managed for a week without their coach. Donovan felt the Bulls needed him. But that didn’t negate the fact his family needed him too. At times, Donovan felt frozen by all this need. He couldn’t be the coach and father and brother and son and husband he wanted to be all at once.
“Quite honestly, there’s a — I don’t want to say guilt — but there’s a responsibility that we feel to support our family and then we also have a job to do,” Donovan said. “I struggle with that balance. Am I doing the right thing? Do I need to be there for somebody else? Does my wife or my sisters or my kids need me? Those are the conversations I’m having every day.”
This month was hard for reasons much bigger than basketball. But the basketball didn’t make things any easier. The All-Star break was supposed to offer both a moment of reprieve and recalculation. Instead, Donovan spent nearly two weeks trying to catch up.
Bulls players quickly become accustomed to Donovan’s relentless style of work. Forward Matas Buzelis often finds Donovan in his office when he steps into the Advocate Center in the evenings after dinner to put up shots. The coach is hard to beat to the gym, even harder to outlast in the evenings, a regular fixture on the treadmill and in the film room.
That didn’t change in the days after his father’s death. If anything, Donovan dove into the work with a heightened urgency.
“This guy, man,” Buzelis told the Tribune, shaking his head. “He shows up the next day. It’s honestly incredible what he’s done. He really loves basketball. He’s always bought in. No matter what — win, lose, draw — he’s there. He’s really bought into this team.”
Donovan is known for his approach as a player-first coach who invests deeply in the development of individuals on and off the court. He’s hardest on the guys he sees the most potential in, leaning on talented youngsters such as Buzelis to expand their perspective beyond the score-first instincts that carried them to the league. He takes players on trips to meet with mentality coaches and flies abroad to connect with players in their home countries.
This would be the easiest part of the job to lay aside. The Bulls mostly acquired players on expiring contracts at the deadline, short-term loans who will be out of contract before they have the time to learn the team’s full system. But guard Collin Sexton was struck by Donovan’s engagement in his personal development from the moment he arrived in Chicago. Even amid personal chaos, the coach sought out Sexton for individual conversations, pushing and prodding the eighth-year guard to challenge himself as a playmaker and defender.
“I respect him so much for him just being here for the team,” Sexton said. “For him to put certain things aside and still push forward every day — I’m truly grateful to have him as a coach and truly grateful for him to teach me.”
This is still the most natural — and the most important — aspect of coaching for Donovan. That makes sense. It’s the part his dad taught him.
For most of his life, basketball was a language Donovan shared with his father. Billy Sr. was an anxious attendee of his son’s games, typically standing away from the crowd in a doorway or quiet corner to watch the action. He flew to most Florida road games, joined the celebration on the court after both NCAA championships. He coached both of Billy’s sons on their youth basketball teams. Just last summer, he helped Billy into his orange sports jacket as he was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.
Basketball was a cornerstone, but it also was just a conduit. When Donovan spoke to his father about basketball, they mostly talked about life. How to compete without becoming cruel. How to push a young man to grow into the best version of himself. How to accept failure and success with equivalent grace.
“He loved basketball,” Donovan said. “We talked basketball all the time. But if there was anything that he said complimentary about people, about me, it was always predicated on how you treated other people. That was really way more important than individual accolades, success, championships, all that stuff.”
Donovan learned from his father that consistency was a greater measure of character than any win or loss.
Billy Sr. showed up for his wife and son and daughters and all 11 of his grandkids. He was direct and honest. He didn’t BS anyone. He went to Mass every day. He let his faith lead. He was always there.
This trait drove Donovan in the weeks since his father’s death. He can’t call anymore, but he can hear his father’s guidance, the same as it had been for the last six decades. Show up. Be the same man every day. The rest will follow.
Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star catcher Will Smith commented on his experience at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Smith played in four games for Team USA, featuring against Great Britain, Italy, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, who won the tournament. Team USA has made the final in each of the last three WBCs, but have won just once. In the tournament, Smith slashed .231/.313/.308 in 13 at-bats and had a single RBI.
“Those games were a lot of fun,” Smith said. “You’re playing for your country. There’s a lot of passion going into it. There’s a lot of excitement. The crowds are awesome. So definitely grateful for those experiences. Wish we would’ve won it.
“It still stings right now. But luckily we get our rings in a couple days from the World Series last year, so I think that’ll change my mind.”
The Dodgers are holding their ring ceremony following their 2025 World Series win against the Diamondbacks Friday. Smith played a huge role in the Dodgers’ thrilling Game 7 comeback win, hitting the game-winning home run in extra innings.
Mar 15, 2026; Miami, FL, United States; United States catcher Will Smith (16) celebrates after defeating the Dominican Republic in a semifinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
What Role will Will Smith Play in 2026?
Smith is set to enter his eighth season with the Dodgers, and will look to put together yet another All-Star campaign. He’s coming off of a fantastic 2025, making a third consecutive All-Star appearance while posting a .901 OPS — his best since the shortened 2020 season.
He hit 17 homers and tallied 61 RBIs through 110 games last year, slashing .296/.404/.497 throughout the year.
The veteran will remain as the Dodgers’ starting catcher next year, though the emergence of Dalton Rushing could take a little more playing time from him. Rushing, who was the Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect in 2025, will begin the year with the Dodgers, and is aiming to get a little more time on the field after playing in just 53 games last year.
While his time with the Dodgers’ camp in spring training was brief, he posted great numbers in the Cactus League. He hit a home run and had two RBIs with a 1.215 OPS through five games played.
How are you feeling about Will Smith heading into a new season?
The Los Angeles Chargers under Jim Harbaugh are becoming a consistent team, but not one that seriously challenges in the postseason.
Back-to-back 11-win seasons and a playoff appearance in his first two years, Harbaugh is building a foundation.
But fans don't want a foundation; they want success, and after a quiet free agency period, many are questioning how far this team can go in 2026.
However, in his latest power rankings, CBS Sports' Pete Prisco has the Chargers, surprisingly, at No. 10.
"Adding Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator will liven up the run game if the star tackles come back healthy," Prisco wrote. "By adding fullback Alec Ingold, it's clear Jim Harbaugh is going back to his roots of being a physical running team."
And in Prisco's power rankings, L.A. is the fourth-best team in the AFC. That is quite something.
After a quiet free agency period where you can make the case the Chargers haven't improved on the roster it had last season, I get the sense the franchise is banking on internal development and the coaching change of Mike McDaniel to bring instant results.
And for me, that's a dangerous game to play.
But it appears it is one Harbaugh is intent on playing.
Daniil Medvedev moved into the third round of the Miami Open, but not before a tough fight against youngster Rei Sakamoto.
The Russian dropped the first set to the 22-year-old before rallying to win 6-7, 6-3, 6-1.
Medvedev, who has recently re-established himself as a Grand Slam contender following strong performances in Dubai and Indian Wells, will face 18th seed Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round.
After his win over Sakamoto on Saturday, Medvedev spoke about how he felt conditions in Miami had changed this year, drawing comparisons to Indian Wells.
Medvedev compares court speeds between the Miami Open and Indian Wells
Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
After the match, Medvedev spoke about the Miami Open court conditions, noting they seemed slower than in previous years.
In recent years, the tournament has been known for its quicker hard courts. Tennis Abstract’s data shows an average 2025 court speed of 1.17. Indian Wells’ court speed, meanwhile, was under 0.8 in 2025 before rising to 1.09 this year.
Medvedev reflected on how he adapted during the match against Sakamoto. The Russian spoke about how the courts played compared to previous years.
“It’s completely different conditions, it’s always been,” Medvedev began. “Usually I feel like it’s kind of quicker in Miami, not too much, but a bit. This year it’s slower because Indian Wells was faster… except the serve, the serve can work.
“But in the points it was much slower, so I was losing the rhythm a bit and making some errors. I was just not ready for the ball to react the way it reacted. I managed throughout the match to play a bit better and better. Probably wear him out a bit. It’s just his second or third ATP match or something.
“Happy with the way I played toward the end of the match and again, never easy to make the transition from Indian Wells to Miami. The most important thing is to win.”
Sakamoto was impressive again on Saturday, following up his opening round win over Aleksandar Vukic with a strong performance against Medvedev. Medvedev has a clear path to the quarter-finals. We’ve already touched on this, but Medvedev’s next opponent will be Francisco Cerundolo.
With Ben Shelton, the eighth seed, falling to Alexander Shevchenko on Saturday, the door is open for both players.
The winner between Medvedev and Cerundolo will go on to face either Shevchenko or Ugo Humbert, who is seeded 31st. Reaching the quarter-finals would likely set up a matchup with third seed Alexander Zverev.
Medvedev holds a strong record against Zverev, having won 14 of their 22 meetings. But it was Zverev who came out on top in their most recent match at the 2025 Paris Masters, edging Medvedev 2-6, 6-3, 7-6.
For much of the first half, it looked like the Kentucky Wildcats had control of this game. They were making shots and playing tenaciously on defense.
Then, Iowa State closed the first half on an 8-0 run in 89 seconds to turn a 30-23 deficit into a 31-30 lead. Kentucky never recovered.
Iowa State blitzed their way from there to an 82-63 win, ending the Cats’ season in the Round of 32. After the Cats were up 18-6, the Cyclones outscored them by 31 points the rest of the way. In total, it was 76-45.
Kentucky had 20 turnovers to just 11 assists, shooting 9-25 from three-point range and 21-45 from the field.
Iowa State shot 9-28 from three-point range, including 9-17 after an 0-11 start. The Cyclones shot 28-61 from the field, and they only had seven turnovers to 17 assists.
The Cyclones won the rebound battle 31-30.
First Half
Collin Chandler made his first two three-pointers, and the Cats’ defense held the Cyclones to just 2-8 shooting in the first 4:34 of the game. It led to a 10-4 lead at the first media timeout. The Cats did have three turnovers in the first segment, but they had four assists. They also forced two turnovers on defense.
The Cats continued their hot start in the next segment, with Denzel Aberdeen banging in two three-pointers and Mouhamed Dioubate corralling two offensive rebounds for four points. It led to a 20-9 lead with 11:30 remaining.
A foul by Denzel Aberdeen, while Milan Momcilovic was shooting a three-pointer, started a 9-0 run by the Cyclones that cut it to 20-18 with 9:33 remaining. The Cats had seven turnovers at the time.
Foul trouble continued for the Cats, with Iowa State getting into the bonus before the under-eight media timeout. The Cyclones tied the game at 20-20 before Denzel Aberdeen drove to the basket for an and-one.
It was here when the game slowed to a slog. Both teams were struggling to make shots, especially the Cyclones. Iowa State was struggling mightily from three-point range, enabling Kentucky to keep a lead for the majority of the first half.
Three-pointers by Otega Oweh and Kam Williams helped the Cats to a 28-23 lead with 2:52 remaining in the first half. That lead grew to 30-23 with 1:29 remaining in the second half, but then disaster struck.
Milan Momcilovic made a three-pointer off a broken play with both teams going for a rebound off a missed three-pointer. It started an 8-0 run by the Cyclones that made it 31-30 Iowa State at halftime. In that run, the Cyclones had three turnovers. The Cats had 12 turnovers in the first half alone.
Despite shooting 29 percent from the floor in the first half and 3-16 from three-point range, the Cyclones still managed to lead by one point at halftime. Tamin Lipsey had four steals.
Kentucky shot 47.8 percent from the floor and 6-15 from three-point range. The rebound battle was tied at 18-18. Iowa State had 15 free-throw attempts to Kentucky’s three.
Aberdeen led the Cats with 10 points, while Momcilovic also had 10 points to lead the Cyclones.
Second Half
Both teams were whistled excessively for fouls early in the second half. By the first media timeout, Kentucky had five fouls and Iowa State had three. The Cyclones led 41-36 with 15:57 remaining, with Tamin Lipsey hitting two three-pointers early in the second half.
Otega Oweh, Denzel Aberdeen, and Collin Chandler all had three fouls at the first media timeout. It clearly was impacting the Cats, as Iowa State took advantage by playing free and attacking the rim and attacking on defense. The Cylones led 48-40 with 12:48 remaining.
With the Cats seemingly searching for answers to the Cyclones’ defense, the Cyclones made things even worse, opening up a 52-40 lead with less than 12 minutes remaining. It got to 56-41 with 10:21 remaining and then 65-45 with 7:42 remaining in the second half.
The Cats just didn’t have it. Nothing was going right. Iowa State proved to be too much with their relentless pressure. It changed the whole game.
Credit to Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen for continuing to fight. They went out that way, which is what you want from your Senior leaders.
Tamin Lipsey had 17 of his 26 points in the second half for the Cyclones. Momcilovic had 20 points and four three-pointers. He was the catalyst in Iowa State outscoring Kentucky 51-33 in the second half.
Box Score
MVPs: Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen
They gave everything they had. These two will be remembered, especially Oweh. In a season that was rocky from the beginning, Oweh kept the ship afloat and steady. Aberdeen was the glue of this team, always there to make a play when the Cats needed it.
Aberdeen finished with 20 points and four three-pointers in 37 minutes, while Oweh finished with 18 points and eight rebounds in 36 minutes.
Kentucky vs. Iowa State Twitter Reactions
Big Blue Nation was out in full force for this game. Here are the best Twitter reactions from Big Blue Nation.
The pregame nerves are running wild.
Logging off social media until after the final buzzer. Go ‘Cats.
Turnovers are killing Kentucky, but more specifically, turnover sequences. Five turnovers over a three-minute period, three in the final two minutes, that's what is killing momentum. Clean that up and this team will be okay. 10 of ISU's 31 first-half points were free throws. The…
Unfortunately this second half has turned into an embarrassment and is going to leave a really sour taste in everyone’s mouth heading into the postseason.
If you're Kentucky, and you have the resources (which you do), you have to spend it on bringing in a bonafide star and then making sure the pieces fit around him.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Flau'jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams each scored 24 points and No. 2 seed LSU set an NCAA record for 100-point games in a season with a 101-47 victory over Texas Tech on Sunday in the second round of the women's NCAA Tournament.
Amiya Joyner added 11 points and 11 rebounds for LSU, which shot 56% against a Lady Raiders squad that hangs its hat on its pressing defense and had allowed just 52 points to Villanova in the first round.
Jada Richard's 3 in the final minute pushed LSU (29-5) across the 100-point mark for the 16th time this season, a Division I record, eclipsing the mark Long Beach State had owned since the 1986-87 season.
The Tigers, who came in averaging a nation's best 95.1 points per game, advanced to a fifth straight Sweet 16 under coach Kim Mulkey in style.
LSU led by as many as 56 points, dazzling the partisan Pete Maravich Assembly Center crowd with explosive, up-tempo play, accurate spot-up shooting and an ability to finish through contact at the rim.
With LSU leading by 50 early in the fourth quarter, Mulkey ceremoniously subbed Johnson out of the dynamic guard's final game on the Tigers' home court and they shared a long embrace. Johnson then raised both arms above her head to acknowledge the roaring, standing crowd before pulling her jersey up over her face to wipe her eyes.
With the crowd erupting for Johnson during introductions and whenever she had the ball, she gave the fans what they wanted.
There was a crossover dribble through converging defenders to set up a floating scoop as she soared across the lane. She later hit a spot-up 3-pointer and finished at the rim on several fast breaks.
Tech defenders hustled hard to try to stay in front of her, and at one point two Lady Raiders collided and fell under the basket as Johnson rose up along the right side of the key, the ball in her right hand high above her head before she scored softly off the glass.
When Johnson wasn't giving Tech fits, Williams was with an array of mid-range jumpers or finishing through contact in the paint.
Williams had 14 points and Johnson 13 by halftime, when LSU 43-25.
When Johnson whipped a fast-break pass across the court to Williams for an open, take-your-time 3, Tech coach Krista Gerlich reacted with a wry smile. The Tigers were in the zone, and the rout was on.
As the third quarter wound down, Johnson used a jab step on the dribble to set up a step-back 3 from the corner. That made it 76-32, and as the crowd went wild, Johnson hopped in the air and pumped her fist.
Her home finale was going just as she'd envisioned it, and her fourth straight trip to the Sweet 16 was at hand.
Texas Tech's leading scorer was Bailey Maupin with 19 points. The Lady Raiders (26-8) shot just 25% (16 of 63).
Up next
LSU is slated to play on Friday in the Sacramento 2 regional semifinals against Baylor or Duke.
🤯 Valverde continues ludicrous form with clutch Madrid derby goal
In the absence of Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham, another Real Madrid star needed to step up during Sunday's derby against rivals Atletico.
So that's exactly what Fede Valverde did.
The Uruguayan continues to be in ludicrous form, and bagged yet another goal to turn the score on its head to temporarily make it 2-1 after Vinicius Junior's penalty. Both goals arrived within a five-minute spell.
Valverde remained alert near the box, sprung forward with his impressive strides to jump on the ball, and scored with a trivela finish.
It means he now has a staggering 16 goal contributions (eight goals and eight assists) through only 20 games in 2026.
The Ohio StateBuckeyes are putting themselves in a strong position for a top-100 prospect in the 2028 class.
Kamieon Compton-Nero, a 247 Sports composite four-star player out of Owasso, Oklahoma, will be making an unofficial visit to Ohio State on June 11. At a listed 6-foot-3 and around 180 pounds, Kamieon has the type of long frame that can project to multiple positions on either side of the field. He is a multi-sport athlete and shows that his overall athleticism grades near the top quarter of national prospects. He is ranked as the No. 7 athlete in the 2028 class and also the No. 1 player out of the state of Oklahoma.
Currently, recruiting services list Compton-Nero as an “athlete,” which complements his versatility and potential two-way impact. On film, he shows stride length and acceleration that allow him to separate vertically on offense and close space quickly on defense. His multi-sport background and athletic scores suggest that he could gain the proper weight needed in a proper college weight program.
The list of programs interested in his recruitment is an impressive one. He holds double-digit Power Four offers, including those from Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and many others. While his home state school seems to hold an early edge for his services, his recruitment is still considered open, especially as top schools like Ohio State try to secure official visits.
It is easy to see why Ohio State might be interested in a player like Kamieon. He fits the mold of the long, position-flexible skill player who can be developed according to how his body and skill set eventually mature. His combination of length, range, and multi-sport twitch aligns with the Buckeyes’ recent emphasis on adding matchup pieces who can stay on the field in multiple packages.
With his stock trending up and his recruiting profile labeled “HOT” by analytics services, landing early traction with Compton-Nero could pay off as he ascends deeper into the 2028 cycle.
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Nick Lennear is one of the top wide receivers in the 2027 class. He named Florida State as one of his top five schools back in January, but he ended up committing to the Miami Hurricanes earlier this month.
Although he's committed to the Hurricanes, Lennear is still taking visits throughout the spring and summer months. According to Sam Spiegelman of Rivals, one of those trips will be at FSU.
"Elite WR Nick Lennear was one of the first dominoes to fall for Miami after their run to the national title game to close out the season. Along with the Hurricanes, USC, Florida State and LSU are set to host the nation’s No. 4 WR for official visits."
The Seminoles have had their eyes on Lennear since his freshman season, when they offered him a scholarship in August of 2023. However, the 6-foot, 165-pounder has only been to visit Florida State once, and that was last November when they played Virginia Tech. That makes his upcoming trip to Tallahassee extremely important.
Lennear was a productive player at Miami Northwestern last season. He amassed 20 receptions for 381 yards and seven touchdowns in seven games per MaxPreps. Lennear helped the Bulls reach the state title game, but they lost a nail-biter to Raines High School 23-22. In the title game, Lennear caught six passes for 135 yards and a touchdown while also putting up two tackles and one interception on defense. He'll play at Miami Coral City for his senior season.
Rivals' industry rankings have listed Lennear as the No. 26 overall recruit and the No. 6 wide receiver. In the state of Florida, he's the No. 5 prospect.
Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on X @StarConscience
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - MARCH 22: Head Basketball Coach Kim Barnes Arico and Syla Swords #12 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate winning their NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament second round game against the NC State Wolfpack at Crisler Arena on March 22, 2026 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 92-63. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The No. 2-seed Michigan women’s basketball team defeated No. 7-seed NC State, 92-63, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday afternoon at Crisler Center. The Wolverines will play the winner of No. 3 seed Louisville and No. 6 seed Alabama, which occurs on Monday at 12 p.m. ET.
Here’s everything head coach Kim Barnes Arico and sophomore guards Syla Swords and Olivia Olson told reporters following the game, courtesy of ASAP Sports.
KIM BARNES ARICO: I thought our team just was amazing today. I thought we played our butts off on the defensive end and established ourselves from a defensive perspective really early.
We missed some shots early that we typically make, but it could have been the game, the atmosphere. I just think we needed to settle. Then you saw a glimpse of what we’re capable of doing in the fourth quarter of the game.
It was just an unbelievable performance by us. These two guys to my left are two of the best people and players in the country, and we’re fortunate to have them on our team.
Q.For both players, could you just speak to the moment, making your own Sweet 16, doing this at home, and winning in front of your home crowd?
OLIVIA OLSON: We committed to Michigan to do this, and we committed to Coach Arico to do it for her and for each other. You could see how much fun we were having, and that’s what it’s about, and that’s how close our team is.
It’s just so fun to kind of soak it in, especially on our home court. Like we’re accomplishing the goals we set out to, and we’re not done yet. So we’re going to keep having fun with it and keep preparing.
SYLA SWORDS: I think it really set in when we got subbed in at the end. We got to sit and watch how loud the crowd were, how excited our teammates were, and just soak all in, what we’ve built but also what Coach Arico has been building throughout the years.
I kind of took her at the end and just said — she doesn’t like to take a lot of the credit, but we committed to her at the end of the day. We committed to Michigan, and she’s a huge part of that. So we’re just really excited to be able to continue what Coach has already created as a legacy here.
Q.Olivia, to go from zero points in the first half with some foul trouble to 27 by the end of the game, what clicked for you in the second half?
OLIVIA OLSON: I think just having confidence in myself as well as my teammates having confidence in me and still getting the ball to me. But I think it was a collective effort of just people carrying the load in the first half, and that just shows how much depth we have on our team.
I’m proud of Syla, she hit her 1,000th point. Just like everything that our team did, I think it just — I’m happy to make shots in the second half, but yeah.
Q.Olivia, you actually just teed me up perfectly because I was going to ask Syla, how does it feel to reach 1,000 points in two seasons?
SYLA SWORDS: It’s exciting, but it’s nothing compared to that feeling of just walking into Chrysler and seeing the student section already full, seeing the crowds cheering when Liv was making those big shots or when Brooke was making big steals, that was the feeling that I was more excited about and just being able to celebrate with the team at the end knowing that we’re back in the Sweet 16, it’s something really special.
That’s kind of what I’m going to walk away feeling the most proud of in this day.
Q.For each of you, can you reflect on how much your pressure bothered them and how much of a difference that was in the game?
SYLA SWORDS: We bother a lot of teams with our pressure, and that starts with Brooke Daniels. She was all defensive team for Big Ten. She’s guarding the best player, whether it’s the point guard, whether it’s the shooting guard, no matter how tall they are, she’s constantly picking them up full court for however many minutes, 20, 40 minutes she’s playing. She knows that’s her role, and she’s great at it.
Then it comes from Liv too, being able to run into the trap of Te’Yala Delfosse. But it was definitely like Liv said, a group effort, and everyone just trusting each other to scramble to come back, and we were really disruptive with that.
Q.To see Alyssa Crockett hit that 3-pointer, can you reflect on what she provides to the team and your reaction to that shot?
OLIVIA OLSON: We talked about it in the locker room after, but she was part of the quad squad who stayed a couple years ago and believed in Michigan and believed in Coach and this program. She’s been such a good leader for us.
Coming in last year, she just leads us in whatever minutes the game gives to her. She’s always on the sidelines, always in practice hyping us up and doing — she’s just such a good leader for us. So to see her be able to play her last home game in Chrysler and to have that, it sealed the deal at the end.
Q.Mila again did her thing. What can you say that you haven’t about how good she is and maybe how underappreciated she is?
SYLA SWORDS: Mila Holloway is playing really high level basketball right now. Even on a lot of the lists that went out for top point guard of the year, Mila needs to be on all of those lists. You see she’s playing with great scorers, but we’re great scorers because she puts us in a situation to score, in a position to score.
She’s guarding 94 feet just like everybody else, and she’s grown a lot into that role from a leadership standpoint as well. She’s not the most vocal when she first came here, but now she’s calling the plays and bringing us all into huddles. That just brings a lot of calm to us on the floor, and you don’t see that from a sophomore point guard Power 4.
Q.Playing without Macy today obviously is hard emotionally, but also she’s been such a reliable plug-in from off the bench. Can you touch on how it was kind of filling in that position?
OLIVIA OLSON: Obviously it was hard for all of us just how good of a teammate she is and how good of minutes she’s been playing. We did it for her, and that’s what we talked about at the beginning of the game of everyone rallying around each other. We wanted to give her a good game today.
SYLA SWORDS: Macy is the type of person, when you feel her presence, whenever you’re in the room, you know that Macy is there, and that’s because of the positive energy she exudes. That’s something we’re going to miss on the court, but 100 percent sure she’s going to continue to be that great Macy Brown person she is on the bench for us.
Q.Syla, what were they doing to you to hold you to two points in the first quarter?
SYLA SWORDS: They were face guarding me really well at the beginning, but I wasn’t mad about it because my other teammates got great shots off of it. It opens a lot if I can be a great screener, which I’ve been working on, to open up stuff for them. Mila got great shots. Brooke Daniels had a great first quarter. It just makes stuff for the rest of the team easier.
Again, whatever we can do at that point. Liv, a player that doesn’t go away. She’s going to have a quieter first half, but yeah, she’s going to score 30 in the second half, and that’s not something to be surprised about by any means.
Q.I’m curious with Zoe Brooks out for NC State, how did your team have to pivot with her absence?
KIM BARNES ARICO: She’s a great player, and you’re not sure. Like we didn’t know until a little bit before the game that she wasn’t going to be playing. So we obviously prepped for her, and she makes a difference on their team.
She’s, like I said, a tremendous player. They’re a tremendous team. But one less player, and the same thing happened with us, Macy Brown didn’t play for us, it just affects your depth for sure. Then they got in a little bit of foul trouble, which really affected their depth, which played to our benefit.
I just think when you lose a key player, a key player like her with a ton of experience, other people need to step up and have a really great game. I thought we were able to affect them defensively. Our defense really was able to affect them. Without her and 16 points, that really hurt them a little bit.
Q.You guys forced 22 turnovers. You attempted 27 more shots than NC State did tonight. Were you surprised in any way by how effective the pressing and the trapping was?
KIM BARNES ARICO: No, that’s our goal every day to try to force 20 turnovers. I thought in the first half we sat back, we were nervous to do it. Then Liv got in foul trouble and just going on everyone else’s questions, what happened to Syla, why didn’t she score? Well Liv was out of the game, and they were face guarding and they were in a box and one against Syla.
That affects — you have to make adjustments when people are in foul trouble. Their player was in foul trouble. One of our top players was in foul trouble as well. So that kind of affected that.
Once we decided to press, which really was the second quarter, we said we’re going to get up regardless of what the situation is, I think the tide started to turn a little bit. They made a run at the end of the second quarter, but we got up ten in the middle of the second quarter because of our defensive pressure.
Obviously, we talk about Brooke a lot, but Te’Yala is really buying into that. Liv is a huge piece with that. Kendall does a great job with that. Syla as well. So you can go down the whole line, but that is our goal, and that’s the strength of our team if we can force turnovers.
The flip side tonight is we had 22 assists and only 6 turnovers. That is incredible. When you force 20 turnovers and only have 6 turnovers, that puts you in a pretty good position to win the game.
Q.Coach, you mention Brooke and her value obviously in the press, but can you just speak to what else she brings. You’ll watch the team gather in a dead ball situation in the huddle, she’s the one generally talking, the offensive rebounding at 5’7″, just her knack for all that.
KIM BARNES ARICO: She is the senior on our team. She is the most experienced in terms of minutes of anyone else on our team. She’s played more minutes than anyone else, I’m sure. She has a grit and a toughness and a fire, and every team needs so. So she is that for us.
She’s relentless. She’s an amazing offensive rebounder. She led our team again in offensive rebounds tonight. She finished with six total, but she had four offensive rebounds. She also had five assists tonight, which was really important as well.
So I think she does a lot of different things for our team, but her personality and her drive and her toughness and her grit, like that sets the tone for the rest of the crew, and I think that comes to her being a senior and her being the most experienced person out there.
Q.You’ve talked at length about building this program and standing on the shoulders of the players — Naz was here — and all that. With that in mind, does it feel different to make the Sweet 16 this time given you’re a 2 seed and hosting and all that?
KIM BARNES ARICO: Yeah, it always feels amazing. I think, if you go through the history of college basketball — men’s, women’s, anyone — this isn’t something that’s easy to do. There are a lot of tremendous coaches. There are a lot of great coaches that I followed throughout my entire career that don’t make Sweet 16s. So there’s never a time where I don’t really appreciate that and value that.
The first time we did it was the bubble. That’s an experience I will never forget. But this group is different, and this group has attracted — I mean, Naz was back in the building, Leigha Brown was back in the building. Our alums and our fans and our former players, they are all connected to this group. They talk about it every single opportunity I have a chance to speak with them about how proud they are and how hard they play and how they’re so unselfish.
We have so many talented kids, and they share the basketball, and they play for each other. I think, when people watch us, they can really see that. We get to hang another banner. I always talk about coming to Michigan and there weren’t any banners. Coach Mel, who started with me back in the day, used to always say we came here, there’s a big hole right there. We are going to hang banners in that spot.
And this will be another banner. So there’s not — every team has a special place, and every team helped lay the foundation to where we are today. That sophomore core group of kids came because of what Naz Hillmon did. Naz Hillmon came because of what Katelynn Flaherty did and Hallie Thome did. They wanted their own legacy, but they wanted to be a part of what the Michigan faithful, the Michigan players did before as well.
Q.With Olivia, it seemed like they were roughing her up a bit early and led to her foul trouble as well. Can you reflect on how she bounced back and how confident you were that she was going to have a second half like that?
KIM BARNES ARICO: For anyone watching, is she an All-American or what? Is she arguably not one of the best players in the country? She is phenomenal.
Tonight was a tough matchup for her because they played two bigs. So Liv is a guard for us. She usually matches up with a guard. Today she’s watching up with Khamil Pierre, who’s a double double machine. The girl has 20 double-doubles. So they went right at Liv, and that was their game plan from the start is to try to get Liv in foul trouble and try to attack her, and she picked up her second foul.
For a coach, when Liv does that really early, I’m like ugh, because it messes with her confidence a little bit and it hurts our team without her being out there. But our team was holding strong, so we kind of made the decision to not put her in for an extended period of time after that.
But for her to come back in the second half and do what she did was phenomenal, absolutely incredible. For her to have that confidence, for her teammates to find her early, for them to give her touches, and for her to make plays and put on the performance that she did, I thought was pretty ridiculous. It’s got to be one of the best halves of basketball of any player this season.
Q.Obviously a lot of success going on in Michigan across multiple sports right now. How would you describe the buzz at the university right now? Does that fuel you guys personally at all with the men’s team and the hockey team also raising banners?
KIM BARNES ARICO: Yes, it certainly — that’s why you come to Michigan. I say it 14 years in, but I left everything I ever knew — my family, my mother yelling at me because I was taking her three kids — on the East Coast for an opportunity to be surrounded by excellence every day. That was Carol Hutchins, that was Bev Plocki, that was Ronni Bernstein. That was every one of these women Hall of Fame coaches that are at this tremendous university.
They’ve had a couple good men’s coaches as well, but for me to have that opportunity was absolutely incredible. So when you get to work in this building — and I started with Coach Beilein, and I get to watch his practices and pick his brain, and I get to be surrounded by excellence. Then what our men are doing and what Dusty is doing every single day, I mean, I looked up, and I saw Yaxel in the front row with our whole men’s team and men’s staff at our game.
We share a building. We spend a lot of time together. Dusty used to kid me at the beginning of the year that he wished his best players played as hard as Olivia and Syla. He used to say, man, if I could just get my two best players to play as hard as your two best players are, we have a chance to be really good.
I think they’re doing okay. I think he’s gotten them to play that hard.
But it’s really special for me too. My boy, my son is a graduate assistant for them. So he’s a part of that, which has been special. My daughter is on — did the Lacrosse team win? Does anybody know? She plays Michigan women’s Lacrosse here. They played at Penn State today, which has absolutely been — I mean, for a mom, what greater — yes! They won 11-6. Of course the game times couldn’t work out.
But I just think Michigan is a really special place. It’s a place that prides itself on excellence. Getting to work with the group of people that I do every day and the support from the group of coaches. During COVID we formed a women’s group because we couldn’t stay inside, so all the women’s coaches would meet outside and hang out, and we’d chit-chat. That’s kind of stayed with us throughout the last few years.
I’m grateful every day to be at this amazing university.
Just eight players have managed to win The Masters and The Open Championship in the same year, with the likes of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods all on the list.
There is just one name from that exclusive club who actually failed to win again on the PGA Tour during their careers.
In fact, they only managed to register two more top 10s in the majors after those two victories.
The seventh player to win both The Masters and The Open Championship in the same year
There was plenty of interest heading into the 1998 Masters. It had been one year since Tiger Woods confirmed his status as a superstar with his 12-shot victory at Augusta National.
It would have looked ominous for the field when Woods found himself tied for fourth at the halfway stage. The boy wonder was four shots back of Fred Couples and David Duval.
Mark O’Meara was one shot further back, having recovered from an opening round of 74 to move onto the first page of the leaderboard heading into the weekend.
O’Meara had only ever finished in the top 10 once at The Masters, back in 1992. In fact, his only top 10 in any major after that came at the 1995 PGA Championship.
So while he was only two shots off the lead heading into Sunday, he was probably not the player that most were concerned about.
But O’Meara went on to birdie three of the last four holes to beat Couples by one shot and secure his first major title.
On a side note, the 1998 Masters also saw Jack Nicklaus finish two shots ahead of Woods.
Photo by Timothy A. CLARY / AFP via Getty Images
Following his victory, O’Meara would register one top 10 and two missed cuts before The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale arrived.
And there were some eerie similarities about his performance in Southport.
O’Meara crept into the top 10 after the second round, before going into Sunday just two shots behind the leader. On that occasion, it was Brian Watts who led the way.
O’Meara and Watts were tied after 72 holes, but the former emerged victorious after a four-hole playoff.
O’Meara would win the Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour in 2004. However, he would never actually win on the PGA Tour again.
He did break the record for the oldest player to win two majors in the same season at the age of 41.
The remaining players who won The Masters and The Open in the same season
It should not come as a surprise that so many of the all-time greats are among the eight players to have won The Masters and The Open in the same season.
Ben Hogan was the first, with his wins coming in 1953. He also won the US Open that year. And the only reason he could not compete in the PGA Championship was because the tournament clashed with qualifying for The Open Championship.
The big three all won The Masters and The Open in the same year. Arnold Palmer was the first to achieve the feat, in 1962. Nicklaus would join him four years later – the season in which the Golden Bear completed the Career Grand Slam.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 14: Lloyd Cushenberry III #79 of the Tennessee Titans stands on the field prior to an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Steelers have spent much of this offseason reshaping their roster, but one area still quietly in need of reinforcement is the interior offensive line. After losing Isaac Seumalo to the Arizona Cardinals, they appear to have a hole at left guard. If they’re serious about stabilizing the offense and protecting their long-term quarterback plans, signing Lloyd Cushenberry III, and moving him to guard, should be near the top of their priority list.
Unfortunately for Cushenberry, he struggled mightily last year, leading to the Tennessee Titans letting him go with an injury designation. He earned a 55.2 grade from Pro Football Focus last season, which was 36th out of 40 qualifying centers, but his recovery from various injuries likely played a large role. In 2024, Cushenberry tore his Achilles tendon and was lost for the season. He returned in 2025, starting 15 games.
There’s also a physical element to his game that fits what Pittsburgh wants to be. The Steelers have long prided themselves on a tough, downhill rushing attack, and adding a center who can hold his ground and create push up front would help re-establish that identity, especially when considering the backfield duo of Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren are more power than finesse.
From a roster-building perspective, the move makes even more sense. Free agency is about finding value, and Cushenberry is still young enough (28) to be part of a multi-year solution rather than just a stopgap. He wouldn’t just fill a hole — if healthy, he could provide stability for multiple years.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
Former IWGP Women's Champion Sareee debuted in WWE back in early 2020 as 'Sarray,' primarily wrestling on "NXT," with a stint in "NXT UK" and several "WWE 205" matches as well. Unfortunately, she parted ways with WWE in 2023, before finding her footing in the promotion.
In a recent interview with "Tokyo Sports," Sareee looked back at her time with WWE.
"That was the most difficult period of my pro-wrestling career," she admitted, citing how both a stacked roster and the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in her struggling to get picked for matches. "I couldn't compete as much as I wanted to."
During her run, Sareee's gimmick was changed to a high school girl-themed character, which she expressed her dislike for. "I went with the intention of bringing strong women's professional wrestling from Japan, but it was painful because what was required in reality was different," she recalled, claiming that the entire experience stressed her out and that she began to binge-eat desserts, developing acne as a result. "Still, I did my best in my heart. Looking back now, it's all become experience that has nourished me, so not a single moment was wasted."
On her return to Japan, Sareee admitted that she felt challenged to return to her home country after achieving nothing in the U.S., but realized she needed to do what she loves instead. "I've been striving to become the strongest in the Japanese women's pro-wrestling scene, which is where it all began for me," she proclaimed. (Translation via "Fightful").
Michigan State baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr. has reached a massive career milestone on Saturday afternoon, earning his 500th career victory with a win over Iowa. The 15-5 win was the clincher to reach the milestone.
Boss, who coached one season at Eastern Michigan (25-34) before spending the last 18 seasons with Michigan State (475-423), holds a 500-457 record with two career trips to the NCAA Tournament. Boss's contract was extended with Michigan State earlier this year.
With the Victory for MSU in G1 of today's DH, Coach Boss won his 500th career game as a collegiate head coach (475 at MSU/25 at EMU)!!
Boss took Michigan State to the NCAA Tournament in 2012 for the first time in 33 years, but has failed to get the Spartans back to the big dance.
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Rex_Linzy
Entering the 2026 NFL Draft, the Washington Commanders are not rich in draft compensation. In fact, they have just six selections total throughout the three-day event taking place in Pittsburgh this year. However, while the Commanders may not have many selections, they do have a pretty good one, with the seventh overall pick in the first round.
The Commanders have spent a large portion of free agency addressing various concerns on defense. That effort could continue at the top of the NFL draft, where Washington will be able to add a blue-chip talent to the team. Or, maybe they go in a different direction, to make an already dangerous offense even more potent.
Recently, The Athletic‘s Commanders insider Nicki Jhabvala suggested that if star Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is still available when Washington is on the clock at 7, that Washington would “have no reason to hesitate in grabbing him.”
“At running back, Washington signed three veterans — Rachaad White, Jerome Ford and Jeremy McNichols — to one-year deals to fill out the room and add experience alongside Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt. But if Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love is available at No. 7, the room is built such that Washington would have no reason to hesitate in grabbing him to add an explosive and dynamic threat on offense.”
The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala on Commanders RB room
We can’t argue otherwise. Love has the ceiling to be one of the very best players in the draft class. He’s someone who can transcend an offense from the moment he takes the field as a rookie.
Combining one of the NFL’s best overall weapons in dual-threat QB Jayden Daniels with an elite rusher who also has extreme YAC abilities as a pass-catcher like Love should have defenses shaking in their boots. Yet, most projections have Love being off the board before the Commanders are on the clock, and it’s not like they have the type of extra draft capital to go get him if Love is the top target in D.C.
But hey, it’s fun to dream, right? Perhaps there is a scenario where the unexpected happens. We see it take place every year, where a top prospect either falls or teams just make surprise decisions near the top of the draft. Anything is possible, perhaps even Love winding up in a Commanders uniform in late April.
After an injury-blighted first season as Olympic champion, 2026 is about one thing for Keely Hodgkinson: "domination".
The 24-year-old captured her first world indoor title in commanding fashion as she claimed 800m gold in a championship record time on a historic night for Great Britain in Poland on Sunday.
That success came one month after she smashed the long-standing women's indoor 800m world record, set by Slovenia's Jolanda Ceplak on the day the Briton was born in 2002.
The first of two serious hamstring injuries prevented her from attacking that mark 12 months ago, and she was forced to wait 376 days to race again following her crowning moment at Paris 2024.
But Hodgkinson - branded 'Keely 2.0' within her training group following her impressive rebuild in the gym - is already making up for lost time.
"My word this year has been domination," Hodgkinson told BBC Sport.
"When I'm in the shape of my life, why leave it to chance?
"If you want to beat me, I'll make you work hard for it."
Hodgkinson made further history by becoming Britain's first women's 800m world champion - indoors or outdoors - crossing the line more than a second clear of her rivals in one minute 55.30 seconds.
Following Josh Kerr's 3,000m triumph on Saturday, it guaranteed the British team's most successful World Indoor Championships of all time, surpassing the three gold medals achieved in 1999.
Hodgkinson reappeared on the track less than an hour after her gold to join the bid for a women's 4x400m relay medal at the end of the final day of action in Torun.
Despite her best efforts - and running the quickest leg of any athlete in the event with a 50.10-second split - she was unable to overturn a substantial deficit on her anchor leg.
Hodgkinson peerless in pursuit of elusive 800m gold
After executing her seismic, record-breaking run last month, Hodgkinson's attention was fixed firmly on gold in Torun.
This was the final international podium missing from Hodgkinson's extensive list of honours, after various injuries prevented her from competing at each of the past three world indoors.
The 24-year-old, who has 11 international medals, has also been denied in her three attempts to win world gold outdoors, achieving two silvers and one bronze.
Hodgkinson said she hoped it would be "fourth time lucky" indoors in 2026 - but she had to overcome misfortune even before beginning her gold medal bid, after the airline she had travelled with lost her kit.
With her belongings delayed, Hodgkinson was forced to complete her preparations in somebody else's spikes, which ended up giving her a blister.
But that did not affect Hodgkinson as she dominated Friday's heat, before cruising to victory in Saturday's semi-final in a time faster than all but one of her fellow finalist's personal bests.
Switzerland's Audrey Werro was the only contender with an indoor best time within three seconds of Hodgkinson's world record mark, and the Briton's superiority was evident as she comfortably strode clear inside the venue where she achieved her first international medal five years ago.
'Keely 2.0' continues to make up for lost time
Hodgkinson celebrated with fellow British gold medallists Hunter Bell and Caudery [Getty Images]
Five whirlwind years have passed since Hodgkinson announced herself on the international stage by winning a first major title at the European indoors in Torun, going on to claim silver on her Olympic debut later that summer.
Hodgkinson still managed to salvage silverware from her challenging 2025 by making the world podium in Tokyo six months ago and is ultimately appreciative of the perspective that setback has given her.
She says she now feels reconnected to her "fearless" 19-year-old self - and she is already making up for missed opportunities.
Off the back of the "healthiest" winter training she has had for several years, Hodgkinson is in seemingly unstoppable form, with European and Commonwealth titles available on home soil this summer.
Hodgkinson's latest triumph leaves upgrading from silver to gold at the world outdoors and Commonwealths as the final frontiers as far as her international medal collection is concerned.
But her historic start to the season has also only increased anticipation surrounding a tilt at athletics' longest-standing world record - the 43-year outright 800m world record of 1:53.28, set by Jarmila Kratochvilova.
"It has been such a fun few days. I'm really grateful to be here and to be healthy. I'm glad I could show what I know I can do," said Hodgkinson.
"To get three golds in half an hour is absolutely amazing. We absolutely smashed it."
Nashville (Tenn.) Antioch signal-caller Andre Adams is in the midst of a key stretch of spring visits, and once that is over, he plans to make a commitment.
On Sunday, the four-star told Rivals’ Chad Simmons that he will announce his decision on April 11. Adams is coming off visits to Oregon, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Virginia Tech and is also set to visit Colorado and Florida State in the coming weeks. Those schools make up his top schools heading into the decision in a few weeks.
Earlier this month, Adams said Virginia Tech, Colorado and Kentucky have been among the programs pushing hardest recently. His most recent trip came with James Franklin and the Hokies, who have prioritized him as one of their top overall targets.
“They’ve been on me hard,” Adams said. “Coach Franklin came down, and we had a great talk. I like him a lot and I want to get up there.”
The WIldcats and Buffaloes have made strong pushes for him over the past few months, too. And he knows what he wants in a school.
“I want to be somewhere honest,” he told Rivals in January. “Somewhere I feel like I belong. I’m a big relationships guy. How coaches talk to me, how honest they are, and how they treat me really matters. I want to be around people who are going to develop me as a man and as a quarterback.
… My main goal is to play in the NFL. I want to be in a place that’s going to help me get there.”
As a junior, he finished with 3,417 passing yards. He threw 35 touchdown passes with just one interception while completing 71% of his passes. He also rushed for 855 yards and 13 more scores.
"The race energy is so fun. It kicks off the running season. It's just a great way to see the city in a unique way, because all of the streets are closed," said runner Mallie Dowling.
The event attracts runners from all skill sets.
"Basically, the first medal I have won in racing and running. It felt great," said runner Christopher Diaz.
For others, this race has become a tradition.
"I had a blast last year and I got addicted to running, it's the start of the running season. So, I had to come back," said runner Filip Pancerz.
"Doing it for the vibes. You see me in a tank top, cold, windy. Everyone's coming to run," said runner Alex Vo.
The chilly temperatures did not stop thousands from taking part of the 2-mile walk along the lakefront or the 8K through downtown. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson welcomed the runners at the start of the race.
"This race brings energy to our parks, our streets, supports local businesses, and showcases the greatest freaking city in the world, the city of Chicago," Johnson said.
The event kicks off the start of the outdoor running season in the city, with many more events planned for runners to participate in.
"This is the beginning of our Bank of America Chicago distance series. It starts with the 8K, the Shamrock Shuffle. The beginning of the running season. Then, we move to the half marathon, the 13.1 on the West Side in June. And then, it all culminates right back here with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon," said Bank of America Chicago President Rita Cook.
"It's such a privilege to be healthy enough to run and being among other runners. It's awesome," said runner Mallie Dowling.
We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's EFL Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City
Here are some of your comments:
Arsenal fans
Graham: Typical Mikel Arteta - conservative safe football. Too slow to make changes, especially when it was obvious City were threatening second half. Why wait until there's 20 minutes left and 2-0 down to make subs? Too many players below par and not one Arsenal player should take their wages - pathetic display. Massive week in April and if we fail to respond against Southampton and Sporting then Arteta needs to ask if he's the man for the job. He's had the money to buy but is he the innovator to inspire us to glory?
Jeff: Arteta's stupidity cost Arsenal the game. It's a final, play your best team - end of story. The instructions he gave at half-time simply had no effect. Arsenal edged the first half, could have been in front but were simply blown away by a team that wanted to win in the second half. Can they recover and finally win something this year? I hope so, but fear for the future with Arteta in charge.
Dyfi: We got what we deserved. It was the wrong team selection - when you get to any final you put out your best team and make a proper game of it. Poor tactics. To be honest, we've only just managed to beat poorer opposition since Christmas. Manchester City were too strong and too organised. There is still a gulf between them and us when it comes to the crunch. We could have played all day and not had a shot.
JJ: Rubbish! Arteta's decision-making and tactics were dire. This is the worst Arsenal have been all season.
Les: Arteta has to be responsible for this result. Having picked his team and watched the first half, it was very clear where the changes had to be made, but he waited too long. Sorry to say it, but Bukayo Saka is not the attacking player he was, or the right player to be captain.
Man City fans
Malc: Great win and a great attacking team picked. Let's see where this leads in the league. Arsenal were poor, they hardly played, although their set-pieces took up a lot of the time!
Youssef: Really chuffed with the lads. It all started with James Trafford's triple save - then, in the second half, we were dominating. Everyone shone, especially our boy Nico O'Reilly. Absolutely buzzing. For Arsenal, bottle one out of four.
Andy: Magnificent second-half performance from the Blues. We were worthy winners. Let's hope we get back on track in the league. Come on, City!
Ian: A totally dominant second-half performance. City were outstanding!
Karl: Arsenal were the better team for 20 minutes. But we dominated, especially in the second half. We won a battle, they might win the war, but looking forward to next season as it's all coming together!
Mar 20, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Jacari White (6) reacts after his three pointer against the Wright State Raiders during the second half of a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The NCAA Tournament continues on Sunday, as teams look to advance to the Sweet 16, setting the stage for another day of dramatic finishes. With eyes set on a national title, the tournament always promises the chaos and excitement that make March Madness one of the best events to follow in sports.
In a pivotal Midwest Region second‑round duel, the No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers, coming off a 78–56 first‑round victory over Miami (Ohio) propelled by a strong offensive night from Ja’Kobi Gillespie and tenacious defense, face No. 3 Virginia, which survived a competitive first round with an 82–73 win over Wright State, as Jacari White hit key shots and led the Cavaliers’ balanced attack.
Tennessee’s ability to control tempo and defend will be challenged by Virginia’s experience and efficient scoring, making this a chess match where late‑game poise and execution likely determine who earns a spot in the Sweet 16.
Watch every matchup during the 2026 NCAA Tournament on DIRECTV.
Games throughout the tournament are broadcast on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, with DIRECTV packages providing access to all four networks, so viewers can stream every round live.
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WATCH: Vinicius Junior brings Real Madrid level in Madrid derby before Fede Valverde completes comeback
Real Madrid trailed at half time in the Madrid derby, but soon into the second period, they have managed to complete a fine comeback at the Bernabeu.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s side had a couple of big chances in the opening half hour, with Dani Carvajal denied by Juan Musso and Fede Valverde seeing an effort crash against the post. Atleti had to absorb a lot of pressure, but they were the team to make the breakthrough when Matteo Ruggeri’s cross was brilliantly flicked into the path of Ademola Lookman by Giuliano Simeone, with the Nigeria international making no mistake to score.
Atleti did so well to nullify Real Madrid for the most part in the first half, but seven minutes into the second, they have been pegged back. David Hancko takes down Brahim Diaz inside the penalty area, and that has allowed Vinicius Junior to score from 12 yards.
And it would get better for Real Madrid moments later as Fede Valverde has continued his goalscoring form to make it 2-1, as he pounced on an error from Atleti substitute Jose Maria Gimenez.
Real Madrid desperately needed this start to the second half. They had been on course to stay seven points behind Barcelona, but the gap is now poised to reduce back down to four.
Pep Guardiola became the first manager to win the EFL Cup five times with Manchester City's 2-0 win against Arsenal [Getty Images]
Pep Guardiola's wild run and dance down Wembley's touchline demonstrated the hunger for success remains and his competitive fire still burns as fiercely as ever.
It came after Nico O'Reilly's second header in four minutes effectively sealed Manchester City's 2-0 Carabao Cup final victory against Arsenal, giving Guardiola a record fifth win in the competition.
Guardiola was lost in the moment as he pumped his fists in delight towards City's jubilant supporters, the significance of the victory underlined by the crushing bearhugs he gave his players and backroom staff after the final whistle.
"I wanted another yellow card and that is why I did it," joked Guardiola when quizzed about his celebration.
"If I can't celebrate in the moment against a team like Arsenal, and the way we were playing... my emotions are related to the way we are playing.
"I am not artificially intelligent, I am a human being, and I want to celebrate. It was not showing disrespect to Arsenal or for the other fans, I just celebrated with my people. And when I feel it, I express it."
Arsenal, by contrast, were desolate as they missed the chance to win a first trophy since the FA Cup in 2020, the result of a timid performance lacking in attacking ambition until it was too late.
City and Guardiola's mission was not simply to win the EFL Cup. It was to put on the sort of dominant performance that might sow seeds of doubt in Arsenal's minds as they hold a nine-point lead in the Premier League title race.
It was the ideal stage for both sides to make a statement. Manchester City made theirs. Arsenal fluffed every line.
Whether this result has wider ramifications remains to be seen.
Will it fuel City for a late rally in the league? Will the disappointment of this defeat derail Arsenal?
City must hope it has inflicted psychological damage on Arsenal. The Gunners must regroup and show the reserves of strength that have sustained their season.
What is beyond doubt is the better - much better - team prevailed on this day.
Manchester City may not have the relentless consistency of the Guardiola team that won four successive Premier Leagues, but this latter-day rebuilt version still looks the best football team in the country when they get it right.
This was Guardiola's 16th major trophy with City, and while speculation still swirls about his future beyond this season, the manner in which his team played and the way the Catalan was so engaged and fired-up illustrated that he still wants more success.
The EFL Cup does not carry the same lustre as the Champions League or Premier League, but Guardiola did not care about that as he basked in his latest success.
Guardiola accepts City's Premier League destiny is out of their hands, but this victory will surely keep hope alive.
"I would love to be nine points in front to be honest," he said. "It's in their hands. We need time, an incredible break. I am exhausted and after we see step by step."
He added: "I'm really pleased because Mikel [Arteta] created a team that is almost unbeatable. A fifth Carabao Cup in 10 years is not bad. Every time you win a title it looks more difficult than in the past. It is really difficult for many reasons."
Guardiola has won everything, but this showed his appetite for silverware remains as sharp as ever.
It is a hunger Arteta, once his assistant at Manchester City now his main rival, is yet to satisfy.
Arsenal remain in a superb position in the Premier League and have the Champions League and FA Cup in their sights, but this was a sobering and disappointing day for the Gunners.
Arteta's decision to keep faith with his EFL Cup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga instead of first-choice David Raya blew up in his face when he dropped Rayan Cherki's routine cross for O'Reilly's opener on the hour. It was the moment this final also slipped from Arsenal's grasp.
Guardiola's celebration for the opening goal was only slightly less restrained than his jig down the line for City's second. When O'Reilly broke the deadlock, he leapt high, punching the air flamboyantly before jumping on to an advertising hoarding with a flying kick.
To emphasise the contrasting fortunes, Guardiola followed the same strategy by picking James Trafford rather than Gianluigi Donnarumma. He was rewarded when Trafford made a stunning triple save, once from Kai Havertz and twice from Bukayo Saka, in the opening phase.
After that, Arsenal's game of percentages came back to haunt them. Too passive. Too conservative. Too late to change things when they went wrong.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta's wait for a first trophy since 2020's FA Cup continues after the EFL Cup final defeat [Reuters]
The first 45 minutes was the epitome of two teams cancelling each other out - but once the second half began the landscape was set for City's win.
They were the more progressive, aggressive side. Their attacking intent started to overwhelm Arsenal, the pressure became impossible to resist. Smoother on the ball and more cohesive than an Arsenal side based on organisation, the traffic only flowed one way.
Arrizabalaga already had Arsenal's nerves on edge with an injudicious dash from goal which resulted in a yellow card for a panicked foul on Jeremy Doku.
Much, much worse was to come for Arsenal and their goalkeeper.
It remains six years since Arteta won his one and only trophy as Arsenal manager, and the way in which his team went into their shell here will be a concern that he must hope is not repeated as the pressure mounts in the closing weeks of the season.
Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart told BBC Sport: "Manchester City played to win. I think that's what they're bred to do over ten, 15 years. I think now they're very much bred to win. I think they've been really disappointed with the FA Cup final at the end of last season [when they lost to Crystal Palace].
"A lot will be read into it putting a marker down or whatever, but I don't think so. I think it was just about Manchester City winning trophies, which is what they've done so regularly recently - and this is another big one.
"It is also a huge day for Pep Guardiola, who's won everything, but now stands alone in terms of managers winning the League Cup. He's won it five times, going one clear of Sir Alex Ferguson. How much of a testament is that to his ability, his special touch and what he's done over the years with Manchester City?"
Arteta is braced for the battle to recover from this setback and focus on three trophies, saying: "We had eight amazing months with this team. Today is a disappointment. We need to use that fire in the belly for the next two months to have an incredible season."
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's painful, especially for our players and supporters, because we really wanted to lift that trophy. It was two very different halves, especially the first half when I think we were better than them and had the best two chances of the game.
"We didn't capitalise on that. Credit to them for what they have done. A really sad day."
He must hope it is the last sad day of what has been an outstanding season so far - for Guardiola, he will hope City's win, and the manner in which it was achieved, will play on Arsenal's nerves.
Arsenal's Kepa Arrizabalaga made the costly error for Manchester City's opener [Getty Images]
There's no hiding place for a manager when decisions go against them and for Mikel Arteta, his choice to stick by cup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga will be one that haunts him.
Arteta is known for his ruthlessness but, by opting to stick with cup goalkeeper Kepa for the Carabao Cup final, he showed a rare glimpse of his sentimental side - especially with Arsenal having not won a major trophy since 2020.
Kepa's error - when he let Rayan Cherki's cross slip through his fingers - allowed Nico O'Reilly to head Manchester City into the lead. And Pep Guardiola's side never looked back as O'Reilly headed in again just four minutes later to seal the win.
Arteta's decision to play Kepa over first choice David Raya was highlighted further because of the performance of City's own cup goalkeeper, James Trafford.
Trafford was re-signed during the summer to be City's number one before Gianluigi Donnarumma became available and the club moved to sign him from Paris St-Germain, which meant Trafford became second choice.
Trafford made an excellent triple save early in the game, when he denied Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka twice, to keep the scores level.
He went on to keep a clean sheet, while the questions about Kepa's selection will dominate the headlines.
Former Blackburn striker Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I never understand why managers play their second-choice goalkeepers in cup finals.
"You're trying to win a trophy, why wouldn't you play your number one to give yourself the best possible chance? That's common sense."
For Arteta, it did not enter his mind to not play Kepa in the final.
The Arsenal manager said it would have been "very unfair" if he had not stuck with the Spain international, who had played every round of the cup competition before the final, and said he accepts the scrutiny coming his way.
"I understand that, but I have to do what I feel is right, which is honest and which is fair," Arteta said.
"And I think we have an understanding keeper in Kepa - he's played all the competition and I think it would have been very, very unfair for him and for the team to do something different."
The former Chelsea goalkeeper signed for the Gunners in the summer to compete with first choice David Raya.
Raya has 15 clean sheets in the Premier League, the most in the division, and has produced some standout saves during this campaign as Arsenal look to end their wait for a trophy.
And Arteta says that despite Kepa's limited game time this season he did not guarantee that the goalkeeper would play in Arsenal's cup fixtures.
"I can never promise a player to play certain competitions, because at the end they have to earn it and they have to do enough like any other position," he said.
"We are guided by what we've seen and what he's done in the competition, and he helped us to go all the way through here.
"I believe it's the right thing to do and that's it. Errors are part of football and today it happened unfortunately in a crucial moment."
The EFL Cup brings bad memories for Kepa Arrizabalaga. The keeper has now lost all three of the finals he has played in the competition.
When playing for Chelsea in 2019 he refused to be substituted with the game heading to penalties, in 2022 he put his penalty over the crossbar as Chelsea lost to Liverpool in the shootout - and his error in this year's final handed the lead to City.
"I would never have started Kepa today," European football expert Julien Laurens told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"In a final like this, at this moment in the Arsenal project, there is no moment for sentiment. Your best team has to play. Kepa instead of David Raya for me, was the wrong call.
"I know it is harsh but I think Arteta and his players will learn a lot from today because those finals are won on decisions made, not just on the pitch but at half-time."
Kepa was booked before conceding the opener, when he misjudged a clearance and pulled back winger Jeremy Doku as he looked to score.
"Mikel Arteta did not have to play him," former England and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart told BBC Sport.
"That's a decision made by a manager who's potentially going to win quite a lot this season. So he's played Kepa because he believes he's ready.
"But I'll always say it, don't ever feel sorry for a goalkeeper. That's the life that he's chosen.
"And again most of the game he was faultless. But in that big moment obviously he'll have something to reflect on."
A pivotal moment for Trafford
After re-signing for the club where he started his career for £30m in the summer, Trafford expected to be the number one at City.
But since Donnarumma's arrival the England Under-21 international has had to make do with domestic cup appearances and a rare chance in the Champions League.
Trafford has said that this season "hasn't been easy at all" as he finds himself second choice.
But his performance during the win over Arsenal could be a pivotal moment in his career.
"They were obviously big saves because they happened quite early on in the game, but I can't really remember them because they were quite quick," Trafford said.
"I'm just happy to play my part in it, and then Nico [O'Reilly] scored two, which is brilliant from him."
"This moment means a lot to me. Four or five years ago when they [City] beat Spurs to win it, I think I was fourth or fifth choice, and I always imagined that I would win it one day."
"It's a testament to how I believed in myself, and how I acted in training, when I've been brought in for club games. Every time that I play I just give it my best shot," he added.
Shock departure: Schmadtke leaves Hannover - reasons still unclear
In a surprising development, Hannover 96 announced that Jörg Schmadtke’s tenure as sporting director is already over, barely three months after he took over the role on January 1st.
The club released only a brief statement, with no clear explanation given for the decision. According to reports, the separation was agreed upon mutually, but the exact background of the move remains unclear.
Schmadtke had originally signed a long-term deal and returned to Hannover with high expectations, having previously enjoyed a successful spell at the club. His second stint, however, ends far earlier than anticipated.
Despite the boardroom shake-up, Hannover remain in a competitive position in the 2. Bundesliga, still pushing for promotion in the final stretch of the season.
For now, the focus shifts to how the club restructures its sporting leadership - with more clarity on Schmadtke’s sudden exit still expected in the coming days.
The Kentucky Wildcats have been eliminated from the 2026 NCAA Tournament. They earned a No. 7 seed for the tourney and beat No. 10 Santa Clara by five points in the first round to advance to the Round of 32.
The Wildcats matched up with No. 2 Iowa State in the second round. While they were underdogs on paper, the Cyclones were down Joshua Jefferson, one of their best players, due to an ankle injury.
Kentucky led for most of the first half, with Iowa State scoring at the buzzer to take the 31-30 lead. While the first half was razor close, the second half could not have been more lopsided. The Wildcats couldn't control the ball, turning it over 20 times on their way to an 82-63 loss.
Here is more on how Kentucky's turnover issues led to a blowout second-round loss to Iowa State.
Kentucky was the underdog against Iowa State, but the Wildcats kept the game close through the first half. Kentucky went into halftime down just 31-30. It looked like the Wildcats would be able to come away with an upset win, especially given that the Cyclones were without Jefferson.
Kentucky absolutely imploded in the second half. While the offense went ice cold, one of the biggest problems was the high turnover rate. The Wildcats finished with 20 turnovers. That ranked as their most turnovers in a game this season, by five turnovers. It is also the most turnovers the team has had in a game since head coach Mark Pope took over ahead of the 2024-2025 season.
The Wildcats lost to the Cyclones 82-63. 25 of Iowa State's 82 points came from Kentucky turnovers.
Nico O'Reilly has scored eight goals this season for Manchester City [Getty Images]
Nico O'Reilly has a tattoo of the Manchester area code etched on his arm and the Englishman will be the pride of the city following his man-of-the-match showing in his side's brilliant Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal on Sunday.
Academy product O'Reilly won the game for City with a pair of second-half headers into the goal in front of his club's ecstatic supporters.
For a boyhood City fan to score twice at Wembley Stadium, this fairytale story has produced an unforgettable moment for the player, manager Pep Guardiola and supporters alike.
O'Reilly was drafted into the City team last season to aid the squad's injury crisis in defence and has grabbed his opportunity - he now gets his hands on major silverware after delivering a performance that he will never forget.
"Unbelievable feeling," O'Reilly told Sky Sports. "To win a final, to beat this team ... we know how good they are. We need to build on it, it will give us good momentum. Buzzing with today."
Guardiola said of O'Reilly's impact: "He has been so surprising so far even for me, the season he has done so far has been extraordinary."
Cometh the hour, cometh the man - with the '0161' phone code inked on his body, O'Reilly came calling on the big stage when City needed a hero to step up.
His first finish was the easiest goal he is likely to score in his career, stooping close to the goalline to head in after Kepa Arrizabalaga fumbled the ball into his path.
The second just four minutes later was a brilliantly-placed header from Matheus Nunes' cross, effectively sealing victory for a jubilant Guardiola who performed a jig of delight on the touchline.
O'Reilly took the adulation of the City fans after his goals and it will be a double celebration this weekend after turning 21 on Saturday.
The only players younger than O'Reilly to score twice in the final of this competition were 20-year-olds Wayne Rooney for Manchester United in 2006 and Liverpool's Ronnie Whelan back in 1982.
The Englishman took his goalscoring tally to eight for the season and said: "Bit of disbelief seeing all the fans cheering like that when I scored those goals. Really a good feeling and a great birthday weekend.
"My whole family came down today. They are all in the stand and I know they will be buzzing. I can't wait to celebrate with them."
This was O'Reilly's second match-winning double of the season as well, after scoring twice in the 2-1 Premier League win over Newcastle a month ago.
Former England defender Matt Upson said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Nico O'Reilly is fast becoming one of the key members in this Manchester City side. He gets the goals, he gets the headlines. He is a player in top form.
"Physically, he is a machine. He's got height, he can run, he has got the strength and physicality."
Where is O'Reilly's best position?
O'Reilly's timely goals came two days after being named in the England squad for the forthcoming friendlies and in front of a watching Thomas Tuchel.
He has looked equally adept whether Guardiola has picked him at left-back or in midfield but on the evidence of these impressive performance, he his playing himself into contention for this summer's World Cup.
O'Reilly has earned two international caps so far and his performances will have put him in serious contention for a start when Three Lions boss Tuchel picks his team for the tournament opener against Croatia on 17 June.
Former City defender Micah Richards told Sky Sports: "Absolutely outstanding moment for Nico O'Reilly, coming from the academy.
"He was a midfielder, but he adapted and learned how to play left-back. It's so good to see what it means to him."
Guardiola added: "When playing in the pocket, [which is] his natural position, every cross he is there. He is strong in the aerial actions especially offensively, [but] defensively he has to improve.
"Maybe he was the signing of the season. When we started the season we had a long conversation with him. He started to play at left-back and impressed a lot.
"He can play in many roles, he is a guy in the final third in a position he likes. He made two fantastic goals."
LAS VEGAS — The Polynesian Bowl National Combine and Showcase concluded at Bishop Gorman HS with a number of players being selected to play in both the 2027 adidas Polynesian Bowl and the 2028 adidas Polynesian Bowl.
There were also several MVPs selected from the event
Here are the new selections to the 2027 adidas Polynesian Bowl.
DB Gideon Gash, 2027, Detroit (Mich.) Central Catholic
Welcome to your March Madness hub for the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament.
Our college basketball experts will guide you through the March Madness bracket with March Madness expert picks, matchup breakdowns, and betting analysis for every game, right through to the National Championship.
Virginia does a good job of essentially stopping all that Tennessee wants to run.
The Vols are a heavy post frequency team, and UVA ranks in the 97th percentile nationally against post-ups. They also slow down some other core tenets of the Tennessee offense, like perimeter cuts.
Meanwhile, on the other side, you don't have to worry about UVA scoring early buckets against an elite transition defense, and the Vols stopping one of the core tenets of Virginia's offense right in its tracks, ranking in the top 10% of basketball against attack and kicks. I'd play this to 134.
The Iowa Hawkeyes could not clear this team total against Clemson despite four free throws in the final 30 seconds. A game with only 54 possessions will cash every Under.
There will be more possessions against the Florida Gators — No. 29 in pace this season — but Iowa will still try to slow it down, its best hope at keeping this close.
A real issue for the Hawkeyes will be their reluctance to take 3-pointers against a defense that already ranks in the Top 30 in preventing those looks.
Iowa will resort to contested 2-pointers against Florida’s massive interior. Good luck getting to 60 points with that approach.
This is a brutal matchup for Utah State, and Arizona has been blowing teams out all year.
The Aggies' biggest strengths are their interior scoring and ability to force turnovers. However, the Wildcats rank second in the country in opponent 2PT% (43.5%), and their ball-handlers have shown the poise to break elite press defenses like Houston and Iowa State.
Utah State also sits outside the top 250 in opponent free-throw rate and defensive rebounding rate. That feeds into Arizona's strengths, which excel at getting to the line and rank fifth in offensive rebounding rate.
Both UCLA and UConn thrive in the half-court, playing with patience that ticks deep into the shot clock.
There’s a ton of motion, away screens and off-ball movement, which takes time to set up. Neither is an explosive 3-point attack, nor do they thrive on fastbreaks or tempo.
While these guys can score, I believe they have a bigger impact on defense, considering the matchups. Bilodeau helps handle the Huskies’ size and Demary deals with the Bruins’ talented backcourt.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders’ attack-and-kick offense ranks No. 1 in the country. Every drive-and-kick is producing an open look, and Tech has the shooters to make the Alabama Crimson Tide pay all afternoon.
Alabama wants to play in transition, but doing so without Aden Holloway forces the team to rely even more on transition plays, limiting their halfcourt options. The Red Raiders' top-tier transition defense, which allows just 1 point per possession, could be a deciding factor.
Given Alabama's shorthanded roster, I don’t think they can score enough in the halfcourt to keep pace.
Single elimination changes everything. One cold shooting night or foul trouble can end a season, so aim for good prices and smart risk, not “can’t-miss” takes.
Start with the basics
Spread: In point spread betting, you’re wagering on how close the game stays. In the tournament, late-game fouling can turn a tight cover into a bad beat (or vice versa).
Moneyline:Moneyline betting is often the cleanest way to play a true March Madness upset, but you risk losing more frequently if you wager just on underdogs.
Total: Pace and shot quality matter in Over/Under betting, but so do tournament quirks like neutral rims, tight legs, and whistle changes.
Neutral-site mindset
Games aren’t played in familiar gyms, and crowds can be split. Travel, time zones, and quick turnarounds can matter, especially for teams that rely heavily on energy, depth, or shooting rhythm. When in doubt, lean on repeatable traits: defense, rebounding, and turnover control.
Why single elimination matters
Underdogs can be live because favorites feel pressure and have less room to “play through” a bad stretch. But favorites can also separate late when depth and free throws matter. Think in game scripts:
Take the underdog + points if they can control tempo, defend without fouling, and protect the ball.
Sprinkle a unit on the moneyline if they have a clear matchup advantage (e.g., elite 3-point volume vs weak perimeter D).
Bet on the favorite if they can force turnovers, dominate the glass, or punish inside.
First half vs full game betting
Early nerves and unfamiliar sightlines can create slow starts. If you expect a tactical feel-out period, 1H Unders or 1H underdog spreads can be sharper than full game.
Overtime and endgame chaos
OT is usually included in spreads/totals, and late fouling can add 10–20 “free” points. Totals can swing wildly in the final minute, but don’t panic if you’re on the right side of pace and shot quality.
Still need help? Our Covers hoops analysts are here to provide you with March Madness expert picks from the First Four to the National Championship Game.
Popular March Madness betting markets
March Madness is a betting buffet - the key is picking the right market for your edge.
Futures: Futures are best when you’re early or disagree with the bracket. Conference tourney week and Selection Sunday can create mispriced numbers on title, Final Four odds, March Madness MVP odds, and region winner odds. Shop prices, and remember: a “good team” isn’t always a good futures bet if the path is brutal.
Game lines: The spread, moneyline, and total are the bread and butter once the bracket starts. Neutral courts, quick turnarounds, and unfamiliar sightlines can impact shooting (and totals) especially early. If you have a strong pace or matchup read, consider team totals or 1st half bets to isolate the edge.
Props:March Madness props shine when roles are stable and matchups are clear: usage, minutes, foul risk, and opponent style (rim protection, pace, rebounding). Ladders and alt lines can be powerful, but keep stakes smaller.
Same-game parlays: SGPs can be fun, but value varies. Compare the parlay payout to betting legs individually, and prioritize lines you’d play on their own.
And be sure to check out our expert NCAA bracket picks before the action begins!
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After Regis le Bris' team won promotion from the Championship play-offs, the Tyne-Wear derby was back on for the first time since 2015-16.
Sunderland have had an excellent campaign, including a 1-0 win over Newcastle in December, but this may be the best moment of the season for the Black Cats fans.
Newcastle have now not won a league game against their bitter rivals in 13 attempts.
Despite going into the break a goal behind, Sunderland had shown they were dangerous when Chemsdine Talbi's superb curling effort from 25 yards was pushed over the bar by Aaron Ramsdale.
But with Brian Brobbey a constant handful for the Newcastle defence, the visitors piled on the pressure and got an equaliser.
The expected Newcastle response did not materalise, with Granit Xhaka having a shot deflected over, Sadiki seeing an effort saved and Brobbey having an attempt blocked by Malick Thiaw.
In the end, Sunderland got their rewards with a result that takes them up to 43 points, guaranteeing their Premier League survival.
However, with seven games to go, they will be wondering just how high could they end up. A push for European football, although unlikely, could still be on the cards in a wonderful season.
No team in the Premier League this season has let slip more points from winning positions than Newcastle's 22.
Club legend Alan Shearer was scathing when he wrote on X that the side's performance was a "pathetic, weak, lazy, limp second half from Newcastle again".
Play fantasy football for a second and add 22 points to Newcastle's tally - they would be second on 64, six behind leaders Arsenal and in the title race.
However, reality has them 12th on 42 points, four adrift of eighth-placed Everton, who, depending on who wins the FA Cup, could be in a qualifying position for the third-tier Conference League.
From Champions League football in two of the past three campaigns, Newcastle face the real prospect of no continental competition in 2026-27.
Anthony Gordon said his side's inability to keep a lead was becoming a real problem.
"In the past few years, once we scored one at home we are looking for two, three, four where we go on and dominate. We haven't been that team this year," said the Magpies winger.
"The stadium gets a bit shaky when we are ahead. Repeatedly, this year, the second half has been a problem. I spoke about that in the changing room before we went out and still we were poor.
"We let them in the game and let them get comfortable. This has been a problem and we haven't fixed it. I don't think it's a physical thing - mentally we let them in."
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers knew that Mike Evans was likely walking out the door as soon as the season ended.
With Evans exploring his options, most knew that he was going to play elsewhere in 2026...and he will be, with the San Francisco 49ers.
The Buccaneers revealed they offered more than the 49ers did for Evans, and that says it all about how Mike viewed Tampa Bay's 2026 hopes.
And then there's this. CBS Sports' Garrett Podell has named the Buccaneers as a big loser of free agency due to Evans' decision.
"Wide receiver Mike Evans is perhaps the best Tampa Bay Buccaneer ever," Podell wrote. "For him to leave the franchise after 12 seasons means he gave up on being able to play relevant football in Tampa Bay.
"There isn't any guaranteed money on the contract after Year 1, so it's essentially a one-year deal in which the 49ers have two team options. That says an awful lot about the Buccaneers' current prospects that Evans chose the arrangement with San Francisco over the comfort of his only NFL home where he has already won a Super Bowl."
Well, the thing I keep coming back to is that the receiver cupboard isn't exactly bare with Evans moving on.
Plus, Tampa had good practice over the last two seasons playing without Evans in the lineup, as he only played eight games in 2025 and 14 in 2024.
Baker Mayfield's weapons aren't depleted, and you could make the case that most offenses in the league would love to work with what Baker has.
Yes, Evans does leave a hole, both on and off the field, but I get the sense Tampa is more than capable of dealing with his departure. No, it won't likely challenge for a Super Bowl like the 49ers, but a playoff team? That is possible.
And it is clear that Evans doesn't just want to make the postseason; he wants to win it all.
Former Wolfsburg defender called up to French national team for the first time
The 25-year-old Maxence Lacroix, now playing for Crystal Palace, will report to the French national team on Monday after being drafted into the squad. Lacroix replaces Arsenal's William Saliba, who has been ruled out with an ankle injury.
Having previously represented France at youth level, this call-up marks Lacroix’s long-awaited breakthrough into the senior setup. His consistent performances at club level have now been rewarded with a chance to impress on the international stage.
Lacroix played 130 games for Wolfsburg, more than for any other team in his career so far, between 2020 and 2024. He left Wolfsburg for Crystal Palace for a transfer fee of €18m.
Ann Arbor – Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel celebrated briefly with Michigan women’s basketball coach Kim Barnes Arico, whose team had just defeated North Carolina State on Sunday for a trip to the Sweet 16, and then laughed about his crazy travel arrangements for the next several days.
But this is a good problem for an athletic director. The Michigan hockey team won the Big Ten title Saturday night and is the No. 1 overall seed for the upcoming NCAA tournament, the men’s basketball team is a No. 1 seed that has advanced to the Sweet 16, the women’s team is a No. 2 seed that will now play in the Sweet 16, and the women’s swimming and driving team just finished sixth in the nation.
“I just couldn't be more proud,” Manuel told The Detroit News on Sunday. “I’ve got to get on a bunch of planes and go a bunch of different locations, but it's one of the best problems to have at this point in time as an athletic director, and I'm just super excited to see them, to support them, and to watch them continue to drive success in the regional. It's a great problem to have. It's one that you work so hard for.”
Manuel, whose department currently is being investigated by an outside law firm as requested by him and the university Regents, praised everyone from team trainers to equipment staff, the mental health staff and academic support for the teams’ successes.
“Just everybody comes together, and this is the result,” Manuel said.
He plans to drive to Chicago for the men’s Sweet 16 and then will fly to Fort Worth, the location of the women’s regional, on Saturday for the Wolverines’ game against the winner of Louisville vs. Alabama. Then he likely will return to Chicago and potentially make a return trip to Fort Worth.
“I'm so proud of these ladies and what they've accomplished thus far and for what opportunities lie ahead,” Manuel said. “Right now, we're going to be one of 16 in the country next weekend playing for a national championship, and that's what you want.”
The 7th-seeded Wildcats of the Midwest Region were handed a 19-point loss by 2-seed Iowa State on Sunday in St. Louis in overtime, giving Kentucky its first exit in the first weekend under Pope, who helped lead the program to a national championship under Rick Pitino as a player.
Kentucky found some March magic in Friday's first-round overtime win over 10-seed Santa Clara with Otega Oweh getting off a game-tying 3-pointer from near the logo to tie the game and force overtime. Oweh, who hit a pair of key free throws in overtime, went off for 35 points in the win over the Broncos.
Coming off a Sweet 16 run in Pope's second season, the honeymoon stage of his return to Lexington was quickly ended this season, as the Wildcats had an up-and-down year that featured losses they "should not have" taken as a "blue blood", like Missouri, Georgia, and Auburn in SEC play. Kentucky went 1-4 against top-ranked opponents in the nonconference as well.
There were also wins — like Tennessee, Arkansas, St. John's and Vanderbilt — for the Wildcats that reminded the SEC (and the country) of the talent — that has come at the cost of well over $20 million in NIL value — that Pope has on his roster.
Here's what to know of Pope's buyout and contract information at Kentucky following the Wildcats' loss to Iowa State:
Mark Pope buyout at Kentucky
According to Pope's contract, obtained by the USA TODAY Network, Kentucky would owe the coach $$12,937,500 million if he were fired on April 1.
Mark Pope contract details at Kentucky
Length: Contract has three years remaining
Base salary remaining: $1.2 million
Supplemental compensation remaining: $16,050,000 million
According to Kentucky's contract with Pope, obtained by the USA TODAY Network, there are three additional years remaining. addition to his $1,250,000 annual base salary, he is earning $1,800,00 in supplemental pay for the 2026 contract year. In addition to the $1.2 million in base salary remaining ($400,000 per year), there is $16.05 million in supplemental compensation remaining.
All told, the total left on Pope's deal is $17,250,000. Kentucky would owe the buyout for the remaining 75% of his contract if it decided to fire Pope without cause at anytime.
Manchester City seized the moment that was on offer against Arsenal in today’s Carabao Cup final
Manchester City claimed the first trophy of the 2025/26 season as they beat Arsenal 2-0 to claim the Carabao Cup at Wembley. A second half brace from Nico O’Reilly capped off a superb second-half performance from Pep Guardiola’s side as they picked up a win that they well and truly deserved. What today’s Carabao Cup represented was a moment in the 25/26 season and in the development of this City side. Come the final whistle, they had seized their moment, which helped them pick up a big victory over Mikel Arteta’s side.
Once Manchester City took control of today’s Carabao Cup final, there was no looking back.
Every major cup final is defined by moments, and which players and team seize them. Manchester City were that team today against Arsenal at Wembley. The process began early on in today’s Carabao Cup final. James Trafford made a superb triple save to deny Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka twice in the early stages of today’s match. Mikel Arteta’s side had begun today’s match brightly, but Trafford’s trio of saves denied them the opportunity to gain an early foothold in the match. That was the first big moment to go Manchester City’s way today.
After the opening twenty minutes, Manchester City grew into the game. They navigated their way through Arsenal’s impressive start to gain a foothold in the match. From the 20th minute until halftime, City began to drop Arsenal with their possession. Nothing came of it in terms of chances for City up until halftime. What City had done was put themselves into a good position entering the interval. Erling Haaland headed a chance over from an Antoine Semenyo cross just before halftime. It wasn’t a major chance, but it was a warning to Mikel Arteta’s side. It was a warning that would become something much more in the second half.
Pep Guardiola tweaked his tactics somewhat at halftime. With Arsenal left-back Piero Hincapié on a yellow card, and struggling to contend with Antoine Semenyo, Guardiola sensed a weakness. As Nico O’Reilly explained after the match, the space was on the right for Cherki, Matheus Nunes and Semenyo to exploit. Especially with Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice determined to get at Bernardo Silva or Rodri when they had possession, Manchester City and Pep Guardiola had found a weakness in Mikel Arteta’s side. They exploited it ruthlessly as both of Nico O’Reilly’s goals came from moves that originated from the right.
Manchester City sensed a weakness in Arsenal, and they seized their moment to exploit it. When the tale of the 2026 Carabao Cup is written, Manchester City’s ability to seize, or win, the big moments was the difference between the two teams.
Today’s result feels like a big moment for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Manchester City won their first major trophy of 2026 with their victory over Arsenal today at Wembley. That is a special moment in itself, but more than that, City’s Carabao Cup victory feels like a big moment for this team. This new-look City side has now won their first trophy together. That experience will be huge for them. They now know what it takes to win a competition. That is a big step in the growth of this City side. The naysayers will say it is only the Carabao Cup, but that assessment discounts what the experience of winning a trophy can do for a team. The hope is that this City side can kick on from here.
Another side of the equation is today’s Carabao Cup result shows that anything remains possible this season for Manchester City. Yes, Arsenal sit nine points clear of City at the top of the Premier League table. Pep Guardiola’s side does have a game in hand, and Arsenal has to come to the Etihad in April. The destiny of this season’s Premier League title is in Arsenal’s hands. But today’s result could put doubt into an Arsenal side that is itself learning to win trophies. Time will reveal if today’s result has that effect in the title race.
Manchester City seized their moments when they came at Wembley to win today’s Carabao Cup final over Arsenal. They did that on the pitch at crucial times, and today’s result is an important moment in the journey that this City side is on. It could also be looked back upon as an important moment in the 25/26 season, depending on what unfolds after the international break.
Atlético Madrid star ruled out of Barcelona showdown
La Liga giants Atlético Madrid will be forced to make do without the contributions of a member of the club’s midfield ranks in their upcoming clash with Barcelona.
This comes owing to developments in Sunday’s Madrid Derby.
Atlético are of course currently locked in action on the domestic front, in a league meeting with arch rivals Real Madrid.
The Rojiblancos lead by a goal to nil at the Bernabéu, owing to a first-half strike on the part of Ademola Lookman.
An otherwise positive outing to date for Diego Simeone’s troops, though, has been soured to at least some degree by a blow on the personnel front.
Owing to a foul just shy of the half-hour mark, Johnny Cardoso was shown a yellow card this evening. His fifth of the La Liga campaign, the American is therefore facing up to a one-game suspension.
Cardoso will in turn be unavailable for selection for Atléti’s post-international break clash with table-topping Barcelona.
“I do not understand” Chris Sutton questions starting Kepa in final
David Raya was widely expected to start in goal for Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City, yet Mikel Arteta opted to retain Kepa Arrizabalaga, who had featured throughout the competition. The decision reflected a degree of loyalty to the goalkeeper who had contributed to the club’s progress in the tournament, though it inevitably raised questions given the magnitude of the occasion.
In the build-up to the match, there was a broader expectation that Arteta might prioritise experience and reliability, particularly in a final where margins are often fine. Raya has consistently been preferred in league and Champions League fixtures when fit, underlining his status as the first-choice goalkeeper. That context made the selection decision all the more notable, as it deviated from the established hierarchy at a critical moment in the season.
Costly Decision in a Crucial Match
The Spaniard delivered an unconvincing performance, ultimately contributing to Manchester City’s victory and their triumph in the Carabao Cup. It is a decision that Arteta may now reflect upon with some regret. While Kepa had performed admirably in earlier rounds, this occasion exposed vulnerabilities that had previously been overlooked.
The Gunners have rarely entrusted him with responsibility in the most important fixtures when Raya is available, and this performance offered a clear illustration of why that has been the case. In one of the most significant matches of his career, he appeared unprepared for the intensity and pressure of the moment.
Questions Over Goalkeeping Selection
Arsenal noticeably lacked the composure and assurance that Raya typically provides, and this absence was keenly felt throughout the match. The decision to persist with Kepa in such a high-stakes encounter also drew criticism from observers, including Chris Sutton.
“I never understand why managers play their second-choice goalkeepers in cup finals. For the life of me, I do not understand that.
“You’re trying to win a trophy, why wouldn’t you play your number one to give yourself the best possible chance? That’s common sense.”
Kepa had earned his place through solid performances earlier in the competition, and it is difficult to fault Arteta entirely for maintaining consistency. However, the final represented a missed opportunity for the goalkeeper to demonstrate that he could be relied upon in the most demanding circumstances.
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OEM software bloat strikes again – Samsung Connect App causes mayhem Earlier this month, reports came in that Windows 11’s March 2026 updates were preventing users from accessing their C: drive. Following an investigation by Microsoft, via Windows Latest, it was uncovered that these issues predated Windows 11’s March update. In fact, it wasn’t caused […]
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MyChessLab is a suite of chess study tool microsites that is regularly expanded. The site is in early beta and seeking 100 testers to help with bug testing and feature refinement. Beta testers will have free access for the rest of 2026 and a discounted founders rate if they choose to subscribe from January 1, 2027. No card details are required during the beta testing period.
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Kioxia launches GP Series SSD using Storage Class Memory to expand GPU-accessible memory, targeting high-performance AI workloads and millions of IOPS.
Russia Joins Japan, Germany, India, South Korea, and More in Qatar Airways’ Suspension of Service to 12 Major International Routes, Including Tokyo, Moscow, Seoul, Munich, Kolkata, and Others – Latest Update You Need to KnowRussia, Japan, Germany, India, South Korea,... Read More
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ScotRail Unveils £80 Million Overhaul to Replace Outdated High-Speed Trains with Modern Refurbished FleetScotRail announces an £80 million investment to replace its outdated high-speed trains with a modern, refurbished fleet, enhancing comfort and sustainability across Scotland. The post ScotRail Unveils... Read More
Original Source: Travel And Tour World
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Calgary-Taipei Flights Are Here: Canada’s Adventure Travelers Can Now Go Nonstop to Taiwan’s Epic Landscapes in 2026!Explore the new 2026 Calgary–Taipei flight expansions by Eva Air and China Airlines. Discover Taiwan's rugged mountains and coasts with easier nonstop travel. The... Read More
Original Source: Travel And Tour World
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Jacksonville Joins Charlotte, Houston, Tampa, Tampa, Detroit and More US Cities Connecting San Juan with New Flight Route from American Low-Cost Airline JetBlue, Supercharging Caribbean Travel for US TouristsJacksonville joins Charlotte Houston Tampa Detroit and more US cities connecting San Juan... Read More
Original Source: Travel And Tour World
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United Airlines Flight UA1578 from Nashville to San Francisco Makes Urgent Emergency Landing in Kansas CityShortly after takeoff, the crew of United Airlines Flight UA1578 from Nashville to San Francisco discovered a possible technical or operational problem, prompting an immediate... Read More
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TAT’s ‘Healing Journey Thailand’ Campaign Redefines Luxury Travel with Purposeful Engagement: What You Need To KnowThe Tourism Authority of Thailand's "Healing Journey Thailand" campaign invites global travelers to embrace wellness and culture through meaningful, sustainable travel experiences. The post TAT’s... Read More
Original Source: Travel And Tour World
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Passengers Grounded In Canada As Toronto Pearson Airport Faced 15 Cancelled Flights And 208 Delays, Disrupting Air Canada, Jazz, Porter Airlines, WestJet, And Other Airlines Across Montreal, Orlando, Halifax, Chicago, Vancouver And More RoutesTravelers were delayed in Canada today as... Read More
Original Source: Travel And Tour World
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Travel Industry in Turmoil Now: Surging Airline Fuel Costs Push Worldwide Hotel Rates Higher, Transforming 2026 Travel BudgetsJet fuel cost spikes tied to geopolitical tensions driving up airline fares & forcing global hotel rates higher in 2026 reshaping travel costs... Read More
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London Gatwick Joins Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Lyon Saint Exupéry and More Airports in France, UK, Germany, Italy, Netherlands as Jet2 Ignites Another New Route to Málaga Route Transforming UK- Spain Leisure Travel in This Summer Trip SeasonLondon Gatwick... Read More
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Fiji Airways Takes Centre Stage as Platinum Partners With South Pacific Tourism Exchange In 2026Fiji Airways partners with Pacific Tourism Organisation as Platinum Partner for SPTE 2026, enhancing Pacific tourism visibility and sustainable travel growth. The post Fiji Airways Takes... Read More
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The 16-inch laptop just barely cracks 1 W when idling to be much more efficient than most competitors. Real-world battery life tests show the system lasting for more than 24 hours of constant web browsing.
CheckMag | I left my AirPods at home and I discovered they were killing my productivity. Now, I make an effort to stop listening to useless podcasts to fill up the silence.
As Android tablets go, the Honor MagicPad 4 is a very complete package! You can get one for €650/£600 and that includes some nice additions. But let's first see what comes as standard.
The tablet ships in either white or black, and either 12/256GB or 16/256GB variants, and packs a USB-A to USB-C cable and a 66W charger.
Unboxing the tablet
In Germany and other markets, you also get the MagicPad4 Smart Keyboard and the Magic Pencil 3 for free with the tablet. In the UK, you need to pay an extra £30 for each.
The Smart Keyboard and Magic Pencil 3
Combine the slate...
Corinthians play against Flamengo on Matchday 8 of the Brasileirao 2026. Fans in the United States can catch every moment with complete kickoff details and broadcast information for both TV and streaming platforms.
Here are all of the details of where you can watch Corinthians vs Flamengo on US television and via legal streaming:
With momentum and positioning in the early Brasileiraostandings on the line, Corinthianshead into a high-stakes weekend matchup holding 9 points and looking to cut into the gap above them. Standing in their way are Flamengo.
The Fla arrive with 13 points and firmly focused on keeping within striking distance of the league’s top spots, setting the stage for a hard battle between two contenders. Expect intensity, quality, and plenty of drama.
More details about watching the game on Fanatiz
With Fanatiz, you can watch Corinthians vs Flamengo and tons more games. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick or hook it up to your TV with Google Chromecast.
In addition, standard Fanatiz plans include access to beIN SPORTS – the network with the rights to Ligue 1, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, the Turkish SüperLig, African club and international competitions, and more. It also has GolTV, the hard-to-find channel that airs the Portuguese Primeira Liga, Ecuadorian Serie A, Peruvian Liga 1, and Uruguayan Primera. The service also has Spanish language coverage of the Argentine Primera and Brasileirão leagues, as well as Colombian and Honduran leagues.
The Fanatiz app is available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.
How to watch anywhere with VPN
If you’re abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out World Soccer Talk’s guide to the best VPNs for streaming soccer.
To find out when soccer games are on, download the free Soccer TV Schedules App which includes listings of all of the live soccer matches available in the United States (available on Apple iOS devices and Android devices).
Fatih Karagümrük Başkanı Süleyman Hurma, Fenerbahçe galibiyeti hakkında dikkat çeken açıklamalarda bulundu.
Fatih Karagümrük Başkanı Süleyman Hurma, Fenerbahçe galibiyeti sonrası küçük düşürüldüklerini belirtti. HT Spor'a konuşan Süleyman Hurma'nın açıklamaları şöyle:
-Bir tek şey beni çok üzdü. Maçtan sonra birçok televizyon kanalı ve yorumcu, Fenerbahçe’ye hakaret etmek, onları aşağılamak için bizi o kadar aşağıladı ki… Sanki bir futbol takımı değiliz; sokaktan, kahveden 11 kişi toplanıp gelmişiz, Fenerbahçe’ye karşı oynamışız gibi.
-Günün sonunda bunlar da oyuncu. Benim kalecim Atletico Madrid’de oynadı, Premier Lig’de oynadı. Sağ bekim Sporting, sol bekim Sırbistan Milli Takımı oyuncusu. Stoperim Şili Milli Takımı oyuncusu. Sanki biz sokaktan 11 kişi Karagümrük olarak toplanmışız gibi.
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For a second straight year, the Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey team is the national champion after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 3-2 on Sunday.
![Florida’s Ron Roberts will serve as executive head coach, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Roberts was coaching drills Saturday. The Florida Gators held their second Spring football practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, March 9, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://media.zenfs.com/en/sooners_wire_usa_today_articles_466/fdbd5f6fe4a0733035eb6763acf6ad23)
![Florida offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner works out the quarterbacks during the first day of Florida Spring football practice at Heavener Football Center in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://media.zenfs.com/en/sooners_wire_usa_today_articles_466/66ba2a40b08b50a13155c5b0a0948cc3)
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