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: Currently, the Suns have a 95% chance of ending up in the Play-In tournament. Between the other most likely play-in teams (Clippers, Trail Blazers, Warriors), which is the team you would least prefer to play against?

GuarGuar: I’d least like to play against the Clippers in the Play-In, but that seems like who our first game matchup is going to be. Ty Lue always has some unique defensive game plans against us, and I think he could junk up our offense. No Harden or Zubac is big, but they still are performing very well, and Kawhi has been at an All-NBA level.

Diamondhacks: The fan in me would rather skirt playoff-tested coaches and superstars. The pretend-coach in me is more concerned with team pace, because we’ve notably struggled vs so-so (i.e., Play-In caliber) squads who play fast.

NBA Pace Rankings 2025-26

1st – Miami
2nd – Atlanta
3rd – Chicago
…
8th – Portland
18th – GSW
28th – LAC

So, if Avdija is “back” healthy and pushing the pace, I’d be most averse to Portland.

Ashton: I am not using metrics here, but more of which game would I be most entertained to watch? For me, that is the GSW. This is not based on current playoff/seeding projections, but if the implosion of the Warriors happens during a Suns game, okay, cool. Keep in mind, I am a Steve Kerr fan.

Then we get to spend the summer reading about all the possible trades that GSW can do to get younger. End of an era type stuff.

Yeah, Beat LA light and I like some of the youth movement out of Portland, but GSW and the Suns would pull the TV ratings.

OldAz: Easy. Golden State. Basically, to face the Warriors, either the Warriors have to get hot down the stretch and make up 2-3 games to finish in 8th, or the Suns have been passed by both Portland and the Clippers to finish in 9th, of that the Suns have lost game 1 of the play in and now face elimination against the Warriors after losing game 1. The Warriors are also a team that historically have stepped it up in the playoffs after underwhelming regular season performances. If Curry and a green are healthy, and especially in option #1 they are on a hot streak, then I would want no part of them.

Rod: I’m going with the Clippers here mostly because I think they’re the most unpredictable team of the bunch. In the last few weeks, they beat the Knicks and the Timberwolves (by 25 points), then lost to Sacramento and New Orleans (twice), and then beat Milwaukee by 33 after barely squeaking by Dallas in an overtime game.

Whoever it turns out to be, I just hope that the Suns bring their A-game to the court that night.

Q2: According to Gambo, Dillon Brooks could be back early next week, possibly in time for Monday’s game against Memphis. When he returns, would you put him right back into the starting lineup or bring him in off the bench at first?

GuarGuar: I’d bring Dillon right back into the starting group when he gets back. We miss his defense and toughness greatly, and his fearlessness when it comes to creating his own shot. His intensity has been missed during this stretch of close losses.

Diamondhacks: The best usage decisions are typically informed, so I’d defer to someone intimately familiar with the team’s competitive and personal dynamics. Maybe someone who spends a lot of time communicating with, motivating, and analyzing the leveraged performance of the personnel in question? I mean for a living and with demonstrated success.

Hmmm…if only there was such a person. Gosh, I can’t imagine who that might be.

Ashton: I would get Brooks off the bench as soon as medically possible to start working off the rust and to start his motor mouth for technical fouls. This will play heavy with what Q3 is asking, in which case, if he’s good to go, then start him for the last few games.

He is going to have some frustration to work off with his pending driving misdemeanors. And if he thinks he has faced stiff defenses in the past, wait until he pleads (legal disclaimer: Innocent until proven guilty) out and runs up against the Arizona Department of Transportation. No Rolls-Royce for you, Dillon the Villain, and we are not talking about playing with RO. I will be surprised if my paragraph makes it past the editors and the SBNation legal team, but this is Scottsdale we are talking about. All professional athletes should be warned about visiting Scottsdale.

Royce may be the first option to start, but I still would like to see more of Fleming.

OldAz: I would personally already be starting Fleming at the 4 and this would really be asking if Brooks would return to start at the small forward position in place of Allen. The answer in that case would still be “yes” because I want the remaining games to work with that bigger front line. However, back in the real world, where Ott is unwilling to play his bigger wings at the start of games, I would also go back to Brooks because at least he plays big. I would again bench Gillespie or Allen and play Brooks with Onealle because this group has played along the front line together more so far this year.

Rod: I do believe that a game or two coming off the bench would probably be good for him until he gets his game legs and his rhythm back. The quicker those things return should be the guide as to when he returns to the starting lineup and the minutes he plays. At this point, I don’t see a big need to rush him back into the starting lineup or play him big minutes until he’s proven he’s ready for those things.

Q3: If the Suns wind up locked into a certain playoff/Play-In seed before the season ends, should they consider resting certain players in their final few games?

GuarGuar: I definitely think if we are locked into the 7 spot, we should rest a couple of guys a game or two before the Play-In. But I want us to have an established rhythm first before we do that. If we haven’t gelled yet with everyone back, I think getting game reps would be more beneficial than sitting out games out of caution.

Diamondhacks: Sure. Rest and recovery are essential for any successful athlete, and all resource managers consider it. They’re always ‘considering’ it. Every game. Every single run. Individual Suns who look tired or worn out to me on a semi-regular or cumulative basis include Gillespie, Allen, O’Neale, and Booker. Basically, our minutes leaders who trend older or less ‘athletic’ and who also tend to deliver the lion’s share of team value. Perhaps Goodwin as well, although he never really looks tired.

Ashton: It seems like the Suns have been “resting” players all season long due to injuries. What a turnstile that has been. Honestly, it is bad when the first thing I look at before a Suns game is the injury report. It has detracted from what has been an above-average season.

So, the pundits are saying the Suns are locked into a playoff season and most likely the seven seed. With all the injuries, I see zero reason not to rest players if that is the case. Silver can’t complain about the Suns tanking for a draft pick, and yes, the quality of the game sucks for the fans in attendance.

But more playing time for the rookies? Sign me up.

OldAz: Maybe in the last game, but otherwise I would just scale back the minutes for Booker to around 25 minutes for a few games so that he is fresher but still in rhythm come playoff time. Maybe the same for Gillespie who has played a lot of minutes this year. Beyond that, Green needs to keep playing to build rhythm and consistency, and everyone else’s minutes would be dictated mainly by getting and staying healthy.

Rod: Considering their bad luck with injuries this season, I’d say yes. If there are a few games at the end of the season where winning or losing won’t have any effect on their playoff/Play-In position, risking another injury to one of their key players just doesn’t seem particularly smart. I’m not certain whether I’d sit all the starters or just restrict their minutes and give the bench guys plenty of playing time in those games, though. Maybe playing the starters just enough to keep them from getting rusty without wearing them down might be the best way to go.

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

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Quotes of the Week

“We just have to keep growing, keep building and I think we’re competing hard. We’re just haven’t gotten over that hump. Yes, we’re getting there. We’re learning. When we’re the more physical team it puts us in a better situation.” – Devin Booker

“Roll the ball out, whoever’s in the rotation, whoever’s out there, let’s get it. It would be nice to be healthy, though but soon as that ball gets tossed in the air we aren’t thinking about it.” – Jalen Green

“Just knowing that I can go out there and compete with these guys and that just builds confidence for me.” – Rasheer Fleming

“If I’m passing up shots, it’s not doing really any good for our team. No matter who is out there, I got to be aggressive, especially when I first catch the ball because that’s the most open I’ll be.” – Collin Gillespie

“You’ve got to kind of earn your respect in the league.” – Collin Gillespie

“We don’t really dwell too much on what happened yesterday. That’s part of the NBA.” – Jalen Green

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Suns Trivia/History

Grayson Allen’s first three-pointer vs Denver was the 1000th of his NBA career and his 2nd was his 500th playing for the Suns (his career total now stands at 1004, 503 for the Suns). His total of 503 three point makes for Phoenix is 10th on the Suns’ All-Time leaders list.

Collin Gillespie is just 7 three-point makes away from surpassing Quentin Richardson as the Suns’ All-Time leader in threes made in a single season. Richardson set the record (226) back in 2005. With 195 makes this season, Royce O’Neale is currently 8th on that list and, while it’s extremely unlikely that he could catch up to Collin by the end of the season, with 11 more makes he could move up as high as 3rd on that list, passing both Grayson Allen (2024) and Raja Bell (2007) who are currently tied for that position with 205 makes each.

Players Averaging Over 25.0 PPG & With A Defensive Field Goal Percentage (DFG%) Under 45.0% In The 2025-26 NBA Regular Season :

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — 31.5 PPG & 42.8 DFG%
2. Jaylen Brown — 28.6 PPG & 42.8 DFG%
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo — 27.6 PPG & 43.4 DFG%
4. Kevin Durant — 26.0 PPG & 42.4 DFG%
5. Devin Booker — 25.5 PPG & 43.6 DFG%

(From Stat Defender/@statdefender)

On April 3, 1994, Kevin Johnson scored a season high 42 points and dished out 17 assists while playing 45 minutes in a 108-98 non-OT win over the Denver Nuggets. He did not make a single 3-point shot in the game but was 14-16 from the FT line.

On April 3, 2002, the Suns lost 89-83 – in an overtime game – to the Philadelphia 76ers. It is the lowest point total by the Suns ever in an overtime game. Curiously, the Suns 2nd lowest point total in an overtime game (84 points) was in an 84-83 overtime WIN against Minnesota on Feb. 26, 2013.

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This Week’s Game Schedule

Saturday, March 28 – Suns vs Utah Jazz (7:00 pm) NBATV
Monday, March 30 – Suns @ Memphis Grizzlies (5:00 pm)
Tuesday, March 31 – Suns @ Orlando Magic (4:00 pm)
Thursday, April 2 – Suns @ Charlotte Hornets (4:00 pm)

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This Week’s Valley Suns Game Schedule

None.

The Valley Suns’ regular season is over and they did not qualify for the G League playoffs.

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Important Future Dates

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

The Atlanta Hawks are red-hot as the NBA’s regular season winds down, having gone 15-2 since the All-Star break (14-1 in their last 15 games), soaring all the way up fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings in the process.

No, they haven’t faced the most arduous schedule, and the gap between tanking and non-tanking teams has been quite pronounced as of late, but even so, Atlanta has outscored their opponents by a whopping 230 points over this 15-game span – something only Oklahoma City and Charlotte have done this season. 

Now, with just nine games remaining, every fixture on the schedule carries a little extra significance as the Hawks jostle for postseason positioning in the East’s crowded middle tier – with just two games separating fifth from tenth.

Could this be the year Atlanta finally escapes the Play-In Tournament?

It won’t be easy*, but with the confidence that this team is playing with at the moment, it’s a real possibility. Make sure your seatbelt is fastened for what’s going to be a thrilling finish to the regular season. We’ll see if the Hawks can keep the momentum going against Boston tonight. 

_{*Atlanta faces the sixth-toughest remaining schedule in the league}

Ahead of the home stretch, let’s take a look at a few of the numbers behind Atlanta’s impressive form over the past few weeks. 

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Hitting the glass, and winning the possession battle

As one would expect given their lofty winning percentage and point differential over the past few weeks, the Hawks have been excellent on both sides of the ball since the All-Star break, with a big part of their success being their focus on winning the possession battle from night to night. 

Looking at the team’s turnover margin, while forcing turnovers has been a priority all season long*, the Hawks have been extra-disruptive as of late – ranking third in defensive turnover rate (16.6%) and first (!) in points off turnovers (23.9 ppg) since the All-Star break, boasting the league’s fourth widest turnover margin over this span.  

_{*Atlanta ranked eighth in defensive turnover rate (15.4%), and sixth in points off turnovers (19.8 ppg) prior to the All-Star break} 

In addition to winning the turnover battle, perhaps the most startling difference in the team’s post-All Star break form has been the improvement we’ve seen from them on the boards. 

Prior to the All-Star break, rebounding was a weakness for Atlanta as they ranked just 27th in offensive rebounding percentage (27.3%) and 21st in defensive rebounding percentage (68.9%). From night to night, the second chance points margin was typically something they would have to overcome in order to win. 

Since the All-Star break however, things have changed. The Hawks have ranked fourth in both offensive rebounding percentage (34.2%) and defensive rebounding percentage (74.0%), winning the second chance points battle by an average of 5.9 points per game in the process – the third widest rebounding margin and the second widest second chance points margin in the league over this span. 

As noted in the intro, the Hawks have faced more ‘poodles’ than ‘predators’ over the past few weeks, a reality that’s hard to ignore when trying to figure out how exactly the team has pulled off this implausible shift in identity.

Through taking a look at the individual player rebounding numbers from before and after the break, you can tell who has been putting in a little more work on the boards as of late.

Jalen Johnson* and Onyeka Okongwu have continued to crash the glass at an impressive rate, while Dyson Daniels** and Zaccharie Risacher have both seen their rebounding numbers soar since the All-Star break – pulling down 11.2 and 11.4 rebounds per 100 possessions respectively. Jock Landale has been a steady force, particularly on the offensive glass. Meanwhile, Mouhamed Gueye and Jonathan Kuminga have both been outstanding in this area. 

_{*Johnson is ranked 12th in rebounds per 100 possessions on the season (min. 41 games played)}

_{**Daniels ranks eighth amongst guards in offensive rebounds per 100 possessions since the All-Star break}

It’s been a staggering turnaround on the glass for Atlanta over the past few weeks, and while their recent games against Houston and Detroit have shown* that there is still room for improvement, the progress that they have made in this area over the course of the season has been very encouraging – and it’s a credit to the organization for addressing an area of need that they probably didn’t see coming prior to the season.

_{*Detroit and Houston are two of the best rebounding teams in the league, but even so, both teams posted 30% offensive rebounding percentages against Atlanta in their matchups over the past week. Against Houston, Atlanta really struggled on the offensive glass, grabbing just 19% of the available offensive rebounds and scoring just seven second chance points.}

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Checking in on the perimeter shooting

Beyond the boards, Atlanta’s recent success has also been reflected in the quality of looks they’ve been generating — and conceding — from beyond the arc.

On the whole since the All-Star break, the Hawks rank in the middle of the pack in three-point accuracy (35.9%) and volume (43.3% 3-point attempt rate), and are just inside the top ten in opponent three-point accuracy (34.3%) and volume (40.4%). But do the ‘closest defender’ numbers reveal any hidden truths?

In the first plot, focusing on the offensive shooting numbers, it’s encouraging to see that the Hawks have been generating a solid amount of ‘open’ looks from the perimeter, ranking ninth in ‘open’ three-point frequency while converting these looks at a healthy 37.9% clip. They also don’t appear to be outliers in terms of their frequency or accuracy on ‘contested’ and ‘semi-contested’ three-point attempts. 

On the defensive end, the Hawks have done a really great job closing out on shooters in recent weeks, as evidenced by their opponents taking the third-fewest rate of ‘open’ threes and the fifth-highest rate of ‘contested’ threes since the All-Star break. While they are getting a little unlucky in terms of their opponent’s conversion rate on ‘semi-contested’ threes*, opponents have shot a league-low 15.7% (11-for-70) on ‘contested’ threes against them so it somewhat evens out. 

_{*35.2%, eighth-highest opponent accuracy on this shot type since the All-Star break}

Looking at the individual player’s numbers over this stretch, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been on a shooting tear since the break, shooting 45.5% from deep on 7.6 attempts per game (more on NAW below). Additionally, I’m happy to report that ‘post-ASB Risacher’ is back, with the second-year Frenchman shooting 42.9% on 7.4 three-point attempts per 100 possessions after shooting just 35.2% on 8.1 attempts per 100 possessions prior to the break. Jonathan Kuminga (12-for-25) and Mouhamed Gueye (7-for-18) have also shot it well from the perimeter lately – albeit on limited volume. 

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What makes ‘NAW’ special?

It’s been an incredible debut season for Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who has seen his numbers rise alongside his playing time in Atlanta, without sacrificing any of the efficiency or attention to detail that made him such a valuable role player in Minnesota last season. 

NAW has put together quite a compelling case for this season’s Most Improved Player award, with per-game averages of 20.4 points, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 39% from deep and 90% from the free throw line. While he does a lot of things well, one area of his game that’s really impressed me this season has been his transition finishing ability. 

This is a skill that was perhaps under-utilized* on a Minnesota team that ranked 25th in pace last season, however now that he’s playing for an Atlanta team that keeps one foot on the gas pedal at all times (ranked fourth in pace this season), we’ve seen him blossom into one of the league’s most efficient high volume transition finishers, ranking 13th in transition scoring possessions per game (4.8) and in the 74th percentile in efficiency (1.25 points per possession (PPP))

_{*NAW was quite efficient in transition last season (1.21 PPP), though he averaged just 1.7 transition scoring possessions per game.}

NAW gets it done both inside and outside the arc in transition. Check out this composed finish in the lane against Miami from a few weeks ago.

From the Dallas game earlier this month, the Hawks force a turnover, and NAW is immediately off to the races, finishing off the possession with a dunk. 

Against Detroit on Wednesday night, he showed off the shooting range with a couple of transition triples. 

As a team, the Hawks have improved from 21st in transition efficiency (1.11 PPP) last season to 12th in transition efficiency (1.15 PPP) this season, and Alexander-Walker has been a big part of that improvement. 

Another area of NAW’s game that’s really impressed this season has been his catch-and-shoot three-point shooting proficiency. Similar to his transition scoring, he was quite efficient on these looks last season, shooting a stellar 42.5% on 3.6 attempts per game for Minnesota. Now this season, he’s been able to maintain his efficiency while significantly increasing his volume of attempts, shooting 41.6% on 5.9 attempts per game in Atlanta – one of the very best marks in the league. 

Lastly, as the awards races heat up towards the end of the season, it’s worth pointing out that Alexander-Walker has been pushing hard to make his case for the ‘MIP’ award*, as he is currently in the midst of one of the most efficient scoring months in the NBA – averaging 23.3 points per game on a ridiculous 74.6% true shooting percentage. 

_{*Alexander-Walker currently has the second shortest odds (Fanduel) to win the Most Improved Player award this season}

Nickeil Alexander-Walker is having the most efficient scoring month of anyone in the NBA.

He has 74.0% (!) TS in March, and that is the highest mark of any player with any level of significant usage.

23.3 points on 55.6/50.6/96.0 shooting over 11 games.

Preposterous stuff.

— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) March 24, 2026

I plotted the players averaging 20 or more points per game in March, and as you can see below, Alexander-Walker has been the league’s most efficient 20-point scorer this month – beyond impressive for a player that averaged just 7.5 field goal attempts per game last season. 

It’s been a darn near flawless first season in Atlanta for Nickeil Alexander-Walker and the cherry on top is that he is under contract for the next two seasons at just around 8.7% of the team’s salary cap (great value for a starter) with a player option for 2028-29. 

As his improvement from last season to this one shows, Alexander-Walker might be entering his prime at 27 years old, but he is a player that continues to add to his game year after year. I’m glad he’s a Hawk, and I am excited to watch how he develops over the next few seasons.

This is an exciting time. For the first time since 2019, the Spurs are heading to the playoffs. There are only nine games left in the regular season. If watching games surrounded by equally frenzied fans in a family-friendly environment, the The Rock at La Cantera has got you covered this weekend.

On Saturday, the Silver & Black are wrapping up a three-game road trip in Milwaukee.

 The official game watch party at The Rock takes place this Saturday as the team takes on the Milwaukee Bucks. This is the last official watch party of the regular season. Details are below.

• What: Official watch party for the Spurs vs Bucks game
• When: Party begins at 1:30 p.m., game tips off at 2
• Where: Frost Plaza at The Rock at La Cantera, 1 Spurs Way, San Antonio TX 78256.
• Who: Hosted by Zay Zay with music by DJ Quake. Free facepainting, balloon artist and photobooth.

Fans are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets and can purchase food and beverages from Ice Ice Dady, Lil Bros BBQ Shack and other kiosks, or dine at Roca & Martillo.

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Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

The Boston Celtics are coming off of perhaps their best win of the season, a 119-109 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder who were fully healthy for the first time all year. It’s just one game, but the importance of the win can’t be overstated.

For starters, it shows that the Celtics can keep up with one of the Western Conference favorites to reach, or even win the Finals. Statement wins like this can go a long way for a team’s confidence heading into the playoffs. Along with that, the Knicks are hot on Boston’s tail for the second seed, and holding off the most difficult remaining opponent after a disappointing loss to the Timberwolves gives the Celtics just a bit of breathing room.

As things currently stand, Boston is one game ahead of the Knicks for the second seed, with two less games in the loss column. If the two teams were to end up with the same record by the end of the regular season, New York would earn the higher seed, having secured the tie-breaker by having a better record against teams in the same division. The Celtics and Knicks do face off against each other once more before the season ends though, a game which could create the separation Boston is looking for, or put New York in prime position to overtake them.

Along with their race with the Knicks, the Celtics are also still technically in play for the best overall record in the East, currently sitting 4.5 games behind the Pistons. In reality, it should be considered a 5-game gap, since the Pistons took the season series 3 games to 1. It’s going to be extremely difficult for Boston to make up that gap, but a possibility nonetheless. The Cleveland Cavaliers sit 2.5 games behind the Knicks, and four games ahead of the Hawks, so they might have an opportunity to jump up if all goes their way, but are otherwise likely going to end as the 4_^th seed.

So, what should Celtics fans keep an eye on in Boston’s final 10 games of the regular season?

Well, there’s actually quite a bit to consider. Of the remaining games, nine of them are against Eastern Conference opponents, the New Orleans Pelicans being the lone Western Conference competitor. Out of the eight East matchups, the Milwaukee Bucks are the only remaining opponent who seem to be on the outs for Play-In contention, sitting 9 games behind the 10^th seed Magic.

We’ve already mentioned that one of the remaining matchups is against the Knicks, the best remaining team that Boston will face in this final stretch. That still leaves 7 more games against potential playoff teams: the Atlanta Hawks (x2), Charlotte Hornets (x2), Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, and Orlando Magic.

Those five teams are separated by at most 2 games in the standings, and they make up the 5-10 spots in the East, along with the 7^th seed Sixers which the Celtics will not face again this regular season. Any single one of them could be Boston’s eventual first-round matchup in the playoffs, and the Celtics could heavily influence their ultimate landing spots given the upcoming schedule.

Here’s where each team stands as of today:

5^th. Atlanta Hawks (1-1 vs Celtics, 41-32 overall)

6^th. Toronto Raptors (0-3 vs Celtics, 40-32 overall)

7^th. Philadelphia 76ers (2-2 vs Celtics, 40-33 overall)

8^th. Orlando Magic (1-2 vs Celtics, 39-34 overall)

9^th. Charlotte Hornets (1-0 vs Celtics, 39-34 overall)

10^th. Miami Heat (0-3 vs Celtics, 39-34 overall)

If this were to be how the season ended, Boston as the 2 seed would play the winner of the 7-8 Play-In matchup, that being between Philly and Orlando. These standings are very volatile, however. With the Celtics facing the Hawks twice in the next three games, Boston winning both could drop Atlanta down into that 7^th seed.

Similarly, Boston has two games against Charlotte coming up. If the Hornets were to win both, they could potentially jump up the standings, again making them a possible first round matchup for the Celtics assuming Boston still manages to maintain their own spot as the 2^nd seed.

With the records being so close, every game matters down this stretch for nearly every remaining team in the East. Boston has a slight advantage over the Knicks by having two less losses. The Knicks also have some competition in their remaining games: the Thunder, Rockets, Hawks, Hornets (who they just lost to), Raptors, and us, of course.

Ultimately, it comes down to the Celtics taking care of their own business. Along with holding their spot in the standings, they’ll be looking for Jayson Tatum to keep building rhythm, while also trying to integrate Nikola Vucevic back into the lineup as soon as he returns from nursing the broken finger he suffered earlier this month. Vuc is expected to be back before the end of the regular season, though we don’t have an exact date yet.

It’s important to note that Boston’s last two opponents are the Pelicans and the Magic. These two games, could see a lot of the starters sitting to make sure they get to the playoffs as healthy and rested as possible. Additionally, the Celtics have one more back-to-back, that coming in Charlotte and Atlanta on March 29^th and March 30^th. We may very well see Jayson Tatum at minimum rest one of those nights, potentially along with any other players who may be feeling a bit banged up at this point of the season.

We did see several new players pop up on the injury report for Boston’s game against Atlanta tonight. Jaylen Brown is questionable with calf tightness, Neemias Queta is questionable with a thumb sprain, and Derrick White is questionable with a bruised knee. This means Boston could potentially be without three starters in a key matchup against a red-hot Hawks team.

We don’t know the severity of these injuries, and it is possible that JB, Neemi, and Derrick are just due for some rest. Regardless, whoever plays for Boston will have to be able to execute if they want to maintain their standings, in this game, and every other for the rest of the season.

WASHINGTON - No, it’s not the Final Four. It just feels that way.

Between No. 1 Duke, No. 2 Connecticut, No. 3 Michigan State and No. 5 St. John’s, the East region foursome in Washington, D.C., would have enough star power to light up Indianapolis, host of this year’s national semifinals and final.

“This is like a Final Four, if you ask me,” said Michigan State coach Tom Izzo. “I think this is almost a chalk tournament. I'm just proud and excited to be part of it.”

Instead of playing for the national championship, the group will meet to decide which team advances out of this loaded region. The Blue Devils and Red Storm will get things started on Friday night, followed by the Huskies and Spartans.

Yet these are undoubtedly some of the biggest brands in the country. Each head coach brings glittering résumés into the Sweet 16, including a combined five national championships and 18 Final Four appearances. The four teams are led by a parade of All-America selections and future NBA draft picks.

On paper, it’s hard to find another regional bubble like this in recent tournament history.

“A ton of respect for each coach and their programs,” said Duke coach Jon Scheyer. “I think that's what makes it exciting, right? It's going to be an exciting atmosphere, high-level basketball, high-level coaching for sure.”

Elite programs, teams meet on an elite stage

Duke, UConn and Michigan State have combined for 13 national championships, with the Huskies most recently capturing back-to-back crowns in 2023 and 2024. They make up three of the nine programs to win multiple championships in the past 50 seasons.

The Blue Devils (34-2) won the ACC regular-season and tournament titles after losing just twice leading into March Madness by a combined four points. St. John’s (30-6) did the same in the Big East, though the Red Storm were given a No. 5 seed by the selection committee due to fewer Quad 1 wins that the other elite teams.

UConn (31-5) finished one game behind the Red Storm in the Big East and then dropped the conference championship game between the schools, giving St. John’s a 2-1 edge in the season series. Let’s put the rivalry aside for one night and root for each other to meet against in the Elite Eight, UConn coach Dan Hurley said.

"It's probably a little bit early, but obviously, I think we've got to support each other,” said Hurley. “It's pretty brutal on Twitter, I think, and socials between our fan bases, but I think we have to try to come together Friday night against our opponent so we can have a bloodbath on Sunday."

And Michigan State (27-7) has rebounded from losses to Michigan and UCLA to end the regular season and conference tournament, respectively, to post impressive wins against No. 14 North Dakota State and No. 6 Louisville to reach the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row and the third time in four years.

“We want to make it as far as we can,” Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler said. “Playing with all these guys is something that's really special in my life, honestly.”

East region features four of college basketball’s best coaches

Here’s the best way to describe four head coaches still standing in the East region: Scheyer is the least accomplished of the bunch.

That’s a telling statement given how capably Scheyer has stepped into Mike Krzyzewski’s shoes since being promoted from associate head coach in 2022.

All he’s done in his four seasons is go 123-24 overall and 65-13 in the ACC, reaching the Elite Eight in 2024 and the Final Four last season, though the Blue Devils’ season ended with a heartbreaking collapse against Houston in the national semifinals. Given the difficulties of replacing a legend, Scheyer has become the poster child for seamless caching transitions.

Izzo followed similar path as an assistant to title-winning coach Jud Heathcote before assuming the job in 1995 at the age of 40 - five years older than Scheyer was when he replaced Coach K.

The résumés speak for themselves of the three veterans speak for themselves.

Izzo has gone 764-308 with 11 Big Ten regular-season titles, six Big Ten tournament titles, 17 trips to the Sweet 16, eight appearances in the Final Four and one national championship, in 2000.

“I don't know how Coach Izzo has done it,” Hurley said. “I don't.”

Hurley is one of eight coaches to win back-to-back national titles, joining Krzyzewski, Billy Donovan (Florida), Henry Iba (Oklahoma State), Ed Jucker (Cincinnati), Adolph Rupp (Kentucky), John Wooden (UCLA) and Phil Woolpert (San Francisco).

Now in his third season with the Red Storm, Pitino is already the only coach to reach the Sweet 16 in five separate decades, the only coach to win national championships at two schools — Kentucky in 1996 and Louisville in 2013, though the second was later vacated by the NCAA — and one of two to lead three different teams to the Final Four (Providence, Kentucky and Louisville), along with current Arkansas coach John Calipari.

Breaking down the East region Sweet 16 matchups

There’s one very interesting quirk to the Blue Devils’ matchup with the Red Storm. Duke beat St. John’s in each of the program’s five national-championship seasons (1991, 1992, 2001, 2010 and 2015), including a 78-61 win in the 1991 Elite Eight.

Duke is preparing for a battle against the Red Storm’s physical, end-to-end style, which paced a 67-65 win against No. 4 Kansas in the second round.

“I think that's part of our identity, too, is being a physical team,” Duke freshman Nikolas Khamenia said. “I think we've played a lot of teams that have been physical, which is obviously going to help prepare us for tomorrow.”

St. John’s will have to contend with Duke forward Cameron Boozer, a favorite for national player of the year while leading the team with 22.4 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.

“You have to be really hungry and believe,” Pitino said. “If you don't, usually you go home. So we just want to get after it. We know we're playing a great team. There's no question about that. They haven't lost very much. But we want to foster that type of belief, that we're going to win this game.”

Like Duke and St. John’s, the matchup between Michigan State and UConn should have a high-intensity feel driven by two of the top defenses remaining in the tournament.

According to the analytics site KenPom.com, the UConn defense ranks 11th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency and the Spartans rank 13th. And both offenses look to get into transition but will focus on frontcourt play in the halfcourt set, with the Huskies led by center Tarris Reed Jr. (41 points and 40 rebounds through two tournament games) and Michigan State centered on Kohler, center Carson Cooper and junior forward Coen Carr.

While the two teams didn’t face off during the regular season, they did meet in a charity exhibition game in late October, with the Huskies pulling out a 76-69 win.

“You remember the physicality they play with, the rebounding, how fast they play, the pace they play at,” said UConn forward Alex Karaban.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: East Region in March Mandes resembles Final Four with its quality

The Big Ten entered the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament riding a 26-year drought since the conference last produced a national champion.

Nearly halfway through the event, the league is doing just about everything it can to make sure that skid comes to a long-awaited end.

What was arguably the best conference in the sport during the regular season has continued to show its strength during March Madness. Many of the conference’s best teams, like Michigan, have looked dominant thus far during the Big Dance, while others, like Iowa, have pulled off a handful of upsets to advance deeper than many predicted they would.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness finds a Cinderella. Iowa basketball, the slipper is yours

On Thursday night, on the first day of the Sweet 16, that dominance was on display. Illinois stymied Houston 65-55 to earn its second Elite Eight appearance in the past three years under coach Brad Underwood. Purdue got a buzzer-beating tip-in from Trey Kaufman-Renn to edge Texas 79-77. And in an intra-conference matchup, Iowa continued its unexpectedly lengthy run in the tournament with a 77-71 victory over fellow corn enthusiast Nebraska.

Four tickets have been punched to the Elite Eight, with three of those belonging to a single league — and with two of its best teams, Michigan and Michigan State, trying to join them there tomorrow.

Just how good has the Big Ten been in the 2026 NCAA Tournament? Here’s a look:

How many Big Ten teams are in Elite 8?

After the first night of Sweet 16 games on Thursday, March 26, the Big Ten has three teams in the Elite Eight: Purdue, Iowa and Illinois.

The conference could add two more on Friday with No. 1 seed Michigan taking on No. 4 seed Alabama and No. 3 seed Michigan State squaring off against No. 2 seed UConn. The Wolverines, the Big Ten regular-season champions, are a 9.5-point favorite while the Spartans are a 1.5-point underdog.

REQUIRED READING: Who's in Elite 8? Updated March Madness bracket, NCAA Tournament schedule

What’s the record for most Big Ten teams in Elite 8?

Even if Michigan and Michigan State both lose, the Big Ten’s performance on Thursday already made a bit of history.

Halfway through the Sweet 16, the Big Ten has already tied its record of three teams in the Elite Eight, a mark it had previously reached in 2000, 2005 and 2019.

REQUIRED READING: Inside the game-winning play that advanced Purdue to Elite 8

Record for most Elite 8 teams from one conference

The record for most Elite Eight teams from one conference is four, a mark that has been reached three times since the NCAA tournament field expanded to 64 in 1985.

That figure was achieved by the Big East in 2009 (UConn, Pitt, Louisville and Villanova), the ACC in 2016 (North Carolina, Notre Dame, Syracuse and Virginia) and the SEC in 2025 (Florida, Auburn, Tennessee and Alabama).

When’s the last time a Big Ten team won March Madness?

Despite the success of its teams this season, the Big Ten hasn’t had a member win the national championship in men’s basketball since Michigan State all the way back in 2000. Maryland, a current Big Ten member, won it all in 2002, but the Terrapins were in the ACC at that time.

Big Ten NCAA tournament record

The nine Big Ten teams that made it into the field for the 2026 NCAA Tournament have combined to go 16-4.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The Big Ten has 3 Elite 8 teams in a record-setting 2026 NCAA Tournament

By the time the final buzzer sounds Friday, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament field will officially be down to the Elite Eight.

The round of 16 concludes with games in the East and Midwest Regionals, with the action taking place in Washington, D.C., and Chicago, respectively. A loaded field of programs with multiple championships will hit the floor in the East, while the foursome in the Windy City features a pair of SEC squads looking to take down a couple of top seeds. Once again, we’re here to break down the matchups for you, with all the information you’ll need about how and when to watch.

No. 1 Duke vs. No. 5 St. John’s

Time/TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS

Even if this matchup is happening in an earlier round than it probably should be, it’s arguably the most compelling of the round. History and coaching achievements aside, they’re two of the hottest teams in the field having won their respective power conference tournaments. That the Blue Devils have run their winning streak to 13 despite being down a couple of starters certainly speaks to their depth, though Patrick Ngongba’s return to the lineup was nonetheless a welcome development. His presence near the bucket could force the Red Storm to find a source for points other than Zuby Ejiofor, but fortunately Bryce Hopkins has been shooting well of late. Duke’s Cayden Boozer has handled his increase in minutes and responsibilities well since the injury to Caleb Foster, but the waves of pressure he’ll see from the Red Storm will test his mettle.f

No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama

Time/TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV

Opening the festivities at the United Center is this clash of programs led by coaches who have experienced the Final Four stage, although in this iteration the top-seeded Wolverines appear to be better constructed to get there. Not only do they put up 87.4 points a game, but their array of interior defenders reject around six shots a game and challenge countless others. But the 3-point arc can be an equalizer, and the high-octane Crimson Tide utilize it better than most knocking down nearly 13 treys a game as part of their nation's-best 91.6-point per game average. The other factor that might spell success for Alabama is ball security, if primary handler Lebaron Philon can limit miscues better than Michigan counterpart Elliot Cadeau.

No. 2 Connecticut vs. No. 3 Michigan State

Time/TV: 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS

The second contest at Capital One Arena is yet another heavyweight showdown in the East, a region that would be dubbed the group of death if this were a World Cup draw. This pairing of name-brand programs led by – shall we say – high-intensity coaches figure to add up to one of the more physical confrontations of the tournament. Feisty Spartans point guard Jeremy Fears will need to keep his notorious temper in check, while UConn’s Tarris Reed must do his best to avoid early foul trouble. Michigan State has a lot of options if a clutch bucket is needed, but there’s no substitute for the big-game experience of veteran Huskies captain Alex Karaban.

No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 6 Tennessee

Time/TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV

The nightcap in the Windy City could be a low-scoring affair, as playing lock-down defense is hardwired into both programs. The health status of a couple of the game’s top offensive weapons could also keep the point total down. Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson is officially a game-time decision but seems unlikely to play, and Tennessee’s Nate Ament hasn’t been 100% for some time. The Cyclones theoretically have more reliable shooters in their lineup, especially if facilitator Tamin Lipsey is on target, but Volunteers guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie can also get hot.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness games today: NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 schedule

Many words have been said and written about why the Cleveland Cavaliers’ new core four won’t work. About redundancy. About perimeter defense. About spacing. Very few words have been said and written about why it will work. About what, precisely, makes die-hard fans and the Cleveland front office and coaching staff alike believe that this team can win the NBA title and be crowned world champions.

Turns out, words aren’t necessary. There’s a play. A singular clip. Show. Don’t tell.

This clip is everything. It’s the hope. It’s the dream.

The NBA playoffs are less about what you can do and more about what problems you can present to your opponent. Modern basketball is an offense-advantaged game at its core. Present enough problems and the defense will crumble. Present too few, and the defense will take it away. They will collapse what you do and what you are. Watch the clip twice.

This is not a meaningless game. It is the best insight into what it will take to win it all. Cleveland, post-James Harden trade, with the whole (new) Core Four playing, at the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder’s house on the last game of a three-in-four night stretch. National spotlight game. Both teams are trying their best.

Now, let’s dig in.

James Harden brings the ball up court. The Thunder are pressuring hard because that’s what you do with playoff intensity. Evan Mobley sets a screen way up near half court to spring Harden. He doesn’t slip it. He makes contact, and the defender is put off balance. Harden has the edge. A staggered screen from Jarrett Allen is waiting just in case he recovers.

Boy howdy! That’s a lot of resources to commit above the three-point line. Three players and both bigs! Is space tight? Does the best defense in basketball (by my eyes) have the Cavs in jail? No. Chet Holmgren (Mobley’s defender) is waiting at the arc but won’t go further. Allen’s defender is right behind him, effectively double-covering meaningless space. Mitchell’s defender is glued to him in the corner. And where is Sam Merrill? Where is his defender? They are so deep in the opposite corner that they aren’t even in the picture.

The action continues. Harden has the corner. His defender no longer matters. Allen reads it and slips the screen, making minimal contact. OKC switches assignments because they are great at basketball. Mitchell and Merrill’s defenders stay home because OKC is good. Mobley is effectively unguarded.

Next, we have three moments in time in rapid succession. It is a work of art titled “Why Point Guards Matter.”

Harden drives. Allen rolls. The defensive shell is intact. Oppressively solid.

Harden throws on the brakes. He takes three hesitation dribbles. Why, oh why, would you do this?! Are you even trying to score? Do you want your defender that you worked so hard to leave behind to catch up?

This freeze frame is unique to veteran, elite point guards. What happened to that defensive shell? Where did it go? James Harden is many things. I, personally, have disliked many of those things over his career. But he is absolutely an elite, veteran point guard. He can play on many timings. And this is the key to his brilliance. He lets the defense recover and collapse. Intentionally. He does this three seconds before anybody could possibly say that is a good decision. Where does the defense end up?

Lou Dort is in No Man’s Land. He cheated into Allen earlier for a pass that didn’t come while Mitchell repositioned.

Isaiah Joe is in No Man’s Land. He rightly stayed home on Sam Merrill on the strong side during the initial drive. You can’t not. That’s Sam Merrill. By the time he cheats in on the play, it is too late.

Jaylin Williams and Carson Wallace wall off Harden’s attack. No lay-ups. No lobs. No easy through-bounce passes. Harden uses his wingspan to wrap the pass around the outside.

Holmgren actually shows remarkable processing and agility to see what is happening and hard cuts back to the wide open Allen. It’s too late.

All of this happens because of the off-timing read Harden made. It ends in a Jarrett Allen dunk. But what if the timing was slightly different? What then? Let’s consider.

Holmgren is full commit to Allen. Mobley is wide open as a viable high outlet or Nash dribble reset. Merrill is wide open for an easy corner 3. Did we mention he’s Sam Merrill? Say Mobley does get the ball. Lou Dort is the only possible person who can contest. He will contest. This is what it means for a defense to be in rotation. Somebody is open. Who is open? That man is Donovan Mitchell for the easiest skip pass in basketball history. Did we mention he is Donovan Mitchell?

This play is the play. It is the ultimate in cherry picking, stat nerd Nirvana. But it is also the peak of what the Cleveland Cavaliers’ core four can be. It is everything the Cavs have previously struggled with. High ball pressure. Elite switching defenses. Situationally packing paints. And then eviscerate it. Let’s say those names again. This happened against a defense comprised of:

Carson Wallace
Lou Dort
Isiah Joe
Jaylin Williams
Chet Holmgren

If there is a better cast of characters to defend the 2025-26 Cleveland Cavaliers, then it only exists in fiction. This is the pinnacle. And the Cavs can do it. There is reason to believe. It is everything. It is the problems the Cavs can present. The double bigs, the variable timings, the shooting, Mitchell’s individual attacking brilliance, Harden’s off-timing precognition.

Do not listen to conventional talking points. This is not a conventional team. Look deeper, and you’ll see it. The Cavs can win it all. The only question is if they’ll have the health and the time to bring it all together, and the good fortune to see it through. But this is a true, blue contender. Top to bottom.

Don’t believe me? Scroll back to the top. Watch that play again.

As the NCAA tournament moves towards the Elite Eight and the Final Four in just a few days, some attention is being spent on the NBA Draft. Duke’s Carlos Boozer is racking up a massive haul of awards, and his numbers are historic.

Yet we hear constantly that he’s not athletic enough to prosper in the NBA.

It’s an old argument. It was behind his father, Carlos, falling to the second round when he was drafted out of Duke, and he went on to a superb NBA career.

After last year’s draft, we heard the same argument about Kon Knueppel. A lot of critics thought that he might be a useful piece, a sniper off the bench, but he’s proven to be far more than that.

Knueppel, along with close friend and former Duke teammate Cooper Flagg, is a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year, and on Thursday, he did something no rookie has ever done: he topped 250 three-point shots in his first NBA season.

It’s been a spectacular season, almost as spectacular as his re-evaluation. It should be a warning for Boozer’s critics: athleticism is a huge asset for an NBA player, but as in most aspects of life, intelligence is the biggest asset.

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The 2025-26 Boston Celtics were supposed to be taking a gap year. That has not been the case as Boston is 2nd in the Eastern Conference and looking to make another deep playoff run with the return of Jayson Tatum.

However, before the playoffs start, let’s look ahead to what is to come for the Celtics this summer.

Currently, Boston has 12 players under contract for next season, including team options on Jordan Walsh, Amari Williams and Max Shulga.

I think they’ll pick up Walsh’s option, decline Shulga’s (and bring him back on a new two-way contract) and either pick up Williams’ or decline it and give him a new multi-year deal. My guess would be the latter.

They’ll also need to sign Ron Harper Jr. to standard deal because he is out of two-way eligibility. That leaves us with 12 standard players and 2 two-way players.

They have two picks in the draft. They’ll use the first round pick — this draft is too good to not add a player, even as late as they’ll be picking. They also have a 2nd round pick from Milwaukee, projected to be 40th overall right now. I think they’ll trade that one to get more future 2nd round picks and more flexibility with the roster.

Another factor in these plans is whether the Celtics want to stay under the tax in 2026-27 to eliminate the repeater tax and then go spend big in 2027-28 when Neemias Queta, Jordan Walsh and Luka Garza are set to be free agents.

Right now, the Celtics are projected to be $19 million under the luxury tax for next season. Add in Harper’s likely minimum salary and the 27th pick in the draft’s salary, that likely leaves the Celtics with around $13 million to spend on their non-tax payer mid-level exception or the $27 million trade exception they have from the Anfernee Simons-Nikola Vucevic trade.

They likely won’t spend all of that money and the part they do could be on a center.

Isaiah Hartenstein will be out of the Celtics price range. I also think Mitchell Robinson and Robert Williams will be as well but if they aren’t, they would be at the top of my list.

Day’Ron Sharpe has a $6.5 million team option with the Nets that I suspect they will pick up or do a decline and extend but that is another guy I would love the Celtics to get if possible.

Outside of that there are a bunch of older bigs and younger unproven players that I am not sure I would want. Vucevic, Brook Lopez, Al Horford, and Jusuf Nurkic are some names the Celtics could consider this summer but those guys are old and Vucevic, Lopez and Nurkic aren’t great defensively.

If they elected to go in a different direction, they could add an impact guy who can either start or play off of the bench as a wing or a guard. Anfernee Simons, Harrison Barnes, and Collin Sexton are some options Boston could sign.

There is also the argument that they should spend more this summer and into the tax. The Celtics are really good, but we have yet to see what this group looks like in a playoff series. Maybe that will expose some flaws that they’ll need to address this summer.

They might need to add another big and another ball handler. Relying on a player that you pick with the 26th or 27th pick in the draft is not a wise decision. The repeater tax is not a concern of the fan, even if it makes sense to avoid, there are no basketball reasons to avoid it. It isn’t like the 2nd apron, where they take away draft picks and restrict how teams can make trades.

So yes, resetting the repeater tax makes sense for the Celtics to do but as a fan, there is no upside to it. Especially if they aren’t serious about spending during the summer of 2027. Yet, I still expect them to stay under the tax next season.

I don’t expect huge changes to the Celtics roster or rotation this summer. They have shown this season that they have a bunch of good role players and a full season plus a return to 100% for Jayson Tatum might be the only addition they need, outside of the draft. However, I am hopeful they will add another impact player off of the bench.

SAN JOSE, CA — All John Calipari could do was sit there.

His Arkansas team had been high flying all month. It was dunking like it was the “Lob City” Los Angeles Clippers, and shooting like it was the Golden State Warriors’ “Splash Bros.” Darius Acuff Jr. was showing why he’s destined to be an NBA star, giving belief the coach could get the Hogs back in the Final Four.

That was until he saw the bracket.

Before the tournament began, Calipari thought if there was one team he didn’t want to see, it was Arizona. He knew it was a bad matchup for his team, and if he was going to meet them on the court, the goal was to hope it could hang around long enough to turn the pressure on them.

After Thursday, March 26, Calipari might as well have been Nostradamus, correctly predicting the unfortunate fate the Razorbacks faced, falling to top seed Arizona, 109-88, in the Sweet 16. It wasn’t just a loss, it was a beatdown.

“Arizona is really good,” Calipari said. 

The nightcap in San Jose was billed as having the potential to blow the roof off of SAP Center with all the fireworks each team could light off. But what was expected to be a fun battle ended up being a dud for nearly all 40 minutes of action, with Arkansas never leading in the game.

That’s not necessarily saying Arkansas fell apart. It’s just the fact it happened to be directly in the path of the Arizona buzzsaw.

“They got us from right at the beginning,” Calipari.

The Wildcats have looked like a national championship contender all season, but their Sweet 16 performance might have been their best one yet. Coach Tommy Lloyd was hesitant to call it that, but so many signs point to it. 

They shot 63.8% from the field, the best mark against a Power conference team this season. Only eight 3-pointers were shot, but five of them went in. A team that prides itself on getting to the foul line shot a whopping 39 free throws.

“Our guys did a great job of just staying steady and making the game simple and trying to find our advantages every possession,” Lloyd said.

Arizona played to its strengths. The star freshman were running up and down the court, driving to the bucket and the bigs were punishing the interior. 

All of it sucked the life out of Arkansas. It frustrated every member, leading to two technical fouls – one on Calipari – and two Flagrant foul calls. There weren't endless 3-pointers or hard-hitting dunks that built this March run. For the last part of the second half, Calipari and his team sat on the bench, knowing it just got the worst version of the bad matchup.

“We went out there and played our Arizona brand of basketball,” said freshman Koa Peat. “Everything fell in place.” 

With the win, Arizona is once again on the cusp of breaking its dreaded Final Four drought, last appearing in the national semifinals in 2001. One could argue a curse has hovered over Tucson for 25 years, but if there is one team to snap it, it’s this one. After the Sweet 16, all the signs point to it.

But remember, Arizona has been in this same exact position before. Outstanding seasons have been washed out plenty of times. The Wildcats have been to the Elite Eight five times since the last Final Four then – with some great squads – but have failed to break through every single time.

Lloyd knows having 35 wins, tying the program record set in 1987-88, doesn’t guarantee finally breaking through. Arizona will face an experienced Purdue team with players that know what it’s like to get to a Final Four.

“The great thing about basketball and the tough thing about basketball is, unfortunately, that doesn't automatically translate to Saturday,” Lloyd said. “We've got to find a way to kind of recreate that rhythm we had tonight. We know that's going to be a big-time challenge.”

If Arizona does in fact recapture what happened in the Sweet 16, then that buzzsaw will stay on, ready to take out anyone in the way of the Wildcats finally breaking through.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arizona is ready for March Madness breakthrough after Sweet 16 rout

New Orleans Pelicans (25-49, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (40-32, sixth in the Eastern Conference)

Toronto; Friday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Raptors -8.5; over/under is 227.5

BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans hits the road against Toronto looking to break its four-game road skid.

The Raptors have gone 19-16 at home. Toronto is 7-4 in one-possession games.

The Pelicans are 9-27 on the road. New Orleans ranks third in the Western Conference with 16.6 fast break points per game led by Trey Murphy III averaging 3.3.

The Raptors average 113.9 points per game, 5.4 fewer points than the 119.3 the Pelicans give up. The Pelicans are shooting 46.6% from the field, 0.1% lower than the 46.7% the Raptors' opponents have shot this season.

The teams meet for the second time this season. The Pelicans won 122-111 in the last matchup on March 12.

TOP PERFORMERS: Scottie Barnes is averaging 18.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.5 blocks for the Raptors. Ja'Kobe Walter is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Derik Queen is scoring 11.3 points per game and averaging 6.8 rebounds for the Pelicans. Zion Williamson is averaging 20.3 points and 5.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 5-5, averaging 116.2 points, 40.1 rebounds, 30.0 assists, 9.2 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.6 points per game.

Pelicans: 5-5, averaging 116.9 points, 43.6 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 9.3 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.4 points.

INJURIES: Raptors: Immanuel Quickley: out (foot).

Pelicans: Trey Murphy III: day to day (ankle), Bryce McGowens: day to day (toe).

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

San Antonio Spurs (55-18, second in the Western Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (29-43, 11th in the Eastern Conference)

Milwaukee; Saturday, 3 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: San Antonio will attempt to build upon its seven-game win streak with a victory against Milwaukee.

The Bucks have gone 16-19 at home. Milwaukee allows 116.6 points and has been outscored by 6.0 points per game.

The Spurs are 27-11 in road games. San Antonio ranks second in the league with 47.0 rebounds per game led by Victor Wembanyama averaging 11.2.

The Bucks make 47.8% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.8 percentage points higher than the Spurs have allowed to their opponents (45.0%). The Spurs are shooting 48.1% from the field, 1.0% higher than the 47.1% the Bucks' opponents have shot this season.

The teams play for the second time this season. The Spurs won the last matchup 119-101 on Jan. 16, with Wembanyama scoring 22 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan Rollins is scoring 17.1 points per game with 4.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists for the Bucks. Bobby Portis is averaging 12.1 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 46.2% over the past 10 games.

De'Aaron Fox is scoring 18.9 points per game and averaging 3.8 rebounds for the Spurs. Wembanyama is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 2-8, averaging 105.8 points, 37.6 rebounds, 24.4 assists, 7.7 steals and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 123.1 points per game.

Spurs: 9-1, averaging 126.1 points, 49.3 rebounds, 31.9 assists, 5.7 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 49.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.1 points.

INJURIES: Bucks: Gary Harris: day to day (groin), Kevin Porter Jr.: day to day (knee), Kyle Kuzma: day to day (achilles), Giannis Antetokounmpo: out (ankle), Bobby Portis: day to day (wrist), Myles Turner: day to day (calf).

Spurs: De'Aaron Fox: day to day (back), Luke Kornet: day to day (knee), David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).

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

Philadelphia 76ers (40-33, seventh in the Eastern Conference) vs. Charlotte Hornets (39-34, ninth in the Eastern Conference)

Charlotte, North Carolina; Saturday, 6 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte will try to keep its five-game home win streak alive when the Hornets face Philadelphia.

The Hornets are 23-22 against Eastern Conference opponents. Charlotte has a 3-6 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The 76ers have gone 23-23 against Eastern Conference opponents. Philadelphia ranks ninth in the Eastern Conference giving up just 116.5 points while holding opponents to 47.0% shooting.

The Hornets average 16.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.9 more made shots on average than the 13.4 per game the 76ers give up. The 76ers are shooting 46.1% from the field, 0.6% lower than the 46.7% the Hornets' opponents have shot this season.

The teams square off for the third time this season. In the last matchup on Jan. 26 the Hornets won 130-93 led by 30 points from Brandon Miller, while Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 17 points for the 76ers.

TOP PERFORMERS: LaMelo Ball is averaging 19.7 points and 7.1 assists for the Hornets. Kon Knueppel is averaging 18.9 points and 3.8 assists over the last 10 games.

Joel Embiid is shooting 50.1% and averaging 26.9 points for the 76ers. Cameron Payne is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hornets: 7-3, averaging 117.9 points, 45.9 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 7.2 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.5 points per game.

76ers: 6-4, averaging 118.3 points, 45.1 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 9.2 steals and 6.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.3 points.

INJURIES: Hornets: Liam McNeeley: day to day (illness), Tidjane Salaun: day to day (calf).

76ers: Tyrese Maxey: out (finger), Johni Broome: out (knee), Joel Embiid: day to day (oblique), Kelly Oubre Jr.: out (elbow).

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

HOUSTON —  Three minutes into Iowa’s Sweet 16 game against Nebraska on Thursday night, a casualty occurred on the Hawkeyes’ sideline.

Iowa coach Ben McCollum, already red-cheeked and furious at his team’s passive start in a game they trailed by 10 points, snapped a dry erase marker into two pieces in the timeout huddle. Ink went everywhere.

“We called them into the huddle and just said very nicely, ‘I’d like you to play harder, guys,’ and that seemed to work,” McCollum quipped, before looking to his left where Hawkeyes guards Tate Sage and Bennett Stirtz sat trying and failing to contain their smiles.

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“Am I right? That how that went?” McCollum asked his players.

“Yes,” Sage and Stirtz replied, nodding dutifully.

McCollum’s fiery disposition and ability to extract winning performances from his players have made Iowa’s first-year coach a fast-rising star in his profession. He was coaching in Division II two seasons ago, and on Thursday at Toyota Center helped the Hawkeyes author a thrilling comeback and advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1987.

Iowa trailed Nebraska nearly the entire game until Stirtz, the senior guard who followed McCollum from Division II Northwest Missouri State to Drake and then to Iowa, drained a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:10 remaining.

“Hasn’t changed one bit,” Stirtz said of McCollum. “He’s been the same coach despite all the national attention and that’s why I respect him so much.”

On Saturday in the Elite Eight, Iowa will play an Illinois team coached by Brad Underwood, who started his career coaching at the junior college level.

The last time Iowa was in the Elite Eight, McCollum was a 6-year-old Hawkeyes fan living in Iowa City. He grew up attending Hawkeyes football and basketball games, but his own playing career began in junior college at North Iowa Area Community College. After two seasons, he transferred to play at Northwest Missouri State, where he began his coaching career. In 15 seasons coaching at his alma mater, McCollum won 83% of his games and led the Bearcats to four NCAA Division II national championships.

After McCollum’s one season at mid-major Drake, where he guided the Bulldogs to a program-record 31 wins, Iowa snatched him up. By comparison, coaching at Iowa feels “bougie,” as McCollum put it earlier this week.

“You gain confidence from being in Division II, because you don’t have noise,” McCollum said. “You’re making decisions, winning games and losing games, and there’s not a lot of noise there. And then also with that, when I get on a charter plane now, I certainly appreciate it, or when all these things are done for me, I appreciate it a little bit more, and that comes from that Division II and junior college background.”

McCollum doesn’t tolerate complacency, and he expects his players to behave the same way.

“I don’t like entitled players,” he said. “They just don’t work for me.”

Hawkeyes players are conditioned to expect the same pregame meal (chicken, pork chops, rice and a vegetable) and multiple fiery outbursts from their head coach during the game. Iowa’s student managers know that no inanimate object is safe in McCollum’s hands when he’s upset. McCollum plays bad cop and lets his assistant coaches play good cops.

McCollum relishes playing in front of opposing fans in a hostile road environment, and Thursday’s Sweet 16 matchup in Houston felt like one. Before tip-off, chants of “Go Big Red!” overwhelmed the arena. A clarinet player in Nebraska’s band held up an iPad displaying a graphic that derided Iowa as “off-brand corn.”

What did McCollum actually tell the Hawkeyes in the huddle when he broke his marker?

“He was just telling us we sucked, and we were soft,” Stirtz revealed.

Stirtz has been by his coach’s side through it all, recruited by McCollum to play at Northwest Missouri State when he had no other college offers. The two of them have a fire-and-ice dynamic; whereas McCollum lets his emotions boil over, Stirtz stays cool and collected on the court.

“I think we’re opposites in a lot of ways, but the main thing that we have (in common) is how competitive we are,” Stirtz said. “That’s what brings us so close. We just want to win. Honestly, we also both think it’s more than just a basketball game, too. So that’s why we’re so close: This game’s never going to satisfy us, and we know that.”

Iowa is only the fifth No. 9 seed to advance to the Elite Eight since the tournament field expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Florida Atlantic was the last to do it in 2023, when the Owls made it to the Final Four.

The Hawkeyes went 10-1 in nonconference play this season but fell out of the Top 25 rankings in mid-January after three consecutive Big Ten Conference losses – including two to ranked Illinois and Purdue teams. But the season was an exercise in stacking habits and building consistency, all leading to where they are now.

McCollum is a big fan of the saying, “Everybody arrives when they’re supposed to,” and Iowa’s Sweet 16 victory exemplified that. Junior forward Alvaro Folgueiras, who made the game-winning basket for the Hawkeyes to take down No. 1 seed Florida in the second round, tied the score with five minutes left and scored five of Iowa’s final 12 points against Nebraska. Sage and redshirt freshman Cooper Koch made clutch 3-pointers down the stretch. Stirtz, a national awards candidate and the Hawkeyes’ leading scorer, never wavered.

Stirtz has played every minute of the NCAA Tournament for Iowa so far. Against Nebraska, he led the Hawkeyes with 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting.

“In 20 years it will be an insane story,” McCollum said. “A guy that goes from D-II with his coach and then goes to Drake and then goes to University of Iowa and actually makes it further in the tournament in Division I than he did in Division II. Yeah, I mean, obviously there's a close relationship there.”

It’s an insane story right now, but McCollum and the Hawkeyes won’t be ready to fully reflect until its conclusion.

“I's been a hell of a ride,” McCollum said, “but it's far from over.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ben McCollum's incredible journey from Division II to NCAA Elite 8