Category: NBA

Arizona's Final Four drought is finally over. The Wildcats are headed back to the Final Four for the first time since 2001 after their Elite Eight win over Purdue.

Trailing by seven at halftime, Arizona produced a dominant second half to put the Boilermakers away. Wildcats players led the halftime pep talk before Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd provided the punctuation: “Let's go kick their ass."

Message received. Arizona outscored Purdue 48-26 after the break.

In-depth: How Arizona players' halftime talk ended 25 years of March Madness heartbreak

Arizona has one national championship in its history, the 1997 Miles Simon-led team... in Indianapolis.

Here's what you need to know about Arizona's road to Indy and the Wildcats' stars that led them there:

Arizona road to Final Four

• First round: beat No. 16 Long Island, 92-58
• Second round: beat No. 9 Utah State, 78-66
• Sweet 16: beat No. 4 Arkansas, 109-88
• Elite Eight: beat No. 2 Purdue, 79-64

Arizona basketball roster

Name	Position	Year	Height	Hometown
Jaden Bradley	G	Sr.	6-3	Rochester, NY
Dwayne Aristode	F	Fr.	6-8	Netherlands
Anthony Dell'Orso	G	Sr.	6-6	Melbourne, Australia
Brayden Burries	G	Fr.	6-4	San Bernardino, Calif.
Bryce James	G	Fr.	6-5	Akron, Ohio
Jackson Francois	G	Sr	6-5	Las Vegas
Ivan Kharchenkov	F	Fr.	6-7	Munich, Germany
Koa Peat	F	Fr.	6-8	Chandler, Ariz.
Jackson Cook	G	So.	6-3	Oxford, England
Motiejus Krivas	C	Jr.	7-2	Lithuania
Sidi Gueye	F	Fr.	6-11	Senegal
Mabil Mawut	F	Fr.	6-11	South Sudan
Evan Nelson	G	Gr.	6-2	Tucson, Ariz.
Addison Arnold	G	So.	6-3	Simi Valley, Calif.
Tobe Awaka	F	Sr.	6-8	Hyde Park, NY
Sven Djopmo	G	So.	6-2	Reims, France

Arizona basketball stat leaders

SCORING

• Brayden Burries, 16.1 ppg
• Koa Peat, 14.1 ppg
• Jaden Bradley, 13.3 ppg
• Ivan Kharchenkov, 10.5 ppg
• Motiejus Krivas, 10.4 ppg

REBOUNDING

• Tobe Awaka, 9.1 rpg
• Motiejus Krivas, 8.2 rpg
• Koa Peat, 5.5 rpg

ASSISTS

• Jaden Bradley, 4.4 apg
• Koa Peat, 2.7 apg
• Brayden Burries, 2.5 apg

Arizona basketball Final Four history

This is Arizona's fifth trip to the Final Four and first since 2001.

• 1988: lost to Oklahoma in semifinal, 85-78
• 1994: lost to Arkansas in semifinal, 91-82
• 1997: beat North Carolina in semifinal, 66-58; beat Kentucky in final, 84-79 in OT
• 2001: beat Michigan State in semifinal, 80-61; lost to Duke in final, 82-72

Is Tommy Lloyd a candidate for UNC basketball coach job? What Arizona coach said about links

Lloyd was asked about the opening in Chapel Hill at Wednesday's press availability ahead of Thursday's Sweet 16. Here's what he said:

"I already have one of the best jobs in the country. One thing we talk about in our program all the time, and I think I've gotten better at, and I think our team has been crushing it this year, is just the ability to have full focus and be present in the moment.

"So I think we have a great team. I think we have a chance to advance in this tournament game by game. But I'm not delusional. I know we could lose tomorrow.

"But this team deserves my full focus, so there's not one thing that is going to knock me off my path. I'm 100 percent focused on Arizona basketball and this program, and I can't wait until the ball gets thrown up tomorrow, and then can't wait to try to figure out a way to come out on top."

Why Tommy Lloyd focused on freshmen and not 'overpriced' transfers

In the Year of the Freshmen across college basketball, no other freshman class in America has scored more points this season than the five active freshmen on Arizona, led by Brayden Burries, Koa Peat and Ivan Kharchenkov.

Wildcats coach Tommy Lloyd instead took a different approach than many others last year, veering away from the transfer portal, where more experienced players typically seek to earn more money from their names, images and likenesses (NIL).

“We were able to get involved with some freshmen that we felt could be just big-time impact players in college basketball, no matter what year or what class they were,” Lloyd told USA TODAY Sports.

One reason Lloyd built his roster this way was because didn’t think there were going to be many “quality” transfers available in the portal.

“I thought it was going to be overpriced,” Lloyd said.

Is LeBron James' son on Arizona roster? Does he play?

Bryce James, LeBron's son, is on the Wildcats roster. The freshman is redshirting this season. Bryce was a three-star recruit out of Sierra Canyon, where brother Bronny James also attended.

🐻 DOWN!!!! FINAL 4️⃣ BOUND @ArizonaMBB 🫡

— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 29, 2026

Yes, Tommy Lloyd is an aspiring DJ: DJ Tomm-EE

Tommy Lloyd’s sidequest includes spinning it on the turntables in becoming a DJ.

He may not strike you as one you’d see mixing songs or making the beat drop, but Lloyd is quite the music lover. And this hobby he’s picked up has come with a masterful teacher, “one of the best DJs of all time” in Mix Master Mike.

“My sport is the art of turntables and hip hop. His sport is basketball. We just decided to collide into those two professions, and now we're here,” Mike told USA TODAY Sports. “It's just an amazing thing.”

Lloyd insists his DJ career is “more of a joke” than his next profession, but he may be selling himself short. Mike insists he’s better than he likely thinks he is. You just don’t show your team samples of your mixes for nothing.

“It's been a little bit of a — I guess — I don't know if a childhood fantasy, but probably a manhood fantasy for me that's come true,” Lloyd said. “It's been awesome to have that relationship.”

Koa Peat 2026 NBA Draft, mock draft prediction

No. 19 overall to Miami Heat

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

The Miami Heat have drafted several prospects known for their athleticism, which means a player like Arizona forward Koa Peat will probably have some appeal to their organization. Peat is an ideal match for this franchise given his versatility as a playmaking forward. The All-Big 12 forward just needs a jumper to carve out regular minutes as a high-impact pro. Arizona plays at a significantly faster pace (4.6 extra possessions) when Peat is on the floor relative to when he is not, per CBB Analytics, which would fit very well with Miamis fastest-paced offense in the NBA.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft here

Koa Peat stats

(all stats as of March 15)

• 13.6 points per game
• 5.3 rebounds per game
• 2.7 assists per game
• 53.7% field goal percentage
• 31.6% three-point field goal percentage

Brayden Burries 2026 NBA Draft, mock draft prediction

No. 10 overall to Milwaukee Bucks.

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

Arizona freshman Brayden Burries had two breakout games in January, which helped solidify his draft stock. But the All-Big 12 guard has continued to display his tantalizing talent, scoring 31 points with seven rebounds and five steals against Colorado on March 7 and 20 points with 12 rebounds and five assists during a victory against No. 14 Kansas on Feb. 28. Burries has proven productivity and that he is able to defend, relocate, move the ball and make 3-pointers off the dribble.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft here

Brayden Burries stats

(all stats as of March 15)

• 15.9 points per game
• 4.7 rebounds per game
• 2.6 assists per game
• 49.2% field goal percentage
• 36.7% three-point field goal percentage

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arizona basketball in Final Four: Top players, March Madness results

No team has impressed more this NCAA Tournament than Michigan. The Wolverines have pummeled their way to the Final Four, their first since 2018.

Led by Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan has won each game by at least 13 points and have the look of a championship favorite.

Here's what you need to know about Michigan's road to Indy and the Wolverines' stars that led them there:

Toppmeyer: Dusty May so good, you almost forget Sherrone Moore — now, UNC needs him

Michigan sends message: You don't want to play them

Michigan road to Final Four

• First round: beat No. 16 Howard, 101-80
• Second round: beat No. 9 Saint Louis, 95-72
• Sweet 16: beat No. 4 Alabama, 90-77
• Elite Eight: beat No. 6 Tennessee, 95-62

Michigan basketball roster

Name	Position	Year	Height	Hometown
Ricky Liburd	G/F	Fr.	6-4	Hollywood, Fla.
Trey McKenney	G	Fr.	6-4	Flint, Mich.
L.J. Cason	G	So.	6-2	Lakeland, Fla.
Elliot Cadeau	G	Jr.	6-1	West Orange, NJ
Nimari Burnett	G	Gr.	6-5	Chicago
Oscar Goodman	F	Fr.	6-7	New Zealand
Howard Eisley Jr.	G	So.	6-0	Tualatin, Ore.
Roddy Gayle Jr.	G	Sr.	6-5	Niagara Falls, NY
Charlie May	G	Sr.	6-5	Boca Raton, Fla.
Harrison Hochberg	F	Jr.	6-7	New York, NY
Aday Mara	C	Jr.	7-3	Zaragoza, Spain
Morez Johnson Jr.	F	So.	6-9	Riverdale, Ill.
Yaxel Lendeborg	F	Gr.	6-9	Pennsauken, NJ
Malick Kordel	C	Fr.	7-2	Oberhausen, Germany
Will Tschetter	F	Gr.	6-8	Stewartville, Minn.

Michigan basketball stat leaders

SCORING

• Yaxel Lendeborg, 14.9 ppg
• Morez Johnson Jr., 13.2 ppg
• Aday Mara, 11.9 ppg
• Elliot Cadeau, 10. 3 ppg
• Trey McKenney, 9.7 ppg

REBOUNDING

• Morez Johnson Jr., 7.3 rpg
• Yaxel Lendeborg, 7.0 rpg
• Aday Mara, 6.8 rpg

ASSISTS

• Elliot Cadeau, 5.7 apg
• Yaxel Lendeborg, 3.3 apg
• Aday Mara, 2.5 apg

Michigan basketball Final Four history

This is Michigan's ninth trip to the Final Four and first since 2018.

• 1964: lost to Duke in semifinal, 91-80; beat Kansas State in 3rd place game, 100-90
• 1965: beat Princeton in semifinal, 93-76; lost to UCLA in final, 91-80
• 1976: beat Rutgers in semifinal, 86-70; lost to Indiana in final, 86-68
• 1989: beat Illinois in semifinal, 83-81, beat Seton Hall in final, 80-79 in OT
• 1992: beat Cincinnati in semifinal, 76-72; lost to Duke in final, 71-51
• 1993: beat Kentucky in semifinal 81-78 in OT; lost to North Carolina in final, 77-71
• 2013: beat Syracuse in semifinal, 61-56; lost to Louisville in final, 82-76
• 2018: beat Loyola Chicago in semifinal, 69-57; lost to Villanova in final, 79-62

How old is Yaxel Lendeborg?

Yaxel Lendeborg is 23 years old. Lendeborg played three seasons at Arizona Western Community College before heading to UAB where he played two seasons. This is his first year at Michigan.

Is Elliot Cadeau deaf? Michigan PG overcame hearing, vision issues

Elliot Cadeau is half-deaf in one ear, dealt with blurred vision in one eye. That hasn't stopped Michigan point guard from turning in his best season.

∎ Read more about Cadeau overcoming adversity via USA TODAY Sports' Paul Myerberg.

One of Dusty May's son is a walk-on, the other is a student manager

Dusty May is surrounding by family on the Michigan bench. His son Charlie is a walk-on for the Wolverines, while another son, Eli, is a student manager — a role Dusty served under former Indiana icon Bob Knight.

In Michigan's Elite Eight blowout win over Tennessee, Charlie got into the game and drilled a 3-pointer, much to the delight of his Wolverines teammates.

“It’s obviously tough to give up playing the game and being on a team wearing a jersey,” Dusty May told USA TODAY Sports about Eli's role. “But I just thought as far as his long-term development, all the things our managers learn, problem-solving, they learn people skills. They learn to function. We try to give them a lot of responsibility because we know if they’re ever going to make it in coaching … they have to have the experience of doing meaningful work. Our managers have helped him become much more responsible.”

Where is Aday Mara from?

The 7-3 UCLA transfer is from Zaragoza, Spain. Mara was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Big Ten with 2.6 blocks per game.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan basketball in Final Four: Top players, March Madness results

The road from Champaign to Indianapolis is relatively easy — a two-hour straight shot due east on I-74.

Illinois' path to the 2026 Final Four wasn't as simple, but also didn't provide too many hazards as the Fighting Illini won all four of its NCAA Tournament games by double digits.

The No. 3 seeded Illini won the South Region by beating Big Ten rival Iowa, who did Illinois a solid by knocking out No. 1 Florida in the second round. Freshman star Keaton Wagler, who was overlooked in this year's loaded freshman class, won the South's Most Outstanding Player as Brad Underwood led the Illini to their first Final Four since 2005.

In-depth: How Keaton Wagler has risen from freshman unknown to superstar

More: Illinois was Brad Underwood's dream job. Now, he has it in the Final Four

Illinois road to Final Four

• First round: beat No. 14 Penn, 105-70
• Second round: beat No. 11 VCU, 76-55
• Sweet 16: beat No. 2 Houston, 65-55
• Elite Eight: beat No. 9 Iowa, 71-59

Illinois basketball roster

Name	Position	Year	Height	Hometown
David Mirkovic	F	Fr	6-9	Montenegro
Brandon Lee	G	Fr.	6-4	San Juan, Puerto Rico
Andrej Stojakovic	G	Jr.	6-7	Thessaloniki, Greece
Ben Humrichous	F	Gr.	6-9	Tipton, Ind.
Kylan Boswell	G	Sr.	6-2	Champaign, Ill.
AJ Redd	G	Sr.	6-3	Chicago
Blake Fagbemi	G	Fr.	6-0	Naperville, Ill.
Toni Bilic	F	So.	6-8	Croatia
Tomislav Ivisic	C	Jr.	7-1	Croatia
Jake Davis	F	Jr.	6-6	McCordsville, Ind.
Ty Rodgers	G/F	Jr.	6-6	Saginaw, Mich.
Keaton Wagler	G	Fr.	6-6	Shawnee, Kan.
Jason Jakstys	C	Fr.	6-10	Yorkville, Ill.
Zvonimir Ivisic	F/C	Jr.	7-2	Croatia
Mihailo Petrovic	G	So.	6-2	Serbia

Illinois basketball stat leaders

SCORING

• Keaton Wagler, 17.9 ppg
• Andrej Stojakovic, 13.6 ppg
• David Mirkovic, 13.5 ppg
• Kylan Boswell, 12.5 ppg
• Tomislav Ivisic, 10. 2 ppg

REBOUNDING

• David Mirkovic, 8.1 rpg
• Tomislav Ivisic, 5.6 rpg
• Keaton Wagler, 5.0 rpg

ASSISTS

• Keaton Wagler, 4.3 apg
• Kylan Boswell, 3.1 apg
• David Mirkovic, 2.6 apg

Illinois basketball Final Four history

This is the Illini's sixth trip to the Final Four and first since 2005.

• 1949: lost semifinal to Kentucky, 76-47
• 1951: lost semifinal to Kentucky, 76-74
• 1952: lost semifinal to St. John's, 61-59
• 1989: lost semifinal to Michigan, 83-81
• 2005: won semifinal vs. Louisville, 72-57; lost in final to North Carolina, 75-70

Is Andrej Stojakovic related to Peja Stojakovic?

Yes, Peja is his dad. Peja Stojakovic played 13 seasons in the NBA, primarily for the Sacramento Kings, and was a three-time All-Star.

Andrej played at Cal and Stanford before transferring to Illinois.

How many Europeans are on Illinois' team? Why does Illinois have so many Europeans on its roster?

• David Mirkovic is from Montenegro
• Andrej Stojakovic lists Thessaloniki, Greece as his hometown
• Tomislav Ivisic is from Croatia
• Zvonimir Ivisic is from Croatia
• Mihailo Petrovic is from Serbia
• Toni Bilic is from Croatia

"Geoff Alexander, Orlando Antigua deserve most all of the credit in terms of building the relationships in Europe," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. "It's taken years. NIL has obviously helped enhance our abilities to attract some of the best players in Europe. But they're a great fit for us. It's not for everybody. I enjoy coaching 'em. They fit our university. We're a diverse university with a lot of international students, so it's a perfect fit for them.

"Basketball-wise it's a great fit for me, and I like coaching them. The way we're playing with positional size and shooting, it's just — it's a great marriage and a great fit. So we'll continue it. I would think others will continue to migrate over there and keep trying to recruit those guys."

Illinois' Jake Davis gets to play at home for Final Four

The Illini forward is from McCordsville, Indiana, a suburb northeast of Indianapolis, and played at Indy's Cathedral High School. He began his college career at Mercer before transferring to Illinois after the 2024 season. At Cathedral, Davis was known as "the guy who takes charges."

Illinois forward Ben Humrichous is also from Indiana, from nearby Tipton, about an hour north. He began his college career at Indiana's Huntington University (NAIA) and then transferred to Evansville.

Brad Underwood says Illinois will 'turn Indy orange', 'kick everybody's ass there'

On Sunday, Brad Underwood addressed a crowd of fans on campus:

"We had a huge group in Houston. I know we're going to turn it out in Indy. That's the story. We're going to turn Indy orange.. and blue. And kick everybody's ass there."

#Illini Brad Underwood addresses the crowd pic.twitter.com/qQOUob4H1v

— Kyle Tausk (@ktausk13) March 29, 2026

Keaton Wagler 2026 NBA Draft mock draft prediction

Atlanta Hawks, pick No. 7.

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

After trading away Trae Young, the Hawks could find their point guard of the future in Illinois standout Keaton Wagler using a first-round pick they received from the Pelicans. The 19-year-old guard scored 46 points while shooting 9-of-11 on 3-pointers against No. 12 Purdue on Jan. 24. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, shooting 41.0 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman this year. The Big Ten Rookie of the Year is a cerebral basketball player who is also averaging 4.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game this season.

∎ Read more about Keaton Wagler's rise from unknown for freshman superstar.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Illinois basketball in Final Four: Top players, March Madness results

Without Derrick White and Jaylen Brown, Boston went into the Spectrum Center and beat Charlotte 114-99 in Jayson Tatum’s first 30-plus game of the year and 28 points from Payton Pritchard.

The Celtics got crushed by the Hornets just three weeks ago 118-89 at TD Garden and had won seven of their last nine games, but strong contributions from role players up and down the rotation was too much for the Hornets to overcome on the second night of a back-to-back. They’ll play each other again on April 7th back in Boston in what could be a first round preview.

With two weeks to go, the Celtics have clinched a spot in the playoffs and been a steady +600 at our friends at FanDuel to raise Banner 19 and the favorite to rep the Eastern Conference in the 2026 NBA Finals.

Jayson Tatum

30 minutes, 32 points (5-10 from 3, 3-5 from the free throw line, 12-23 from the field), 5 rebounds, 8 assists, one block, +15

Maybe it was because the game was so close to Durham where he played his college ball or maybe he’s starting to feel more like himself at Game #11, but Jayson Tatum looked really like Jayson Tatum against the Hornets.

In the zone 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/HfpVIXWhFo

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 29, 2026

The three-point shot was going down (hitting half of his ten three-point attempts), but more importantly, his drives were more aggressive, getting to the cup and the free throw line. He became the youngest Celtic ever to hit 14,000 points.

Grade: A+

Sam Hauser

33 minutes, 7 points (2-4 from 3, 1-2 from the free throw line, 2-4 from the field), 3 rebounds, +13

It was another game that felt like Hauser was just out there. He made half of his four attempts from behind the arc and was a +13 playing mostly with the starters.

Grade: B

Neemias Queta

28 minutes, 17 points (0-1 from 3, 1-2 from the free throw line, 8-13 from the field), 8 rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block, +13

It always seems like when one of the Jays has it going, Queta is going to have a good game, too. It’s that symbiotic relationship between superstar and active big. Whenever the defense collapsed on Tatum or Pritchard, Queta either got the dish in the dunker spot or grabbed the offensive rebound for a putback.

Grade: A

Jordan Walsh

33 minutes, 3 points (0-4 from 3, 1-1 from the free throw line, 1-7 from the field), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, one steal, +14

As LaMelo Ball’s primary cover, Walsh put the clamps on him as a starter. Ball missed his first five shots of the game — he scored his first points in transition cross-matched against Pritchard. Ball would get it going in the second half and finish with 19, but Walsh’s work early cut off the head of the snake and allowed Boston to get out to an early double-digit lead and never look back.

In addition to his individual defense, Walsh got his hands on a lot of loose balls and deflected even more in Boston’s favor.

Grade: A

Payton Pritchard

37 minutes, 28 points (2-6 from 3, 6-6 from the free throw line, 10-18 from the field), 6 rebounds, 6 assists, one steal, 2 turnovers, +12

With Brown and White both out, Pritchard started for just the second time since being regulated back to the bench since the Celtics swapped Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic. He didn’t disappoint. Eight of his buckets came in the mid-range

Grade: A

Baylor Scheierman

28 minutes, 14 points (3-7 from 3, 3-4 from the free throw line, 4-11 from the field), one rebound, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, +6

Scheierman broke into the rotation playing solid defense and hitting his threes, but over the last few weeks, we’re getting a little more of the Baylor Showmanship that got us excited at the end of last season. I mean, look at this:

"THAT'S SICK!" Baylor Scheierman showing off 🥵 pic.twitter.com/mbxypt3TAY

— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) March 29, 2026

He had the most points off the bench (14) on a night when they were sorely needed with two starters out with injuries.

Grade: A-

Luka Garza

13 minutes, 2 points (1-1 from the field), one rebounds, +8

The Hornets are primarily a perimeter team, so Garza played just 13 minutes in Charlotte for a +8 stint. No complaints.

Grade: C

Hugo Gonzalez

12 minutes, 3 points (1-2 from 3, 1-2 from the field), 3 rebounds, one steal, -12

Gonzalez’s minutes are on the decline since the start of March. He’s played in every game and has injected that infectious energy that sometimes seems to swing the momentum in Boston’s favor when they need it. He took a couple of cracks at LaMelo and made a three-pointer.

Grade: C

Ron Harper Jr.

14 minutes, 7 points (1-1 from 3, 3-3 from the field), 3 rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block, +10

Dude just floats around the court and finds ways to score. Before spraining his right ankle and leaving the game for the locker room, he bridged the first and second quarter hitting all three of his shots in a variety of ways: cutting backdoor on a screen, driving in semi-transition, and leaking out and canning a 3. He’s been a valuable contributor on his two-way deal and hopefully, he’ll sign with the big club this summer.

Grade: A

Charles Bassey, Jon Tonje, Amari Williams, Max Shulga

Mop up duty for the Maine crew.

Inactive: Jaylen Brown, Derrick White

With the fantasy basketball playoffs on the horizon, every roster decision counts. This week's schedule sets up beautifully for managers willing to work the waiver wire, with 18 teams logging four games and key streaming opportunities emerging on light game days. The Cavaliers, Rockets, Suns and Wizards all boast favorable matchup slates, offering plenty of upside for both core starters and speculative adds. Whether you're chasing points, threes, rebounds or steals, the matchup data points to several players primed to deliver monster stat lines. Here's everything you need to know to maximize your lineup for the week of April 4.

Days with fewer than six games

These are dates to target players for streaming options from the following teams: 

Saturday, April 4: WAS at MIA, SAS at DEN, DET at PHI

Teams with more than three games this week

Make sure to activate players and target weekly pickups from the following teams:

Celtics (4), Hornets (4), Bulls (4), Cavaliers (4), Mavericks (4), Pistons (4), Rockets (4), Lakers (4), Grizzlies (4), Bucks (4), Timberwolves (4), Magic (4), 76ers (4), Suns (4), Spurs (4), Raptors (4), Jazz (4), Wizards (4)

Teams with fewer than three games this week

Consider looking for streaming options if your roster includes players from these teams:

Nuggets (2), Trail Blazers (2)

Top teams to target based on favorable matchups

Cavaliers at Jazz, at Lakers, at Warriors, vs. Pacers

The Cavs enter the week with a 7-3 record in their last 10 games, including a win in their most recent outing. They have a great opportunity to build momentum on the right track as they open with a matchup against the Jazz, who  give up the league's most points per game, along with the most three-pointers per game. With Max Strus expected to be sidelined for the contest, Keon Ellis and Sam Merrill are in line for more action and should thrive from long range. Up next, the Cavs take on the Lakers, who give up the league's third-most points and fourth-most free throws per game to opposing small forwards. This is a matchup primed for Strus to work his way back into rhythm, as he is likely to be ready for the second leg of a back-to-back. Moving ahead, the Cavs face the Warriors, who give up the league's seventh-most points and sixth-most three-pointers per game, along with the third-highest field-goal percentage to opposing point guards. This should be ideal grounds for James Harden to come up with a major stat line, while Dennis Schroder, who has delivered well in a limited backup role, can also step up to make his mark against a former squad. Finally, the Cavs encounter the Pacers, who give up the league's fifth-most points per game, third-highest field-goal percentage and the most points in the paint. They also give up the league's third-most rebounds per game. The frontcourt duo of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley should help their side claim control in this one, while Thomas Bryant, who is averaging 15.0 minutes per game over the last 10, could also shine. 

Rockets vs. Knicks, vs. Bucks, vs. Jazz, at Warriors

The Rockets are just 5-5 in their last 10 games but enter the week on a two-game win streak. They begin with a challenge against the Knicks but should find the edge, as the Knicks give up the league's 10th-most three-pointers per game, which favors the leading talent of Kevin Durant, as well as Reed Sheppard, who has taken on a starting role and is averaging 3.0 made threes per outing over five games. Up next, the Rockets meet with the Bucks, who give up the league's second-most three-pointers per game and third-highest three-point shooting percentage, another great chance for the aforementioned two to lead the charge. From there, the Rockets clash with the struggling Jazz, who give up the league's third-highest field-goal percentage, including the fourth-highest three-point shooting percentage. They also give up the second-most free throws per game, which means guys like Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith, who do well to get to the foul line are likely to pad their stats. Lastly, the Rockets take on the Warriors, who give up the league's seventh-highest field-goal percentage and the fourth-most turnovers per game. They also give up the second-most rebounds per game to opposing centers. The Rockets have four players averaging more than 1.0 steal per game, including Sheppard, Thompson, Sengun and Tari Eason, who will all have a great chance to boost their numbers on the defensive end. 

Suns at Grizzlies, at Magic, at Hornets, at Bulls

The Suns are 4-6 in their last 10 games but are coming off a win and have a good opportunity to build some positive momentum down the final stretch of the season. They commence their week against the shorthanded Grizzlies, who give up the league's eighth-most points in the paint and fifth-most three-pointers per game. The Grizzlies also give up the third-most offensive rebounds, fifth-most total rebounds and eighth-most turnovers per game. This provides a perfect chance for Oso Ighodaro to continue to build on his improved play, as he is averaging 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals over the last six games. Up next, the Suns clash with the Magic, who give up the league's seventh-highest field-goal percentage and sixth-most free throws per game, signifying that Devin Booker, Grayson Allen and Jalen Green, who are among their team leaders in free throws per game, are likely to pad their stats. From there, the Suns take on the Hornets, who give up the league's seventh-most turnovers per game, along with the fourth-highest field-goal percentage and fifth-most threes per game to opposing power forwards. This is a perfect chance for Royce O'Neale to stand out, as he averages 2.8 three-pointers and 1.1 steals per game. Finally, the Suns close the week against the Bulls, who give up the league's fourth-most points per game, sixth-most three-pointers and fourth-most points in the paint.

Wizards at Lakers, vs. 76ers, at Heat, at Nets 

The Wizards are well beyond playoff contention and have lost nine of their last 10 games. Nonetheless, they look ahead towards continued opportunity to develop the younger talent on their roster and begin the week with a matchup against the Lakers, who give up the league's fifth-highest field-goal percentage, including the highest field-goal percentage to opposing power forwards. This should be the perfect chance for Will Riley to keep up his strong play, as he is averaging 14.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists over the last 10 games. Next, the Wizards take on the 76ers, who give up the league's eighth-most free throws per game, along with the fourth-most offensive rebounds per game, suggesting Bilal Coulibaly and Justin Champagnie as likely candidates to boost their stats. Moving ahead, the Wizards meet with the Heat, who give up the league's ninth-most points per game and the ninth-most points in the paint. Big men, Alex Sarr and Tristan Vukcevic should stand out in that one. Finally, a bout with the Nets, who give up the league's highest field-goal percentage and the seventh-most points in the paint, along with the third-most turnovers per game. This matchup also favors the five already-mentioned players.

There are only two weeks left in the regular season. The playoff contenders are using the final stretch to jockey for position and secure home court, while the league’s bottom dwellers shut things down and look to improve their lottery odds. Monday night’s contest between the San Antonio Spurs and the Chicago Bulls will be a matchup between teams in each of those categories.

The Bulls have officially been eliminated from playoff contention and are dealing with several injuries. They’ll be without big men Zach Collins and Jalen Smith, and ball-handlers Jaden Ivey and Anfernee Simons against the Spurs. Chicago is still feisty, though. They have solid young players like Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis.

San Antonio knows the Bulls’ spoiler ability all too well. It took a 32-19 fourth quarter for the Spurs to secure a 121-117 win against Chicago earlier this season. San Antonio’s eight-game winning streak has been defined by blowouts started by early leads. The Spurs will need a good start to bury the Bulls as they look to gain ground on the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top seed in the Western Conference.

San Antonio Spurs (56-18) vs. Chicago Bulls (29-45)

March 30th, 2026 | 7 PM CT

Watch: Peacock | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Harrison Ingram – Out (G League), David Jones Garcia – Out (G League), Emanuel Miller – Out (G League)

Bulls Injuries: Zach Collins – Out (toe), Noa Essengue – Out (shoulder), Jaden Ivey – Out (knee), Mac McClung – Out (G League), Nick Richards – Questionable (elbow), Anfernee Simons – Out (hand), Jalen Smith – Out (calf), Guerschon Yabusele – Questionable (ankle)

What to watch for:

Containing ball handlers

If there is one thing Chicago has, it’s a plethora of guards who can handle the rock. Giddey is one of the league’s best point forwards, Colin Sexton has added a necessary veteran presence, Rob Dillingham has shown flashes, and Spurs fans will be familiar with the game of Tre Jones. With all of their ball handlers, the Bulls match up with the Spurs surprisingly well on the perimeter. Chicago’s best bet to contend with the Spurs is to utilize all its ball handlers to shift the defense and create easy looks.

Owning the interior

With Nick Richards listed as questionable for Monday night’s game, the Bulls’ tallest player could be 6-10 forward Leonard Miller. In case you forgot, the Spurs have a fairly talented 7-foot-4 big man named Victor Wembanyama. San Antonio should dominate the paint against the smaller Bulls. As Wembanyama chases the MVP, the Spurs could force-feed the big man inside for easy buckets against a weaker Chicago front line.

Stephon Castle stays hot

Stephon Castle had his fourth triple-double of the season in the team’s last win against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Sophomore has been playing some fantastic basketball down the stretch, averaging 16.6 points, 7.7 assists, and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 48.8% from the field and 40% from three. He’ll have the opportunity to go off again against the Bulls, who give up the third-most points per game in the NBA.

Last weekend on March 28th, Richard Francis Dennis Barry III turned 82. Just another date passing for a player who took the Golden State Warriors to the top of the mountain top and set a standard for excellence for the franchise.

Rick Barry is still the only player in basketball history to lead the NCAA, the ABA, and the NBA in scoring. Different leagues, different rules, different versions of the sport trying to figure themselves out. But they couldn’t figure out how to stop Barry.

Some younger fans might only know him for that awkward moment when the crowd rained boos on Joe Lacob after the Monta Ellis trade, and Barry grabbed the mic to tell everyone to knock it off.

But his time in the Bay will always come back to 1975 with that title team that for forty years stood as the only championship Golden State could brag about. That team was not supposed to win anything. Definitely not a sweep over Washington. The Warriors had Barry and a group that trusted him enough to follow wherever he led them:

The Warriors were a team that was not even expected to make the playoffs at the beginning of the season. After the 1974 season, in which they had a modest record of 44 – 38, they gave away 3 of their 5 leading scorers and got just one promising young player in return. The Warriors traded their 2nd leading scorer, Cazzie Russell, for a future draft pick. Even more startling, no shocking, is that the Warriors traded their future Hall of Fame center, Nate Thurmond, who had been 8th in the 1974 MVP voting and had been named to the 2nd team All-NBA Defensive squad. 

Barry controlled the entire series, averaging 29.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists, dictating pace, space, and outcomes. By the time it was over, Barry had turned one of the least likely championship runs in franchise history into something that felt inevitable.

That part matters more than it gets talked about. Before Steph Curry turned impossible shots into routine moments, Barry was doing something just as disorienting in a different way. He made a team that didn’t look like a champion play like one because he refused to let the game settle anywhere he didn’t control.

Zoom out, and the resume keeps stacking. Nine First-Team All-League selections across the NBA and ABA. A Finals career scoring average of 36.3 points per game that still sits at the top of the record books. A free throw stroke that looked like it belonged at a family barbecue and quietly became one of the most efficient weapons the game has ever seen.

Rick Barry perfected the art of the underhand free throw.#DubNation, join us in wishing 2️⃣4️⃣ a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! pic.twitter.com/hyAumuZbFw

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 28, 2026

So you end up with this strange gap between impact and recognition, where one of the most dominant players the Warriors have ever had still feels like he exists just outside the center of the story. Maybe that’s just part of it. Some players get celebrated easily over time, while others make you wrestle with them a little before you understand what you’re looking at. Dub Nation is looking at a top 50 and top 75 all time NBA player.

Happy birthday, Rick!

Detroit Pistons (54-20, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (59-16, first in the Western Conference)

Oklahoma City; Monday, 9:30 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Thunder -13.5; over/under is 219.5

BOTTOM LINE: Oklahoma City will aim for its 60th victory of the season when the Thunder play the Detroit Pistons.

The Thunder have gone 31-7 in home games. Oklahoma City is ninth in the Western Conference with 49.3 points per game in the paint led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 12.5.

The Pistons are 25-11 on the road. Detroit ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference with 45.7 rebounds per game led by Jalen Duren averaging 10.6.

The Thunder make 48.2% of their shots from the field this season, which is 4.0 percentage points higher than the Pistons have allowed to their opponents (44.2%). The Pistons average 10.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.4 fewer made shots on average than the 14.3 per game the Thunder give up.

The teams meet for the second time this season. The Pistons won 124-116 in the last meeting on Feb. 26. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 29 points, and Jaylin Williams led the Thunder with 30 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Gilgeous-Alexander is shooting 55.1% and averaging 31.4 points for the Thunder. Williams is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Tobias Harris is shooting 46.2% and averaging 13.4 points for the Pistons. Duncan Robinson is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 9-1, averaging 118.9 points, 45.3 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.7 points per game.

Pistons: 8-2, averaging 120.7 points, 44.9 rebounds, 31.4 assists, 10.1 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 51.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.6 points.

INJURIES: Thunder: Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).

Pistons: Duncan Robinson: day to day (hip), Ausar Thompson: day to day (ankle), Jalen Duren: day to day (knee), Tobias Harris: day to day (hip), Cade Cunningham: out (lung), Isaiah Stewart: out (calf).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

We have our Final Four.

After four rounds, 64 teams have been sent home and four remain in the hunt for a national championship. Connecticut, Arizona, Michigan and Illinois are en route to Indianapolis, two wins away from winning it all.

Some of the representatives aren’t much of a surprise, as the top-seeded Wildcats and Wolverines have looked like a tier above the rest of the sport, and anything less than a Final Four appearance would have been a disappointment. The Huskies stunned its away back to a familiar place, and Illinois isn't really a shocker and are far from an underdog after a very successful season, proving worthy of its spot.

IN-DEPTH: How Arizona players' halftime talk ended 25 years of March Madness heartbreak

The results of the weekend not only impacted the championship race, but the sport as a whole. Here are the winners and losers of the Elite Eight:

Winners

UConn’s comeback

A return to the Final Four didn’t seem possible when Connecticut was down 19 points late in the first half against Duke, but did the Huskies respond.

UConn clawed back in the second half, slowly chipping away at the lead before a 7-0 run put it in striking distance with under four minutes left. The Blue Devils couldn’t stop the momentum and Connecticut pulled out a shocking victory, punctuated by Braylon Mullins’ 3-pointer at the final second. UConn outscored Duke 44-28 in the final 20 minutes for its third trip to the Final Four in four seasons.

It was one of the largest comebacks in NCAA Tournament history, and UConn made Duke the first No. 1 seed to lose a game after being up by at least 15 points at halftime in an ending for the ages.

Big Ten

The Big Ten rolls onto the biggest stage with the conference getting two teams into the Final Four with Michigan and Illinois. It’s the first time the conference has accomplished the feat since 2015 and fourth time since 1999.

The tournament has been a Big Ten showcase after seven of its nine teams won their first round game. It put a record four teams in the Elite Eight, and was guaranteed to get at least one Final Four team with the Illinois-Iowa winner, and could’ve had up to three, but two is still a very successful result.

It’s been the winner of every round so far. Now all that’s left is finishing it on top with a 50% shot at a national championship, the first since 2000. It could be sealed with an all-Big Ten title game, very much possible.

Breaking droughts

The 2026 Final Four is more than two decades in the making for Arizona and Illinois, getting back to the final stage after falling short so many times.

Arizona is in the Final Four for the first time since 2001, a relief on the shoulders of the Wildcats after losing all of its past five Elite Eight appearances. They did it in emphatic fashion with a major second half comeback over Purdue to cruise toward a stress-free finish against the Boilermakers. Illinois was able to put away the surprise run against Iowa to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2005, the last time it was close to winning its first national title.

Two successful programs redeemed years of frustrations, and not only have they finally broken through, but they are viable national championship contenders, with Arizona on the verge of its second title and Illinois on the cusp of its biggest accomplishment yet.

Andrej Stojakovic 

Watch out dad, son can definitely hoop, too. The son of Peja, Andrej Stojakovic came up clutch for Illinois, a catalyst for his team surviving and advancing.

Iowa jumped out to a quick double-digit lead, but Stojakovic came in and helped his team recover quickly and eventually win. He made some clutch shots at the end and most importantly, defended Iowa star Bennett Stirtz down the stretch to prevent any late heroics. Even though Keaton Wagler was the star with 25 points, Stojakovic had 17 points and his plus/minus of +19 was the best on the team, proving how vital he was to his team’s success.

The Elite Eight isn’t the only time Stojakovic has come up big in the tournament, but Illinois may have been cooked if he wasn’t the sparkplug he was against the Hawkeyes. His presence keeps his team’s title hopes alive and well.

Losers

Duke chokes

It's another stunning March loss for Duke. The top overall seed looked destined for the Final Four after jumping to a 19-point lead against UConn in the first half.

Then came the second half.

The Blue Devils couldn't stop UConn from rallying at the end, and had the game in its hands in the final seconds, but a shocking turnover turned into a game-winning 3-pointer by the Huskies. UConn outscored Duke 15-5 in the final five minutes. Duke now is the first No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament history to lose after leading by at least 15 points at halftime, as they were 134-0 in such instances. The 19-point blown lead is tied for the sixth largest in the tournament.

The shocking loss keeps Duke away from winning its first national championship in the Jon Scheyer era, with the last title in 2015. Its the longest the Blue Devils have gone without a championship this century.

SEC

March doesn’t mean more in the SEC as the conference finishes with a dud to follow its historic past season.

It was going to be hard to follow up two teams in the Final Four en route to a national champion, but the SEC didn’t get close to replicating some of that success. It only got one team in the Elite Eight in Tennessee, and it got blown out by Michigan. The SEC will not be represented in the semifinals for the first time since 2023.

To add insult to injury, the conference did not do well against its fellow Power league in the Big Ten. The SEC went 0-5 vs. Big Ten teams in the tournament, which ended up getting two teams to the Final Four. After an amazing showing in 2025, this one has been a forgettable month in the Southeast.

Lower seeds

Make way for the heavyweights. The 2026 Final Four will feature two No. 1 seeds, a No. 2 and a No. 3 seed, another season of no surprise runs to the semifinals.

While it’s no surprise when the favorites at the start of the tournament ended up making it to the final weekend, it’s exactly what happened last season when we had an all-No. 1 group. This marks back-to-back years where the Final Four doesn’t feature a team seeded No. 4 or lower, which hasn’t happened since a three-year streak from 2007-09.

This year’s tournament had upsets and some magical runs, but none of them reached the final stage. Are even really solid teams going to have trouble winning a region, and are true Cinderellas dead?

Tennessee

Another Elite Eight, another exit for Rocky Top. The Volunteers are left searching again for their first Final Four after getting stopped at the doorstep.

Tennessee’s optimism was quickly wiped out early against Michigan, leading to a 33-point rout in one of the largest blowouts in Elite Eight history. While the Vols have nothing to be ashamed about given it was a good run as a No. 6 seed, it’s the third straight season the Vols were eliminated in the regional final.

Rick Barnes has maintained winning in Knoxville, but after coming up short so often, will Tennessee ever get over the hump? 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Elite 8 winners, losers: UConn, Big 10, Duke headline March Madness ups, downs

UConn true freshman Braylon Mullins became a March Madness legend against Duke in the Elite Eight on Sunday, March 29.

Mullins' 3-pointer with 0.3 seconds left (it was later changed to 0.4 seconds) gave UConn a 73-72 win over the top-seeded Blue Devils, securing a 19-point comeback win for the Huskies in dramatic fashion. He was 3-of-9 shooting and 0-of-4 from 3-point range prior to the shot.

UConn trailed 72-70 with six seconds left with Duke inbounding the ball, but Cayden Boozer's intended pass down the court was deflected and stolen by Silas Demary Jr., resulting in the Huskies' final possession.

REQUIRED READING: Duke vs UConn live updates, Elite 8 game score, highlights

"Just happy to see that (expletive) go in," Mullins said on after the game on the CBS broadcast.

UConn guard Alex Karaban, who holds the NCAA Tournament record for wins with 17 in his career, was held to five points on 2-of-10 shooting. However, the senior showed up when it mattered most, nailing a 3-pointer with 50 seconds left to pull the Huskies within a point.

UConn struggled from 3-point range overall, going 5-of-23 from distance. Starters Alex Karaban, Solo Ball, Braylon Mullins and Silas Demary Jr. combined for 5-of-21 shooting from 3-point range, despite the quartet all being solid shooters this season. Four of those makes came in the final 10 minutes, with the game on the line.

UConn's Tarris Reed Jr., one of the top performers of the entire men's NCAA Tournament, continued his hot streak, scoring a game-high 26 points with nine rebounds in the win. Twins Cameron and Cayden Boozer were also tremendous for Duke, as Cameron scored 27 points with eight rebounds and four assists, whereas Cayden added 15 points, five rebounds and six assists.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UConn vs Duke: Huskies advance to final four behind game-winning shot

March makes heroes. Braylon Mullins, welcome to the pantheon.

The UConn shooter was 0-for-4 from 3-point range in the bra, but the shot that made him 1-for-5 will live on in March Madness lore. Mullins took a pass from Alex Karaban at the logo and heaved it in a 72-70 game. The ball hit the twine and UConn eliminated Duke to get to the Final Four in miraculous fashion.

BRAYLON MULLINS FOR THE LEAD 🤯🤯🤯pic.twitter.com/b0f52hEcyT

— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) March 29, 2026

Duke would be unable to score with the remaining 0.4 seconds, completing UConn's shocking comeback.

The Huskies were battling back all game after trailing by as many as 19 points. It took a Duke turnover on the final possession to give the Huskies a chance, which Mullins capitalized on in spades.

UConn will now take on Illinois in the Final Four, as it strives for its third championship in four years. And Mullins, who played high school ball in Greenfield, Indiana, will be in Indianapolis to try and do it.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Braylon Mullins sends UConn to Final Four with game winner vs Duke

WASHINGTON – For 39 minutes and 59 seconds, it look like Connecticut’s bid for a third national title was going to fall short.

Until freshman guard Braylon Mullins hit one of the great shot in men’s NCAA Tournament history putting the Huskies into the Final Four with a 73-72 defeat of Duke in the championship game history.

The unlikely finish came after Connecticut trailed by as much as 19 in the first half and were down by two with 10 seconds left. Attempting to get a steal, Silas Demery deflected a pass by Blue Devils guard Cayden Boozer The ball would wind up in the hands of the Huskies and Mullins would launch a 35-footer that would be for the win.

OH MY GOODNESS 😱

UCONN LEADSSSS UNBELIEVABLE #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/IPX2JWiw0b

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 29, 2026

It swished through the basket with 0.4 seconds left, keeping Connecticut's hopes of winning a third national title in four years alive.

The heroics from Mullins were preceded by some key plays by Alex Karaban and Solo Ball, the two regulars remaining from that team won consecutive titles in 2023-24. The duo who are the team’s second- and third-leading scorers, combined for 15 points on 5-of- 21 shooting.  

But their experience was significant down the stretch.

Ball had two baskets and a free throw in a run that Duke’s 9-point lead with five minutes left lead to 67-65

Karaban’s three-pointer with 50 seconds left trimmed the margin to one and set the stage for Mullins’ shot, which came 35 years after Duke’s Christian Lattner hit a similar buzzer-beater in the Elite Eight that knocked Connecticut out of the tournament.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UConn beats Duke in Elite 8 on Braylon Mullins stunning 3-pointer

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Sophie Shirley scored two goals to make a winner of Boston rookie goaltender Amanda Thiele in her PWHL debut, and the Fleet beat the Minnesota Frost 4-2 on Sunday to clinch a spot in the postseason.

Shirley gave Boston (13-5-2-4) two-goal leads in the first and third periods to help the Fleet move five points in front of Montreal and nine ahead of third-place Minnesota (11-3-3-6) with three weeks left in the regular season. All three of her goals this year have come in the last two matches.

Thiele got her first start when Aerin Frankel was given the day off after she posted a league-record three straight shutouts and a scoreless streak of 191 minutes, 1 second. Thiele, a two-time NCAA champion at Ohio State, saved 23 shots. The Fleet’s scoreless stretch reached 211:24 before it ended.

Haley Winn upped her point streak to four straight matches when she scored for the fourth time this season to give Boston a 1-0 lead at 9:11 in the first period. Shirley was in the right spot to redirect a shot with 3:14 left for a two-goal lead.

Lee Stecklein scored for the first time this season just 23 seconds into the second period to cut it to 2-1. Kendall Coyne Schofield, who was activated from long-term injured reserve before the match, snagged her seventh assist. Kelly Pannek added her 11th assist and became the third Frost player to reach 50 career points — 19 goals and 31 assists.

Coyne Schofield and Klára Hymlárová set up Taylor Heise for a point-blank shot in front of the net and Minnesota tied it 2-2 with 10:41 left in the second.

Former Frost center Liz Schepers answered less than two minutes later with her third goal in the last two matches and her career-high fifth this season, scoring unassisted to give Boston a 3-2 lead. Shirley capped the scoring at 5:16 in the third.

Boston is 16-2 when scoring first this season but has whiffed on 29 straight power-play opportunities.

Boston defender Rylind MacKinnon was fined $500 by the league for an incident that ensued in the Fleet's 4-0 victory over the Toronto Sceptres on Friday night.

Up next

Minnesota: Visits the New York Sirens on Wednesday.

Boston: Visits the Vancouver Goldeneyes on April 7.

___

AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

Every Eastern conference matchup is a reminder of the precarity of the Raptors’ place in the playoff race. Tonight’s matchup with the Orlando Magic pits Toronto against a team pushing to get out of Play-In purgatory, as the Raps seek to tack on another win before getting back on the road. 

While Toronto is freed from the risk of falling out of the postseason, the fifth place spot that secures a playoff berth is set to be more hotly contested real estate than a rent controlled unit on Bloor Street. The first four spots occupied by the Pistons, Celtics, Knicks, and Cavaliers, seem all but impossible to dislodge, and represent a massive gulf in season success between them and all other teams in the conference. Orlando is a team that has underperformed this year. Despite a great start to the season, the Magic cooled off fast, and have had a number of hot streaks and cold runs that brought them to a 39-34 record.

While still contending with Franz Wagner’s lingering injury from early this season, the Magic have also been playing without shooting guard Anthony Black, who’s started 40 games this season. Paolo Banchero has been carrying the Magic, putting up some big statistical performances over the past three games. He’s hit thirty points in two losses and a win, most recently, in a victory at home against the Sacramento Kings.  Immanuel Quickley and Jamison Battle both being out signals a heavily depleted reserve of shooting for the Raptors, meaning more minutes and more potential impact from Ja’Kobe Walter, fresh off of an 18 point night where he took 10 threes and made 40% of them, while dishing out four assists. Toronto is lucky to have the guard depth it does in a situation like this, though the loss of firepower is never a good thing in a game that could go either way.

The Raptors have played the Magic twice already this season, beating them in December, while losing the January contest. This is a chance for the Raptors to take the season series, and cement their victory over the Florida squad. This game, and the rest leading to the end of the regular season, represent whether the Raptors will need to fight their way out of the Play-In, or maintain the luxury of a confirmed playoff spot.

Game Information and Detail

Game Time: 6:00 EDT

Watch On: TSN

Injury Report

Raptors: Immanuel Quickley (Out – foot), Jamison Battle (Out), Collin Murray-Boyles (Day-To-Day – back), Brandon Ingram (Day-To-Day – heel), Trayce Jackson-Davis (Day-To-Day – knee)

Magic: Franz Wagner (Out – ankle), Anthony Black (Out – abdomen), Jonathan Isaac (Out – ankle)

Projected Lineups

Raptors: Ja’Kobe Walter, Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl

Magic: Desmond Bane, Tristan da Silva, Jalen Suggs, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

We risk looking foolish when we believe we know the contents of a man’s soul, but Dusty May sure seems like one of the good guys.

Nobody could deny he’s become one of college basketball’s premier coaches. He started winning big at Florida Atlantic and kept winning big at Michigan.

May did not start out a “Michigan Man.” He’s an Indiana graduate and a former student manager for Bob Knight.

These past couple of seasons, though, May became Michigan’s man. Its good man. Its winning man. Its man heading to the Final Four, in just his second season, in charge of an incredible team.

Michigan sends message: You don't want to play them

More: At Michigan, Dusty May's son is the student manager his dad once was

“They’ve become such a unit,” May said of his Wolverines, who'll head to Indianapolis with a 35-3 record. “It’s a special group.”

With a special coach.

Michigan must keep this man, too, no matter how badly North Carolina might like to have him.

UNC needs a no-nonsense basketball coach who’ll restore the program to such an elite status that you (mostly) forget all about the embarrassment of Bill Belichick and Tar Heels football.

Well, May has experience in that arena.

May and his basketball team are something fresh, something redeemable, for Michigan after the stench of Jim Harbaugh and Connor Stalions and Wolverines football cheating their way to glory.

May’s success and his team’s dominance helped Michigan provide some distance from the giant stain Sherrone Moore supplied, too.

I’ve seen more than a few pathetic coaches in my time, but I don’t know that I’ll ever see anyone look as pathetic as Moore did, sitting in a white jumpsuit in December, while a prosecutor accused Moore of terrorizing his ex-mistress before police arrested him.

“The football stuff, there's some, obviously, some poor decisions made across the board,” May said last winter, following Moore’s disgraceful exit.

True words.

As for the basketball stuff?

May made sure that corner of Michigan athletics shines a bright light.

Give Michigan credit for one good move these past few years, when it had the good sense to snap up May after his consecutive NCAA bids at FAU.

May's Wolverines left no doubt within the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament. Michigan crushed four straight opponents and left Tennessee for dust on Sunday, in a win that sends Michigan to the Final Four for the first time since 2018.

If Michigan isn’t the favorite in this Final Four, it’s about as close as it gets.

“We have a sign in our locker room that says April habits,” May said on CBS after Michigan annihilated Tennessee, 95-62. “Since this group got together this summer, we’ve been training to build championship habits.”

May evolves, too. He took FAU to the Final Four with a team fueled by guard play.

This Michigan team, in contrast, bullies opponents and starts a frontcourt that goes like this: 6-9. 6-9. 7-3.

Goodnight.

If North Carolina possessed any doubts as to what it needs out of its next coach, it need only take inspiration from how May straightened out Michigan after the tumultuous Juwan Howard era, the lowlight of which was Howard punching an opposing assistant coach. Just another black eye for Michigan.

May cleaned it all up. He’d be a slam-dunk choice for the Tar Heels, if only he’d leave Michigan.

But, why should he stop being Michigan's man?

May obviously can achieve at the highest level at Michigan, without the pressure that accompanies a blue-blood job.

Anyway, UNC must try for him, and Michigan must promise to give May what he needs to stay put. May is the antidote to the disgraces that occurred within Michigan football. He's become Michigan's main man.

Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan man Dusty May is just what UNC basketball needs