Category: NBA

Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.

Fantable Questions of the Week

Q1: After returning from injury, Jalen Green’s offensive production for February has been underwhelming. 15 ppg, 35.3 FG%, 23.7 3PT%, 60 FT% on 12 FGAs per game. What are your thoughts on this?

GuarGuar: I don’t think he’s best as a #1 option, which is what he’s had to be these past few games with all the injuries. He’s also been injured literally all season and it was a hamstring reinjury, so I’ll give him some grace to come back to form. He’s gotta get used to NBA action again and regain that confidence in his body.

Ashton: Can you imagine being Jalen Green right now? He finally returns to the court, looks around, and there is an M.A.S.H. unit sitting on the bench. If we see “Hawkeye” (Alan Alda – not Marvel) on the bench, then I know the Suns are in trouble.

Between having work off some of the rust, he just does not have the starting player support needed to get those percentages up. The bench players and rookies are not going to help. But GA spotting up for a three or Book pulling double teams while making timely passing decisions would. Brooks doing his usual bullying thing would seriously help.

Sure, there is a bit of concern about the FT percentage, but that can be fixed. A broken and hobbled starter squad cannot. I would not read too much into it.

OldAz: He has not been on the court with these teammates all season, and now he has to be the focal point of the offense with the normal #1 and #3 options missing. On top of that, he has to do it without the needed practice time to even figure out what that offense looks like. And finally, he is supposed to do it while working himself back into game shape. One for finally, the pressure of fan expectations (based on his salary and a couple tantalizing games when Book and Brooks were playing) has to make every miss feel like the hole is a foot deeper. I believe he will work his way through this, but it is not going to be quick or easy.

Rod: It’s frustrating for fans, and I’m sure it is for him too. The team has recently been devastated by injuries that have left him in the position of trying to carry much of the scoring load instead of being eased back into the rotation after returning from his own injury, which already caused him to miss the bulk of this season. We already knew he wasn’t an especially efficient scorer, which has been very apparent lately as he’s been relied on way to much at this point.

He’s certainly not a perfect player, far from it, but he’s better than what we’ve seen lately. At full or even half-strength, I believe this team is good enough to cover for each other’s flaws, but, as it is now, those flaws are going to stand out even more and we’ve been seeing a lot more of those lately from more players than just Jalen.

Q2: Dillon Brooks’ broken hand will likely cause him to be out for 4-6 weeks, meaning that it is possible for him to miss all of the Suns’ remaining games. If that happens, do you believe that the Suns will finish the regular season with a record good enough to qualify for the play-in games?

GuarGuar: Barring absolute catastrophe, I think we are locked into the Play-In game. Unfortunately, with this injury, I think it’s really tough for us to finish higher than 7th and not have to play in the Play-In. We’d need to really get hot starting in March when Booker gets back. Hopefully, Brooks comes back sooner than expected. His toughness is much needed on this squad.

Ashton: I was a real proponent of the Suns taking the sixth seed. Now? It is time for a major revision. The two-way players are not going to be able to play much longer, and the rookies really just have not developed in the NBA, though they are doing fine in the G League.

To be honest, what a rotten turn of events for the Suns and their fans. Even if some of the starters outside of Brooks return, what remains is the question of how long they can stay healthy. I will take the under, but the over that Book can sell more shoes.

With all that said, I am not all doom-and-gloom. The Suns will need to lose a lot of games to fall out of the tenth seed. They have a six-game lead over the Clippers as of Tuesday afternoon.

I think the Suns will go dancing. Is it March Madness yet?

OldAz: I write this on Monday night, and the Suns have an 11-game cushion on the 11th-place Grizz with 24 to play. Those same Grizzlies are 14 games under .500 and on pace to win 31 games (the Suns have 33 currently). I am not sure I am prepared to contemplate this question further, as that would be an all-time collapse by the hometown team.

Rod: While I don’t think this is likely, I do believe there’s a small possibility of it happening, depending upon the health of the rest of the team…and how determined the teams currently below 10th in the West are to tank the rest of the season. With Brooks out for all of the rest of the regular season, I see it as pretty difficult for the Suns to stay put as the 7th seed, and could drop well down the play-in ladder though. At this point, I’m just hoping that they can avoid falling to 9th or 10th, where they would have to win two play-in games just to get into the playoffs.

Q3: With the recent rash of injuries, rookies Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming have gotten some meaningful rotation minutes. Do you believe they proved that they’re ready for more, even when the team gets healthy again?

GuarGuar: I don’t know if they can crack the rotation yet when everyone is fully healthy (if that ever happens again this season haha), but I have liked what I’ve seen from them recently. Man Man had some bright stretches during that Portland game and Rasheer is beginning to look a tad more comfortable offensively. I still doubt they would be in the rotation come play-in/playoff time, though.

Ashton: No. This is probably the short answer, but they just have not been given the time to develop the minutes against NBA caliber players.

If this were a buy/sell question, I would sell. Maybe we will change the title of Inside the Suns to ‘Around the Suns Horn’ article.

Suns are going to lose some games in the immediate future (please beat the Lakers, and I will call it a win during the injury stretch), and the best-case scenario is that Fleming and KM get some decent development minutes for the future.

But for now, I will keep my expectations low.

OldAz: I thought this about Fleming the last time he got meaningful minutes and held his own, but alas, those minutes dried up pretty quick. Player development takes commitment, and I am hoping these injuries force the Suns to make a little (or a lot) more of this necessary commitment. I wouldn’t mind seeing KM get some more minutes too, but it seems to me that with Brooks out, Dunn and Fleming combining for 40+ minutes a night would not be a bad thing, even if the growing pains cost them a few wins in a stretch where they were likely to struggle anyway.

Rod: Not just yet. What I have seen from them lately in encouraging though and, hopefully, they’ll show that even more as they’re given more court time until the team heals up. And I do believe they’re now at the point where, even with the team fully healthy, it’s really worth taking a chance on putting them in under certain circumstances, particularly when the Suns are facing bigger teams whose size is creating problems for them.

As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!

Quotes of the Week

“We do have to find ways to turn teams over, and a lot of that’s Goodie (Jordan Goodwin), so we’re going to have to find ways to manufacture it. That’s a big piece of what we do.” – Jordan Ott

“Especially with those guys being out (Book, Brooks, Goodwin), everybody has got to be aggressive to get open looks, take the open drive and knock down open shots.” – Royce O’Neale

“We’re 30th in free throws differential since February 1. We can’t get to the free throw line, cant get their rim.” – Jordan Ott

“When he (Dillon Brooks) first found out (that his hand was broken), he was probably disappointed. The next morning I think he was in here shooting with one hand. He’s crazy, but that’s who he is. That’s how hard he works and a testament to him as a player and a person. He’s special in that way.” – Collin Gillespie

“Everybody has got to have a little grace. He (Jalen Green) has been out for three quarters of the season. It’s not an easy thing to do to just insert yourself back into the lineup and be able to just play at that level or play at the speed of the game. I have a ton of grace for him because I’ve been through that where I missed a whole year. He’s missed like three quarters of the season. It’s not easy and he’s done an incredible job of just fitting in seamlessly. It’s been pretty cool to see.” – Collin Gillespie

Suns Trivia/History

On February 27, 1972, the Suns’ 6’1″ rookie reserve guard Mo Layton led all scorers with a career high 37 points to fuel a Suns 127-125 come-from-behind victory over the Cavaliers in Cleveland. It was the single 30+ point game of Layton’s 5-year NBA career. He only played for the Suns for two seasons, averaging a modest 8.2 ppg before being waived by the Suns before the beginning of the 1973-74 season. He also spent a short time that year playing for the ABA’s Memphis Tams under his former Suns head coach, Butch van Breda Kolff. Coach van Breda Kolff owns the dubious distinction of having the shortest tenure ever as a Suns head coach after he was fired just 7 games into the 1972-73 season.

On March 3, 1993, the 41-13 Phoenix Suns – as expected – defeated the 19-35 Philadelphia 76ers 125-115 in Phoenix. The one unexpected thing during that game was 76ers backup center, 7’7″ Manute Bol, who was mostly known only for his shot blocking, making 6 three pointers, 2 more than the entire Suns team. Suns forward Charles Barkley was both amazed and amused by it all.

On March 6, 2019, Devin Booker became the youngest player ever to make 500 3-Point Field Goals at 22 years, 127 days.

On March 6, 2020, Suns’ backup center Aron Baynes scored 37 points, gathered 16 rebounds, and recorded 2 blocks while making 9 of 14 shots (64.3%) from three while taking over for injured starting center Deandre Ayton in a 127-117 home win over the Portland Trail Blazers. In NBA history, no one else had ever done all of those things in one game.

This Week’s Game Schedule

Thursday, Feb 26 – Suns vs Los Angeles Lakers (7:00 pm)
Tuesday, March 3 – Suns @ Sacramento Kings (9:00 pm) Peacock

This Week’s Valley Suns Game Schedule

Thursday, Feb 26. Valley Suns vs South Bay Lakers (7:00 pm) ESPN+
Saturday, Feb 28 – Valley Suns @ Texas Legends (6:30 pm)
Monday, March 2 – Valley Suns vs Salt Lake City Stars (6:30 pm) Prime Video

Important Future Dates

March 1 – Playoff eligibility waiver deadline
March 4 – Final day to sign players to two-way contracts
March 28 – NBA G League Regular Season ends
March 31 – 2026 NBA G League Playoffs begin
April 12 – Regular season ends (All 30 teams play)
April 13 – Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2026 (3 p.m. ET)
April 14-17 – SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament
April 18 – NBA Playoffs begin

Dominique Wilkins needs no introduction around these parts. His jersey hangs in the State Farm Arena rafters after a Hawks career that saw him total nine All-Star Games and seven All-NBA appearances.

So when he speaks, you listen.

If you’ve been living under a rock, a lot has happened with the Hawks this season. Trae Young has departed, and at the same time Jalen Johnson has ascended to stardom, becoming a first-time All-Star earlier this month. ‘Nique spoke with DJ Saddiqi of Casino dot org on his meteoric rise, saying:

“Well, I must say he’s a little bit of Scottie Pippen as far as being a point forward,” Wilkins led with. “Pippen was a point forward and was very effective at the position. This guy Jalen, he brings even another element, because the way he rebounds, the way he passes, and he flirts with a triple-double every single night. I love Jalen Johnson. The way he plays, man, and he’s so deserving of this honor that he received during All-Star weekend. I couldn’t be happier for him.”

On his relationship with Johnson and his family

“I look at Jalen like someone like your brother in a sense,” Wilkins continued. “I have a great relationship with him. I have a great relationship with his mom and dad. I saw the growth in him two years ago, and I said to his parents, ‘Don’t worry, he’s gonna do very well in this league, and he’s gonna be a great player in this league. Just be patient.’ And now look where he’s at.”

On Jalen Johnson’s improvement

“Jalen Johnson has developed quicker than a lot of people have given credit for or expected,” Wilkins said. “But they always say, take care of your business at hand. Don’t worry about too much down the road right now. Worry about what you’re doing now. You take this one game at a time, one month at a time, one year at a time.”

“He’s still a young guy, so it’s a few different areas where he can get better, and he will get better,” Wilkins detailed. “He will get better defensively. He will get better as far as different ways he can score. As a young guy, you can always get better. You can always add new things to your game to make you an even more lethal player. Being 24 years old, he’s still learning right now.”

On the current Hawks

It’s clear the Hawks have undergone a whirlwind series of changes to their roster in the past calendar year. As a result of the instability, the team is in ninth place in the East and slightly under .500 (29-21). But Wilkins believe the foundation has been laid, explaining:

“What you’re trying to do right now in this part of this season is continue to build some chemistry. And once you build that chemistry — hopefully sooner than later — we still have a chance to do a lot of damage, because there’s still 30 games left in the season. You have to make up some ground, because you’re right there. The Eastern Conference is very close, and we have a very good young team: Jalen Johnson, you got Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels. Now you bring over Jonathan Kuminga, and you got Onyeka Okongwu, who’s come along now, and young Zaccharie Risacher, so you got all these younger kids now developing on the job. I think that’s the way it should be done. I look for us to make a move as far as the way we play and try to win games in the second half of the season, because now coming out of this All-Star break, now you really refocus yourself on winning games.”

On the youth and winning streaks

“We have something special and we can be that new young team that makes a difference in that Eastern Conference,” Wilkins explained. “I look for us to make a difference now. Not waiting for next year, because we are right there. In this league, it’ll only take you a month to get hot. You look at the Charlotte Hornets. They won 10 of the last 12, so they got hot at the right time going into the All-Star break, coming into the second half of the season. You need a quick run like that, maybe not eight or nine games, but you get on a five or six-game winning streak, that changes things.”

On the exit and lasting legacy of Trae Young

Young was the franchise pillar for the better part of 8 seasons here in Atlanta, and he leaves behind a résumé as good as any player since Dominique Wilkins himself. Wilkins can also empathize closely with being traded away from a franchise so key to one’s own identity.

Wilkins spoke on the trade, saying that, “sometimes in life, things don’t work out, and it’s time. We all have been through it. I’ve been through it, and it’s nobody’s fault. It’s just the way the business is running, how it’s done. Trae was a tremendous player in an Atlanta Hawks jersey. No one could ever take that from him. What he did was very special.”

Dominique Wilkins needs no introduction around these parts. His jersey hangs in the State Farm Arena rafters after a Hawks career that saw him total nine All-Star Games and seven All-NBA appearances.

So when he speaks, you listen.

If you’ve been living under a rock, a lot has happened with the Hawks this season. Trae Young has departed, and at the same time Jalen Johnson has ascended to stardom, becoming a first-time All-Star earlier this month. ‘Nique spoke with DJ Saddiqi of Casino dot org on his meteoric rise, saying:

“Well, I must say he’s a little bit of Scottie Pippen as far as being a point forward,” Wilkins led with. “Pippen was a point forward and was very effective at the position. This guy Jalen, he brings even another element, because the way he rebounds, the way he passes, and he flirts with a triple-double every single night. I love Jalen Johnson. The way he plays, man, and he’s so deserving of this honor that he received during All-Star weekend. I couldn’t be happier for him.”

On his relationship with Johnson and his family

“I look at Jalen like someone like your brother in a sense,” Wilkins continued. “I have a great relationship with him. I have a great relationship with his mom and dad. I saw the growth in him two years ago, and I said to his parents, ‘Don’t worry, he’s gonna do very well in this league, and he’s gonna be a great player in this league. Just be patient.’ And now look where he’s at.”

On Jalen Johnson’s improvement

“Jalen Johnson has developed quicker than a lot of people have given credit for or expected,” Wilkins said. “But they always say, take care of your business at hand. Don’t worry about too much down the road right now. Worry about what you’re doing now. You take this one game at a time, one month at a time, one year at a time.”

“He’s still a young guy, so it’s a few different areas where he can get better, and he will get better,” Wilkins detailed. “He will get better defensively. He will get better as far as different ways he can score. As a young guy, you can always get better. You can always add new things to your game to make you an even more lethal player. Being 24 years old, he’s still learning right now.”

On the current Hawks

It’s clear the Hawks have undergone a whirlwind series of changes to their roster in the past calendar year. As a result of the instability, the team is in ninth place in the East and slightly under .500 (29-21). But Wilkins believe the foundation has been laid, explaining:

“What you’re trying to do right now in this part of this season is continue to build some chemistry. And once you build that chemistry — hopefully sooner than later — we still have a chance to do a lot of damage, because there’s still 30 games left in the season. You have to make up some ground, because you’re right there. The Eastern Conference is very close, and we have a very good young team: Jalen Johnson, you got Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels. Now you bring over Jonathan Kuminga, and you got Onyeka Okongwu, who’s come along now, and young Zaccharie Risacher, so you got all these younger kids now developing on the job. I think that’s the way it should be done. I look for us to make a move as far as the way we play and try to win games in the second half of the season, because now coming out of this All-Star break, now you really refocus yourself on winning games.”

On the youth and winning streaks

“We have something special and we can be that new young team that makes a difference in that Eastern Conference,” Wilkins explained. “I look for us to make a difference now. Not waiting for next year, because we are right there. In this league, it’ll only take you a month to get hot. You look at the Charlotte Hornets. They won 10 of the last 12, so they got hot at the right time going into the All-Star break, coming into the second half of the season. You need a quick run like that, maybe not eight or nine games, but you get on a five or six-game winning streak, that changes things.”

On the exit and lasting legacy of Trae Young

Young was the franchise pillar for the better part of 8 seasons here in Atlanta, and he leaves behind a résumé as good as any player since Dominique Wilkins himself. Wilkins can also empathize closely with being traded away from a franchise so key to one’s own identity.

Wilkins spoke on the trade, saying that, “sometimes in life, things don’t work out, and it’s time. We all have been through it. I’ve been through it, and it’s nobody’s fault. It’s just the way the business is running, how it’s done. Trae was a tremendous player in an Atlanta Hawks jersey. No one could ever take that from him. What he did was very special.”

When you think about the Oklahoma City Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander comes to mind.

SGA has been the face of the Thunder, winning the league MVP and Finals MVP last season. When he’s been healthy, he’s been dominant again this season.

But with SGA missing time due to an injury, another former Kentucky Wildcat has stepped up the last few games. Cason Wallace has been a key piece for the Thunder, averaging around 23 points per game the last three games to go along with about 5 rebounds and just over 7 assists.

On Tuesday, Wallace led OKC to a victory in Toronto with 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists on 11-16 shooting. Last night, the Thunder fell to the Detroit Pistons, but Wallace scored 23 points to go along with 5 assists and knocked down 3-6 from beyond the arc.

It’s unknown right now when SGA will return. He’s expected to be evaluated in the coming days, but if you’re the Thunder, you have to like how Cason Wallace has emerged in his absence and what he can provide moving forward during the remainder of the season.

Tweet of the Day

I think this season pretty much confirmed we need someone in this type of role.

Headlines

Pope says there are ongoing conversations about GM position – KSR

It’s been an ongoing conversation for a while…

Win or lose, Pope says pressure is always on Kentucky – Vaughts Views

Very true.

UK basketball succeeds in challenge to win without Oweh – Cats Pause

It’s an interesting stat.

UK Baseball bounces back with big offensive effort – UK Athletics

The Cats came out hot in the first inning.

That UCONN-St.Johns game was ugly – Yahoo

A historically bad day for Pitino’s squad.

Cincinnati sues Brendan Sorsby over $1M exit fee – ESPN

Wouldn’t be surprised if we started seeing more of this.

Which teams are potential bracket busters? – Bleacher Report

These teams could cause some issues in March.

Marques Johnson is still dunking at age 70 – NBC Sports

That’s impressive!

Is the NCAA going to go after tampering cases? – CBS Sports

We’ll have to wait and see.

NBC likely moving on from Tony Dungy – SI

Dungy has been with NBC for over 15 years.

Broadcaster Stephen A. Smith is known for his outspoken personality, whether it’s discussing sports across the ESPN platform or talking about politics wherever he can.

Smith spoke with Graham Bensinger, host of "In Depth with Graham Bensinger," and provided some clarification on several notable topics involving himself, including his relationship with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and a potential 2028 presidential campaign.

Stephen A. Smith on beef with LeBron James

Smith has often been critical of James, the face of the NBA for nearly two decades.

Smith didn’t completely shy away when asked about the tension between him and the 23-year NBA veteran. The media personality was not willing to fully divulge some of the things powering the “beef,” though.

“My daughters love LeBron. And I had to look at them and say, ‘Yeah, he is phenomenal.’ They ain't lying. He's one of the greatest ever. And so, again, you can have differences with people, but if you're a grownup, if you're a man, you're able to compartmentalize and say, 'we might have a disagreement.'

“We might have a beef,” Smith said. “... It doesn't mean you should look at him in a negative kind of way. I might have affected him in ways that other people haven't, and that might have provoked him to do whatever, I don't know. But at the end of the day, I just know that I'm 58 years old and I'm not interested in walking around bitter and with a grudge and with all of this other nonsense.

Smith’s latest remarks come nearly a year after he was confronted by James while sitting courtside after the Lakers’ 113-109 overtime win over the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena on March 6, 2025.

Smith has leaned on the support of his peers and colleagues when he needs it.

“There are people who helped (following the confrontation with James),” Smith said. “Charles Barkley got on me. Kenny Smith is like a brother to me, got on me. Shaq, and then guys internally, Ryan Clark, Marcus Spears. I love those brothers. They're my brothers. And they weren't the only ones.”

Will Stephen A. Smith make a presidential run? 

Smith has dabbled in politics over the years as a media personality. He decided to expand that part of his career, hosting a show on SiriusXM radio, covering politics and news that's happening outside of the sports world. That began in September 2025.

He’s also been mentioned as a potential 2028 presidential candidate.

“Do I desire the campaign and be on the campaign circuit and running for office? No, I do not,” Smith said. “Do I desire to be on a debate stage to call out these politicians for what they have done to compromise this country? Yes, I do. 

“That's where it gets serious for me, because you can enter the debate and then leave after the debate and decide you're not running.”

Smith also made it clear he intends to have the opportunity to ask politicians to justify what they've "done to contribute to the chaos that's happened in the streets of America."

“I want you to look at us in the face and justify the divide that you've caused, the friction that you've caused,” Smith said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stephen A. Smith clarifies LeBron beef, presidential campaign comments

March Madness is quickly approaching, with the men's college basketball regular season coming to a close in the coming weeks. A few teams are starting to pull ahead as national championship favorites.

Eight of the last nine national champions have been No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament, with the lone exception being UConn in 2023, as the Huskies were a No. 4 seed. Of course, UConn repeated as national champions in 2024. Coincidentally enough, the last team lower than a No. 4 seed to win a title was also UConn, when it won as a No. 7 seed in 2014.

BRACKETOLOGY: NCAA tournament prediction has another shakeup

That said, math favors the NCAA tournament champion being a team that dominated the regular season, which makes plenty of sense.

Here's a look at USA TODAY Sports predictions for which teams can win a national championship this season:

March Madness predictions 2026: Who can win a national championship?

Michigan

It only took Dusty May two seasons as head coach to turn Michigan into a national championship contender, as the Wolverines are 26-2 this season with wins over Gonzaga, Purdue and Michigan State, which all also appear on this list.

Michigan is the only team in the country ranked inside the top five of both KenPom's offensive and defensive adjusted efficiency, ranking No. 5 and No. 2 in the metrics, respectively. UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg is one of the best all-around players in the country, averaging 14.2 points with 7.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game on 49.6% shooting.

Michigan belongs at the top, or at least very close to it, among the national championship favorites this season.

Duke

Duke has been the best defensive team in the country this season per KenPom, and also has one of, if not the frontrunner for national player of the year in Cameron Boozer.

Boozer, who's averaging 22.7 points with 10.7 rebounds and four assists per game on 58.3% shooting this season, has had a Cooper Flagg-like impact on the Blue Devils. The surefire top-five pick in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft was tremendous in Duke's win over Michigan on Feb. 21, scoring 18 points with 10 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in the win.

Duke isn't quite as loaded as it was last season with top-three NBA picks Flagg and Kon Knueppel, but the Blue Devils are more than capable of winning a title.

Arizona

Fifth-year coach Tommy Lloyd, a former Mark Few assistant at Gonzaga, has reloaded Arizona this season after the Wildcats lost four starters from 2025's Sweet 16 team.

Arizona is young, with three true freshmen starters. The Wildcats are led by Brayden Burries and Koa Peat, who are averaging 15.5 and 13.8 points per game this season. Fellow true freshman Ivan Kharchenkov is also averaging 10.1 points this season.

Arizona ranks eighth in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency and third in adjusted defensive efficiency while playing in the Big 12, likely the best conference in college basketball this season. It has three wins over top-10 ranked teams – Florida, UConn and Houston – and looks like one of the best Final Four bets in 2026.

Florida

Reigning national champion Florida lost its three starting guards from last season's team – March Madness hero Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard. However, the Gators' frontcourt trio of Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu all returned, and form perhaps the best group of big men in the country.

Haugh, Condon and Chinyelu are averaging 17.3, 14 and 11.5 points per game this season, respectively. They're also averaging a combined 26 rebounds per game, and Chinyelu leads all players nationally with 11.6 boards per contest.

The guard play has been suspect at times this season, but the Gators are rolling as of late with a 12-2 record in conference play. Florida could go as far as starting guards Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee take them, or its frontcourt could continue dominating and make their shaky play not even matter.

Houston

Houston is amid a 3-game losing streak, a rarity under legendary coach Kelvin Sampson, one of the best to never win a national title. The Cougars are coming off a national championship runner-up finish in 2025.

Houston boasts one of the most dynamic guards nationally in true freshman Kingston Flemings, who paces the offense with 16.6 points and 5.1 assists per game. Flemings, paired with returning starters Milos Uzan, Emanuel Sharp and Joseph Tugler, makes for a lineup with loads of experience.

The Cougars rank 15th in adjusted offensive efficiency and eighth in adjusted defensive efficiency, which is still elite but worse than their usual standards. Houston is still one of the strongest bets to reach the Final Four, which it has done twice since 2020.

Illinois

Illinois has scored better than anyone in college basketball this season, with all five starters averaging in double digits while ranking No. 1 in adjusted offensive efficiency. True freshman Keaton Wagler has been a great surprise for the Fighting Illini, raising their ceiling by averaging 18.2 points with 5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 42% from 3-point range.

Illinois' defense is the worst among KenPom's top-15 ranked teams, which could pose a threat come NCAA tournament time. Still, their transfer-heavy lineup could have enough firepower to make a run to a national title.

Purdue

The preseason No. 1-ranked team hasn't been quite as good as expected, but is still a top national championship contender.

Purdue's backcourt of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer have likely more experience than anyone in college basketball, as the four-year starters have been together since 2022-23. Smith, one of the best playmakers in the sport, is averaging 8.7 assists per game and paces an offense that ranks second nationally per KenPom.

Trey Kaufman-Renn, who led the team averaging 20.1 points per game last season, has taken a step back in 2025-26 averaging 13.3 points per contest. His emergence in March could be an X-Factor for the Boilermakers, and he could be heating up, with 27 and 20 points in his last two outings.

Michigan State

Never count out Tom Izzo in March Madness. The legendary coach hasn't won a national title since 2000, but has six Final Four appearance since and has an experienced roster in 2026.

Multi-year starters Jeremy Fears Jr. (15 points and 9.2 assists per game) and Jaxon Kohler (12.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game) lead the way for the Spartans. Returning contributors Coen Carr and Carson Cooper have emerged as starters in 2026 and both average in the double figures.

The Spartans lack a go-to scorer and could win a title if their offense gets hot.

Iowa State

Iowa State has been one of the Big 12's top programs for a few years now, but doesn't have much NCAA tournament success to show for it, with only a pair of Sweet 16 appearances since T.J. Otzelberger took over in 2021.

The Cyclones were bounced in the Round of 32 last season, despite having a veteran roster. They also have an experienced group this season, and are looking to avoid that same fate this season.

Iowa State is led by a trio of multi-year starters in Milan Momcilovic, Joshua Jefferson and Tamin Lipsey, who are averaging 17.4, 16.6 and 13 points per game this season, respectively. The Cyclones can shoot and defend, which is a recipe for success in March.

Kansas

Kansas has been solid without star freshman Darryn Peterson this season, even taking down Arizona without the projected No. 1 overall pick. Still, the Jayhawks' ceiling is highest when Peterson is at his best.

Peterson is averaging 19.5 points per game this season while shooting 40.5% from 3-point range but has missed 11 games. If he can stay on the court, the Jayhawks are a true national title threat.

UConn

UConn is back to college basketball elite status this season after being a bubble team in 2025. The Huskies have won two national titles under Dan Hurley, and he has another squad capable of winning a championship in 2026.

UConn has three returning starters in Solo Ball, Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban, a four-year starter for the Huskies. UConn added true freshman Braylon Mullins and Georgia transfer Silas Demary Jr. to its backcourt, with both additions providing a huge boost to last season's core.

The Huskies haven't been tested much in Big East play, but have nonconference wins over Illinois and Florida. They rank No. 12 in KenPom's overall adjusted efficiency ratings.

Gonzaga

Gonzaga has one win this season over a currently ranked team (Alabama), and has dominated WCC play, per usual, which makes it hard to know just how good the Bulldogs are opposed to other seasons.

Gonzaga's frontcourt duo of Graham Ike and Braden Huff is stellar, as the duo is averaging 19.9 and 17.8 points per game this season, respectively. Outside shooting could be a problem in March Madness, though.

Arkansas

Arkansas surprised many last season when it reached the Sweet 16 despite being a bubble team for most of the season under John Calipari. The Razorbacks likely won't be a top-three seed in the NCAA tournament, but maybe is a sleeper national title team.

True freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. is one of the best players in the country, averaging 22.2 points with 6.2 assists per game this season, and scored 49 points in an overtime loss to Alabama on Feb. 18.

Arkansas ranks fourth nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency and is capable of getting hot and making a run.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness predictions: Teams that can win 2026 NCAA tournament

The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t do enough to get the win, but there were some positives to take away from their narrow 118-116 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Jarrett Allen was far and away the most dominant on the court on a night the Cavs were without three starters in James Harden (thumb), Donovan Mitchell (groin), and Evan Mobley (calf). He controlled every aspect of the game on both ends of the floor, showcasing once again that he’s playing the best basketball of his career.

There was nothing the Bucks nor Myles Turner could really do to stop Allen, only the final buzzer coming a millisecond before his would-be game-tying shot did. Allen finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds on 10-15 shooting.

Performances like this have been nothing new for Allen this month, but there’s something symbolic of having this kind of game against Turner — someone who significantly outplayed him last postseason when he was a member of the Indiana Pacers.

Allen struggled for most of that series, besides having solid showings in Games 2 and 3. He was a non-factor on offense, allowed Turner to push him off his spots, combined for just six rebounds in the final two games, and made a minimal impact defensively against a Pacers team that had their way with the Cavs. It was the type of series that made you question whether Allen really belongs with this core.

The game he had on Wednesday couldn’t have been more opposite.

Allen was Cleveland’s offensive engine, consistently bullied Turner in the post, grabbed six offensive rebounds, and helped stabilize what was otherwise a poor defensive effort.

There have long been questions about how Allen fits with this team. Playing with two bigs is challenging in the modern NBA, even if you have two elite guards. That said, this version of Allen should work in any lineup that you put him in. And if you can’t find a way to get consistent production out of a big this skilled, with this much touch and coordination inside, then whatever system you’re trying to run isn’t worth it.

There’s simply no excuse for not prioritizing Allen going forward.

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Dennis Schroder has been a seamless fit. He’s consistently excelled in whatever lineup or context he’s been asked to play in. This game, he was tasked with being the team’s leading ball handler and play initiator, and did his job, pouring in 26 points and contributing five assists.

Shifting between roles like that isn’t easy; then again, if anyone is used to constantly adjusting to different situations, it’s someone who’s played on as many different teams as Schroder.

There’s a reason Schroder has bounced around from team to team. He’s overqualified to be a backup, but not quite good enough to be a high-end starter. And, he has the confidence and bravado of someone who’s won multiple MVPs in international tournaments. This combination makes him highly in demand, but also not someone you’re losing sleep over trading away if you get the right package in return.

Even though the boxscore will show that Schroder missed the game-tying shot, he did a good job of managing the offense in the clutch. Schroder made a nice floater to briefly tie the game with 36 seconds left after seeming to twist his ankle a few plays earlier. He followed that up with getting a clean look to potentially tie the game just before time expired, but missed.

It’s difficult to get too hung up on the results in a game like this. Schroder generated good looks and filled in admirably at point guard. The Cavs haven’t had a reserve who could do so since letting Ty Jerome walk in free agency last summer.

Speaking of perfect fits, Keon Ellis once again showed how impactful he can be. He was everywhere defensively, while providing 14 points on 5-9 shooting.

The Harden acquisition has gotten most of the praise, but Koby Altman targeting Schroder and Ellis shouldn’t be overlooked. Both have the skills to make a meaningful impact in the playoffs.

The Cavs need to find a better balance with their three-point defense. They have understandably emphasized protecting the paint first and foremost. That’s a worthwhile goal, but it seems like they could do so without crashing in as much as they do, especially from the corners.

The Bucks took 17 corner threes, which accounted for 19% of their total shots (99th percentile). They converted 52.9% of these looks (81st percentile). Both of these numbers are concerning if you’re the Cavs.

The rim is the most efficient place to score, but the corner three isn’t far behind. In an effort to cut off the basket, they’ve left themselves vulnerable to easy kickouts to the corner. And they’ve also made losing players in the corner a bad habit.

You can’t give up this many corner threes and be an elite defense.

Additionally, they gave up clean looks to Milwaukee’s best shooters. A.J. Green — a 42.3% three-point shooter — can’t be allowed to take 10 triples. It isn’t an outlier when he converts half of them.

To make matters worse, the Cavs also didn’t protect the rim well. They allowed Milwaukee to finish 89.5% of their looks in the restricted area (97th percentile).

It’s easy to dismiss some of the clunkiness as being without Mitchell and Harden, but there’s few excuses for being this poor defensively. No matter how good Mobley is on that end, you can’t rely on him this much to be passable.

We’re seeing too many preseason-like games in the NBA this season. The Cavs did the right thing by being cautious with their star players. Additionally, Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn’t available due to a calf strain that has kept him in and out of the lineup all season.

Injuries are a part of sports, and there’s nothing you can do to take those completely away. However, the number of games that have felt like a step above preseason games, but below other regular-season games, has been too much around the league. It’s not good for anyone when four All-NBA players from last season are in street clothes and not actually participating.

I’m not going to act like there’s an easy solution to the number of injuries and scheduling issues that we’re seeing. It’s just a bummer to watch a game and spend the same amount of time thinking about who isn’t playing as to who is.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden injured his right thumb in the team’s win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday. X-rays the following day revealed a non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx, which is the top of the thumb. The team hasn’t yet announced a timetable for his return.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Harden could be back sooner rather than later. Even though he didn’t play in Wednesday’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, it’s reported that he is planning on playing through the right thumb fracture, and surgery will not be required.

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Estimating a timetable for a complete recovery from this injury is difficult if you don’t know the severity. The best estimate is that it could be two to four weeks before it completely heals.

On one hand, it’s easy to see why Harden would want to play through this. He needs to find time to gel with his new teammates, and he’s running out of time to do so with the playoffs just around the corner.

At the same time, the Cavs will need to be at or near 100% if they want to have postseason success. Bringing Harden back too early could jeopardize that.

We’ll see how this unfolds. The Cavs play two of their next three games against the conference-leading Detroit Pistons, with their first coming on the road on Friday evening. Getting to see how Harden plays in that matchup is enticing, but a physical Detroit team could be the last opponent you’d want to subject a guard with a broken thumb to.

Harden has played seven games with the Cavs. He’s averaging 18.9 points and 8 assists on .494/.488/.867 shooting splits.

Slice up stats and records any way you like, the Spurs are on a roll.

When the Spurs won in Detroit the other night, it was their 1300th win since the start of the new millennium.

Wednesday night’s win in Toronto was their tenth in a row, the first time since the 2015-16 season.

Here’s an interesting piece of trivia.

The last time the Spurs won ten in a row their starting lineup was Tony Parker, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan, and LaMarcus Aldridge. That’s quite a roster of talent.

Having Matt Bonner on with Jacob Tobey and Sean Elliott was a treat. The Red Mamba is knowledgeable, funny, and has a wealth of Spurs (and sandwich) information. Years ago, I launched a campaign retire Bonner’s #15.

It’s hard watching Sandro Mamukelashvili play for another team. I feel like he is the type of player the Spurs are lacking in their lineup. The Spurs have Kelly Olynyk who’s size, stature, and style are similar, but the latter has not seen minutes with the Silver & Black. Even Tobey, Elliott, and Bonner mentioned that the Spurs wanted to bring Mamu back this season but could not peel him away from Toronto.

It was also great to see Jakob Poeltl playing well despite his back issues this season. He had some good moments covering Victor Wembanyama. He also got stuffed by Wemby in the closing moments of the game.

Speaking of Victor Wembanyama, he continues to struggle when defended by heavy-duty players, but he shines defensively. Blocks and disruption are even more apparent when he isn’t knocking down 20+ points a night. That said, he supplies poster dunks and hits timely threes, demonstrating he cannot be shut down completely. As he builds up strength against the physicality being thrown his way, the Spurs will only be more difficult to beat.

In addition, Devin Vassell went 5 of 6 from three and Dylan Harper started 6 of 6 in the early minutes of the game ending the night 7 of 11. The team assisted on 28 of their 40 baskets.

Spurs play the second night of a back-to-back in Brooklyn against the Nets looking for their eleventh win in a row as the 2026 Rodeo Road Trip rides on.

Go Spurs Go!

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Wing Stop: Celtics showcase impressive depth amid defensive surge originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

One of the biggest questions surrounding an overhauled Boston Celtics roster entering the 2025-26 season was how much coach Joe Mazzulla could lean on a fleet of inexperienced wings. 

Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez — the three most prominent picks in Brad Stevens’ tenure as president of basketball operations — were all in line for increased opportunity with Jayson Tatum rehabbing from Achilles surgery. But all of them needed to earn Mazzulla’s trust with a mere 870 total minutes of NBA experience between them. 

Maybe the biggest surprise as Boston has outkicked outsider expectations this season has been that all three of have emerged as reliable rotation presences. Meanwhile, fellow wing Ron Harper Jr. is working his way toward a roster spot with the parent club given his strong play on both ends as a two-way player.

The team’s four-game road trip out West might have produced one of our favorite moments of the season, and it was a perfect encapsulation of the defensive production the team has received from its fleet of young wings.

A rare Payton Pritchard turnover allowed Jamaree Bouyea to break out in transition late in the third quarter of Boston’s dominant win in Phoenix on Tuesday night. Scheierman sprinted back to prevent an easy layup and, showing incredible discipline, he timed his leap to go straight up with a foul-free contest near the basket. Scheierman’s outstretched arms forced Bouyea to hold the ball just long enough for a sprinting Harper Jr. to come from behind and volleyball spike the ball off the backboard.

Gonzalez, who also hustled back, was in position to clean up the rebound on the baseline and then made another full-court trek — aided by a midcourt screen from newcomer Nikola Vucevic — before Eurostepping his way to a layup that put Boston out front by 23.

One game earlier, the Celtics dispatched the trio of Scheierman, Gonzalez, and Walsh to hound Luka Doncic in a win over the Lakers. Boston’s young guards so thoroughly attached themselves to Doncic that he looked exhausted by the second quarter. 

About the only downside of Tatum’s eventual return would be that some of the minutes available to Boston’s young wings will diminish. That was inevitable as the playoffs neared given how role players’ minutes tend to evaporate as rotations tighten.

But the glimpses showcased by Boston’s four-headed monster of young wings is a super encouraging sign, particularly as the Celtics try to build an economical roster around a core headlined by Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Just how good have the young wings been? Let’s crunch some numbers: 

What’s more, the four players with the best defensive rebound percentage on the Celtics’ roster this season are all wings. That list is topped by Brown, who has kicked his defensive rebounding into overdrive lately as the Celtics have shored up their biggest weakness at the start of the 2025-26 season.

And this is all before they add Tatum, who has long been an elite rebounder at his position. 

The Celtics have only scratched the surface with how good each of these wings can be. Walsh had stretches this season where the league was raving about his defensive potential, while Gonzalez has been a plus/minus monster in his rookie campaign.

Scheierman has clearly earned Mazzulla’s trust, elevating to a starting role recently. We’d expect Harper Jr. to be with the parent club when the Celtics finish their roster tinkering before the end of the regular season.

In a league where the wing position tends to be an area where teams are desperate for depth, the Celtics have found a quartet they can trust, even in the infancy of their development journey.

Wing Stop: Celtics showcase impressive depth amid defensive surge originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

One of the biggest questions surrounding an overhauled Boston Celtics roster entering the 2025-26 season was how much coach Joe Mazzulla could lean on a fleet of inexperienced wings. 

Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez — the three most prominent picks in Brad Stevens’ tenure as president of basketball operations — were all in line for increased opportunity with Jayson Tatum rehabbing from Achilles surgery. But all of them needed to earn Mazzulla’s trust with a mere 870 total minutes of NBA experience between them. 

Maybe the biggest surprise as Boston has outkicked outsider expectations this season has been that all three of have emerged as reliable rotation presences. Meanwhile, fellow wing Ron Harper Jr. is working his way toward a roster spot with the parent club given his strong play on both ends as a two-way player.

The team’s four-game road trip out West might have produced one of our favorite moments of the season, and it was a perfect encapsulation of the defensive production the team has received from its fleet of young wings.

A rare Payton Pritchard turnover allowed Jamaree Bouyea to break out in transition late in the third quarter of Boston’s dominant win in Phoenix on Tuesday night. Scheierman sprinted back to prevent an easy layup and, showing incredible discipline, he timed his leap to go straight up with a foul-free contest near the basket. Scheierman’s outstretched arms forced Bouyea to hold the ball just long enough for a sprinting Harper Jr. to come from behind and volleyball spike the ball off the backboard.

Gonzalez, who also hustled back, was in position to clean up the rebound on the baseline and then made another full-court trek — aided by a midcourt screen from newcomer Nikola Vucevic — before Eurostepping his way to a layup that put Boston out front by 23.

One game earlier, the Celtics dispatched the trio of Scheierman, Gonzalez, and Walsh to hound Luka Doncic in a win over the Lakers. Boston’s young guards so thoroughly attached themselves to Doncic that he looked exhausted by the second quarter. 

About the only downside of Tatum’s eventual return would be that some of the minutes available to Boston’s young wings will diminish. That was inevitable as the playoffs neared given how role players’ minutes tend to evaporate as rotations tighten.

But the glimpses showcased by Boston’s four-headed monster of young wings is a super encouraging sign, particularly as the Celtics try to build an economical roster around a core headlined by Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Just how good have the young wings been? Let’s crunch some numbers: 

What’s more, the four players with the best defensive rebound percentage on the Celtics’ roster this season are all wings. That list is topped by Brown, who has kicked his defensive rebounding into overdrive lately as the Celtics have shored up their biggest weakness at the start of the 2025-26 season.

And this is all before they add Tatum, who has long been an elite rebounder at his position. 

The Celtics have only scratched the surface with how good each of these wings can be. Walsh had stretches this season where the league was raving about his defensive potential, while Gonzalez has been a plus/minus monster in his rookie campaign.

Scheierman has clearly earned Mazzulla’s trust, elevating to a starting role recently. We’d expect Harper Jr. to be with the parent club when the Celtics finish their roster tinkering before the end of the regular season.

In a league where the wing position tends to be an area where teams are desperate for depth, the Celtics have found a quartet they can trust, even in the infancy of their development journey.

NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) — Nottingham Forest and Stuttgart looked in control of their Europa League playoffs and close to reaching the round of 16 on Thursday.

Both sides took home a three-goal advantage from the first legs last week.

Vítor Pereira made an impact in his first game in charge, leading Nottingham to a 3-0 victory at Fenerbahçe.

While the English club is struggling at 17th place in the Premier League, it will be favored to advance at the City Ground. Nottingham returned to Europe after three decades this season and has not conceded a goal in its last three home games in the European second-tier.

Fenerbahçe has managed to win only one of its last 10 games in England.

Stuttgart beat Celtic 4-1 in front of packed Celtic Park on a night to forget for caretaker boss Martin O’Neill, who didn’t have much to celebrate in his 1,000th career game as a manager. O'Neill said Celtic was not ready to give up.

“We want to go there and compete,” he said. “You don’t want to throw things away, so we’ll go and compete and have a look at it.”

Host Genk has its sights on the next round after leading Dinamo Zagreb 3-1, and so does Bologna, which plays at home and is 1-0 up against Norwegian side Brann.

Celta holds a 2-1 lead over PAOK and Lille is trailing Red Star 1-0 ahead of their game in Belgrade.

In the third-tier Conference League, Crystal Palace has work to do at home after it was held to 1-1 by Zrinjski Mostar in Bosnia.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Just when it felt like three months is enough time to get a sense of the college basketball season, the penultimate month ends up shifting it just before the madness begins.

While world-class athletes in Milan and Cortina grabbed the spotlight in the 2026 Winter Olympics, college basketball chugged along, and plenty happened. From late-season surges to some perplexing stumbles, it had it all. Even though February is the shortest month of the year, there was enough time for seasons to change heading into the all-important March.

Selection Sunday is less than three weeks away. Here are college basketball's biggest swings that happened while I was half a world away in northern Italy.

Hoosier daddy? Make no mistake, Indiana is a football school. It's not even close

Are No. 1 seeds locked up?

No spots are secure until the bracket is revealed, but it feels safe to say three of the No. 1 seeds are spoken for.

Duke, Michigan and Arizona have separated themselves as the top title contenders with stunning resumes. They are the only three teams with at least 10 Quad 1 wins. They are the only Power conference teams with under three losses.

The Blue Devils and Wolverines just played a thrilling marquee matchup that Duke won, and a rematch could be in store in the Final Four.

A Florida repeat?

When Florida won the title in 2006, it followed it up with a repeat championship. A perfect February start has the Gators thinking deja vu is in store.

The Gators are 6-0 this month and have won 12 of their past 13 games to surge to the top of the SEC, forgetting shaky start to the season. Not only are they winning, but they're doing it in dominant fashion. On a seven-game win streak — with four Quad 1 victories — they have won by an average of 21.6 points, with the offense really flourishing.

It took time, but Florida looks exactly how many expected them to ahead of the season, and once again, this doesn't look like a team you want to play in the tournament.

SEC weirdness

Florida is a proven contender, but everyone else in the SEC is making it hard to figure out if they belong. One moment they're on a win streak, the next the losses keep piling up.

Alabama has used a six-game win streak to jump to second place, with Arkansas and Tennessee right behind. Then there's Texas A&M, a contender before a four-game skid dropped it out of the picture. Texas started winning to get in the tournament frame, Vanderbilt's early magic has worn off and Kentucky keeps flip flopping. It's become a mystery, and it's not worth trying to understand.

St. John's is here for good

The concrete jungle magic is back with St. John's riding to the top of Big East with a 13-game win streak that included a Feb. 6 victory over Connecticut. That win streak was snapped Wednesday — by UConn, but the Red Storm are still formidable.

The defense has really stepped up, capturing its identity after is was a major concern earlier in the season.

The resurgence has completely flipped the outlook of where St. John's could be in the tournament. When the month began, it was a No. 5 seed with an outside shot of being in the overall top 16. Now, the Red Storm have asserted themselves as a top-four seed and are making the case to be able to play close to home, not leaving the Northeast.

What happened to BYU?

At the end of January, Brigham Young was in the conversation for a top-three seed in what was shaping up to best the season in Cougars history. Now, it's looking like it could end in "what if?"

After a 17-2 start, BYU is 3-5 since, losing to the Big 12's elite teams that puts into question if the Cougars can contend among the top title contenders. A much needed win over Iowa State on Feb. 21 was followed by a home blowout by UCF. A rough time for the Cougars has dropped them all the way down to a projected No. 6 seed.

AJ Dybantsa can do it all, but he needs help, and plenty more fell on his shoulders when Richie Saunders was lost for the season. With a tougher draw on the horizon, BYU will have to work harder to complete its dream campaign.

Injuries

Speaking of injuries, they've really hit some tournament hopefuls, drastically changing team outlooks. Saunders is a major one at BYU, and so is JT Toppin, who is out for the season, severely hurting Texas Tech's legit title hopes.

North Carolina has felt the effect of star freshman Caleb Wilson’s injury, and Kansas continues to navigate the enigma of Darryn Peterson. All injuries impact the resume, but given the high profile ones happening, how much weight will they carry with the selection committee in terms of seeding?

Bracket shifts

Several teams saw their projected seed lines change in the past four weeks, good and bad.

Florida and St. John’s headline the positive movement, along with Purdue. UCF, NC State, Texas and Miami have done work to feel more comfortable with their tournament hopes while TCU and Santa Clara have put themselves in the conversation.

On the opposite end, Clemson, SMU, Georgia, Auburn and Indiana are headed in the wrong direction.

How the bubble changed

Miami is a near tournament lock with a 5-1 mark, the only blemish a close loss to Virginia. Joining the fold are TCU and Santa Clara, picking up steam to be in the "Last Four" in territory. Not quite in the field but now in the conversation are VCU and California, picking up steam.

Then there's those falling rapidly. That starts with Southern California and San Diego State, each going on losing skids that has taken them out of the projected bracket. Teams on the fringe like Seton Hall, Missouri and Virginia Tech are starting to see their hopes fade away thanks to inconsistent play.

Now isn't the time to have hot and cold streaks. It's stay hot, or see your NCAA Tournament hopes freeze up.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness outlook completely changed in frenzied February

AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — South Africa took a giant leap toward the Twenty20 World Cup semifinals after a dominant nine-wicket win over the high-flying West Indies on Thursday.

A whirlwind 95-run opening partnership between captain Aiden Markram (82 not out) and Quinton de Kock (47) in eight overs made short work of the chase. Ryan Rickelton added 45 not out and South Africa motored to 177-1 in 16.1 overs and stretched its unbeaten record in the tournament to six games.

West Indies reached 176-8 from 83-7.

South Africa could top Group 1 in the Super Eights if it beats Zimbabwe in its last game on Sunday, when the West Indies, which lost its first game in the tournament, also faces co-host India.

India played Zimbabwe later Thursday in a must-win game for both.

Markram set the tone for the chase by smashing seven boundaries and four sixes in 82 off 46. De Kock hit four sixes and four boundaries in his 24-ball 47. Rickelton maintained the express scoring with 45 off 28 balls. He and Markram shared an unbeaten 80 off 50 and South Africa won with more than three overs to spare for a fourth time in Ahmedabad.

The lone wicket was taken by spin bowling allrounder Roston Chase, who was drafted into the playing XI in place of spinner Akeal Hosein.

Pacers Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder couldn't bowl West Indies to victory after batting their side to respectability.

Shepherd (52 not out) and Holder (49) lifted West Indies from an embarrassing 83-7 with a remarkable 89-run stand. Shepherd notched his maiden T20 half-century.

In a frenetic powerplay, West Indies lost four wickets in 10 balls and was down to 52-4. South Africa also dropped three catches in the first six overs.

Kagiso Rabada (2-22) got a faint edge off West Indies captain Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer, who top-edged a pull to wicketkeeper de Kock in the third over. Lungi Ngidi (3-30) took out Brandon King and Chase in the fourth over.

Holder and Shepherd pushed the accelerator in the death overs. Holder smashed Marco Jansen for 23 runs in the 18th over before he was run out in the final over. Shepherd completed his half-century with an inside edge off the final ball of the innings but South Africa kept the score under-par at its favorite ground in Ahmedabad.

Zimbabwe bowling first vs India

Sikandar Raza won the toss and Zimbabwe opted to bowl against India in Chennai.

Rinku Singh was unavailable and India made two changes: Sanju Samson came in for Singh and left-arm spinner Axar Patel replaced Washington Sundar.

Zimbabwe made one change; allrounder Tinotenda Maposa was in for wrist spinner Graeme Cremer.

The Chennai pitch should aid turn.

Lineups:

Zimbabwe: Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (captain), Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Tinotenda Maposa, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava.

India: Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

___

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

The San Antonio Spurs beat the Toronto Raptors to extend their winning run and close in on NBA Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City Thunder.

Devin Vassell scored 21 points and De'Aaron Fox 20 as the visitors triumphed 110-107 at Scotiabank Arena to claim a 10th successive win for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

Victor Wembanyama scored only 12 points for the Spurs but made a crucial block - his fifth of the game - with 44 seconds remaining.

The Spurs improved to 42-16, while the Thunder are 45-15 after losing 124-116 at Eastern Conference leaders Detroit Pistons.

Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren scored 29 points apiece for the Pistons, while the NBA's Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed a ninth straight game for the Thunder because of injury.

The Pistons improved to 43-14, going ahead of the Thunder for the league's best record and extending their lead the top of the Eastern Conference above the Boston Celtics, who lost 103-84 at the Denver Nuggets.

Nikola Jokic scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Nuggets.

The Milwaukee Bucks overcame the continued absence of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo with a calf injury to win 118-116 at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavs were without new signing James Harden after he suffered a broken thumb in Tuesday's win over the New York Knicks.

The Houston Rockets beat the Sacramento Kings 128-97 - their biggest victory of the season - while the Golden State Warriors won 133-112 at the Memphis Grizzlies.

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