History matters less than ever before in college sports.

Consider the case of Indiana. Once a basketball power, the Hoosiers rarely make the NCAA Tournament anymore, while Indiana rules college football. That's an Indiana football program that was forever-a-doormat until two years ago.

Oh, and get a load of this: Nebraska basketball is in the Sweet 16. Nebraska football gives contract extensions for 7-6 seasons.

Coaching a blue-blood means subjecting yourself to the highest degree of pressure and expectations, with fewer advantages than those programs were once accustomed to enjoying.

Take this college basketball season.

Follow the latest news, updates: Will UNC basketball fire Hubert Davis?

Indiana missed the tournament, for the eighth time in the past 10 years. UCLA lost in Round 2, and Mick Cronin complained he needs more NIL money. NIL money isn’t the issue at Kentucky, but its expensive roster went bust, and the Wildcats got trounced in the second round. North Carolina lost in the first round for the second straight season, and Hubert Davis’ rump sits on a hot seat.

No. 1 Duke carries the torch for the blue-bloods. A more newly minted blue-blood, UConn, also remains in the tournament. Overall, though, these are not glory days for blue-bloods.

No coach wants to work for a program that resides in the poorhouse and can’t finance a roster, but you could make a compelling argument that a coach is better off at a nouveau riche program than a blue-blood. What do all those banners in the rafters really get you, nowadays?

And, still, coaching a blue-blood offers an intoxicating ego-stroke in an industry full of egomaniacs.

If North Carolina fires Davis — a decision on his fate has yet to be announced — the Tar Heels need only one A-list candidate to say yes to the pressure in exchange for being at a school where basketball reigns supreme.

On this edition of “SEC Football Unfiltered,” a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate the appeal of coaching a blue-blood and whether two of the SEC’s star coaches, Florida’s Todd Golden and Alabama’s Nate Oats, might consider leaving a stable job for a premier opportunity like North Carolina, where the pressure is high but so is the ceiling.

Toppmeyer: He played possum! John Calipari uncorked oldest trick in the book

Adams: Preach it, Rick Barnes. Team effort carried Tennessee basketball to Sweet 16

Oats and Golden are proven coaches in their prime. Oats’ Crimson Tide reached the Sweet 16 for a fourth straight year. They made the Final Four in 2024, beating UNC along the way.

Although Golden’s Gators suffered a surprising second-round loss to Iowa, his stock remains red-hot after last year’s national championship made him the youngest coach to win a title since Jim Valvano.

Would Todd Golden or Nate Oats consider leaving for UNC basketball?

Adams: A coach as successful as Golden or Oats doesn't think he'd fail at UNC. They probably think they’d crush it there and be the king of Chapel Hill — and, maybe, they would crush it there. They’re winners, and although UNC comes with a mountain of pressure, it also comes with a lot of resources. Talent is the name of the game, and UNC attracts top talent, even in an era where the newly rich programs can buy talent, too.

My only hesitation with leaving a good situation at Florida or Alabama in favor of UNC? Well, there's this: If you wait another year, perhaps you could have the Kentucky job. How's that for a blue-blood?

UNC must face Duke two or three or even four times a season. Why subject yourself to being compared to Duke, if you could instead be at Kentucky? The Wildcats have rivals, but nothing as intense as the intra-conference battle between Duke and UNC. Kentucky has shown it’ll spare no expense on its roster. It just needs a better coach. Come 2027, it might find itself in hot pursuit of one.

Toppmeyer: Golden and Oats have it quite good right where they’re at. They can have all of the success of a blue-blood, without about half of the pressure. It's the same reason why Curt Cignetti would've been a fool to leave Indiana for Penn State.

The football programs act as a heat shield for coaches at Alabama and Florida. If Oats’ team loses in the Sweet 16, he’ll get a satisfied thumbs up from Alabama fans, before they turn their attention to A-Day and demand a football national title from Kalen DeBoer.

Bottom line: So long as you can build a competitive roster, it’s not such a bad thing to be a successful basketball coach at a football school. Ask Rick Barnes.

Plus, the SEC is enjoying a basketball uprising. It led all conferences with 10 bids to the NCAA Tournament this season, after 14 bids last year and a national title from Golden’s Gators. Win 20 games as an SEC team, and you’re dancing.

Programs like UNC and Kentucky need coaches like Golden and Oats a lot more than those ace coaches need a blue-blood.

Which SEC school will be left standing in the Sweet 16?

The SEC advanced four teams into the Sweet 16, second only to the Big Ten’s six Sweet 16 teams. But, with the Gators eliminated, will any SEC teams be left standing in the Elite Eight?

Adams: Tennessee has the best chance to reach the Elite Eight, especially if Iowa State star Joshua Jefferson (ankle injury) doesn’t play in this Sweet 16 game. Arkansas is the hottest SEC team, but better to face Iowa State than No. 1 Arizona, which will play the Razorbacks.

Toppmeyer: Take Tennessee as the last SEC team standing in the Elite Eight. This looks like a winnable matchup for the Vols. Tennessee and Iowa State are blue-collar teams built on defense. Barnes has two straight Elite Eight appearances. Make it three in a row.

Where to listen to SEC Football Unfiltered

• Apple
• Spotify
• iHeart
• Google

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. John Adams is the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, and check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UNC still a blueblood. Is that enough to lure Todd Golden or Nate Oats?

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Steve Kerr, Warriors teammates react to Moses Moody’s knee injury after 137-131 OT win vs. Mavericks.
• In an interview with 95.7 The Game, The Athletic’s Nick Friedell recalls the scene following Moses Moody’s knee injury.
• In a recent article by The Athletic, Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama makes his case for this year’s MVP award.

The Golden State Warriors picked up a much-needed win over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night, but it came at a devastating cost.

Moses Moody, who had just returned after missing 10 games due to a wrist injury, went down late in the game with a left knee injury on a non-contact play. He was eventually stretchered off the floor as players, coaches, and everyone in attendance looked on in silence.

Despite the Warriors’ 137-131 overtime win, all anyone could think about was Moody’s status after the game.

“We don’t know what it is, but it sure looked bad,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. “Just hoping for the best.”

Moody was arguably the Warriors’ best player on the night before the injury, leading the team with 23 points in 34 minutes in what should have been a celebratory end to a rough six-game road trip. But that all changed after what appeared to be a routine fast break dunk instantly shifted the tone of the night.

“[Moses Moody] is such a great human being, great teammate, and a wonderful guy to coach,” Kerr said. “He just puts in the work every day and was brilliant, by the way. He played so well defensively changing the game for us with his ball pressure and knocking down big shots. It was so great to finally have him back after missing [10 games] and then for that to happen, we’re just praying it’s not too serious, but it sure looked serious.”

That sentiment carried throughout the locker room, especially for a Warriors team already hammered by season-altering injuries. It’s yet another tough blow, and for now, all eyes are on Moody as the team awaits further evaluation.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, March 24th:

Warriors News:

Warriors’ Moses Moody suffers noncontact knee injury in OT win | ESPN

“It’s brutal, you know we’ve been waiting to get back healthy,” Green told NBA on ESPN Radio after the game. “Moses is a guy who does everything right … and he changed the game for us tonight.

“Everything started going bad, he picked up his defensive intensity, knocked shots down, he changed the game for us. To see him go out like that [was] bad.”

Jonathan Kuminga posts distraught reaction to Moses Moody’s knee injury | NBC Sports Bay Area

Despite no longer being teammates, Kuminga, in a post on Threads, was one of many NBA players who reacted to Moody’s gruesome knee injury in Golden State’s 137-131 overtime win vs. the Dallas Mavericks on Monday at American Airlines Center.

The Athletic’s Nick Friedell recalls the scene following Moses Moody’s injury

NBA News:

Victor Wembanyama says he’s the NBA MVP. I asked him to debate his case | The Athletic

“My first one would be that defense is 50 percent of the game and that is undervalued, so far, in the MVP race,” Wembanyama said. “I believe I’m the most impactful player defensively in the league. Second argument would be that we almost swept OKC in the season and we dominated them three times with their real team and four times with the, you know, more rotation players. My third argument would be that offense impact is not just points.”

Bucks waive guard Cam Thomas, per ESPN’s Shams Charania

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Steph Curry not cleared for scrimmage in Atlanta

However, it turns out that Curry did not scrimmage in Atlanta. Rick Celebrini, the Warriors’ director of sports medicine and performance, did not clear Curry for a scrimmage. Instead, he and Curry did more court/rehab work. According to the Warriors, this doesn’t necessarily signal a setback; rather, that Curry just wasn’t ready to progress to the next stage of recovery.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

With the Western Conference a tight-knit race yet again this season, this series will look at the standings and games to watch across the league as the Lakers look to secure home court and move up the standings.

The Lakers’ winning streak has come to an end, with a loss against the Pistons, but they’ve maintained distance from the teams they are bunched up with in the West.

Currently, they remain the third seed and with multiple teams in the standings playing each other this week, they will be gaining ground on a couple of these rivals.

Here’s a look at the current playoff standings in the middle of the conference:
3. Lakers — 46-26, 11 GB
4. Nuggets — 44-28, 13 GB
5. Wolves — 44-28, 13 GB
6. Rockets — 43-28, 13.5 GB
7. Suns — 40-32, 17 GB

While the Lakers have gone 9-1 in their last 10 games, the rest of their competition has meandered in mediocrity. The Wolves, Rockets and Suns have gone 5-5, and the Nuggets have only been slightly better at 6-10.

With just 10 or so games left on the season, another strong week for LA could all but secure homecourt for the opening round of the playoffs.

Let’s take a look at the big games to watch around the league for the next couple of days and who Lakers fans should be rooting for.

Tuesday

Nuggets at Suns — At this point, it seems Phoenix is destined for the play-in. So, Lakers fans should be rooting for the Suns to beat the Nuggets.

Denver’s potential as a title contender is obvious, but they’ve been up and down recently, beating top teams like the Spurs, but then losing to tankers like the Grizzlies.

If the Suns come out aggressive early, they can absolutely win this game.

Wednesday

Mavs at Nuggets — Dallas has no incentive to win, so fans have no incentive to watch.

Rockets at Wolves — This is a tough one to figure out what is best for the Lakers. They have the tiebreaker over each team, but who do they want to play? If Houston is the desired opponent, then them losing is what’s best. If the playoffs started now, they’d be playing the Lakers in the first round.

However, if a rematch with the Wolves is desired, an opposite outcome would help set it up.

Regardless, this should be a very entertaining game to watch.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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The Denver Nuggets need every win they can get right now, and they’re finally nearing full health at the perfect time. The Phoenix Suns, meanwhile, have a bit more breathing room as the postseason approaches.

Yet this line sits at just two possessions.

My Nuggets vs. Suns predictions and NBA picks expect Phoenix to key in on Nikola Jokic — and that defensive attention should open the door for a monster night on the glass, with Jokic clearing his rebound prop on March 24.

Nuggets vs Suns prediction

Nuggets vs Suns best bet: Nikola Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds (-110)

The obvious handicap is that Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic has cleared this prop in four of his last six games. There should still be some worry tonight, though.

The Phoenix Suns are slowing things down these days to hide their disadvantages as injuries expose their roster, but those injuries will play a big part in Joker eclipsing this number. 

Oso Ighodaro and Jordan Goodwin will mount only so much resistance to Jokic, and he'll dominate this frontcourt.

Nuggets vs Suns same-game parlay

Jokic should dominate his every matchup against the Suns, which should also reduce his need to pass the ball. Then, if Phoenix does indeed slow down the game, that should further lessen Jokic’s chances to move the ball to his teammates.

Not to mention, bet365 is offering a 30% boost on this same-game parlay, raising it to +780 if applied.

Nuggets vs Suns SGP

• Nikola Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds
• Nikola Jokic Over 28.5 points
• Nikola Jokic Under 10.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Let Jokic eat

Phoenix knows it is thin these days, yet the Suns rank No. 13 in offensive rating in March and No. 12 in defensive rating. They're hanging on in intentional ways. Tonight’s intention will be to let Jokic feast, but no other Nugget beats them.

Clearly, the Under on Jokic’s assists is correlated to the Under on Jamal Murray’s points. And both thoughts tie to the Suns setting tonight’s terms.

Nuggets vs Suns SGP

• Suns +5.5
• Under 232.5
• Jamal Murray Under 23.5 points
• Nikola Jokic Under 10.5 assists
• Nikola Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds

Nuggets vs Suns odds

• Spread: Nuggets -5.5 | Suns +5.5
• Moneyline: Nuggets -240 | Suns +195
• Over/Under: Over 232.5 | Under 232.5

Nuggets vs Suns betting trend to know

Phoenix has cashed four straight Unders, falling short of bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 8.5 points per game. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Suns.

How to watch Nuggets vs Suns

Nuggets vs Suns latest injuries

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The Charlotte Hornets just keep winning games, and are going to be a team that no one wants to face in the playoffs.

The offense is buzzing, and they’re massive favorites for tonight’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings. That has my Kings vs. Hornets predictions locked in on a team total.

That and more NBA picks for this game set to tip off at 7:00 p.m. ET at the Spectrum Center on Tuesday, March 24.

Kings vs Hornets prediction

Kings vs Hornets best bet: Hornets team total Over 124.5 (-115)

The Charlotte Hornets are 11-3 in their last 14 games overall and have the second-highest net rating in the NBA over that span. 

The last three games have been particularly good, with Buzz City averaging 130 points while shooting 52.9% from the floor, and there’s no reason to think they’re going to slow down in this matchup against the Sacramento Kings.

The Kings are just playing out the season at this point, with their recent wins coming against the likes of the Nets and Jazz. Sacramento has the third-worst defensive rating and ranks next-to-last in opponent eFG%.

Kings vs Hornets same-game parlay

The Hornets are so dangerous because they have so many great shooters, with LaMelo Ball being just one of them. And Ball is on fire right now.

The Buzz City point guard is putting up 25.2 points while shooting 42.1% from 3-point range over his last five games, scoring 29 or more three times.

Another reason why buzz is so big around the Hornets has been the development of Brandon Miller.

He’s shooting nearly 50% from three-point range on 7.8 attempts per game over his last 15 games. He has drained four or more threes in three straight games, and eight times over this 15-game stretch.

Kings vs Hornets SGP

• Hornets team total Over 123.5
• LaMelo Ball Over 20.5 points
• Brandon Miller Over 3.5 threes made

Our "from downtown" SGP: Buzz 3-ball

Buzz City lets it fly against a Kings team that surrenders the second-worst opponent 3-point shooting percentage in the NBA. 

Kings vs Hornets SGP

• Brandon Miller Over 3.5 threes made
• LaMelo Ball Over 3.5 threes made 
• Kon Knueppel Over 3.5 threes made
• Coby White Over 2.5 threes made

Kings vs Hornets odds

• Spread: Kings +17.5 | Hornets -17.5
• Moneyline: Kings +1000 | Hornets -2000
• Over/Under: Over 231.5 | Under 231.5

Kings vs Hornets betting trend to know

The Hornets have covered the spread in 34 of their last 50 games for +17.50 Units and a 32% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Kings vs. Hornets.

How to watch Kings vs Hornets

Kings vs Hornets latest injuries

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The Knicks are back on the schedule to face Zion’s Pelicans on Tuesday evening.

New York is just half a game behind the Celtics for the No. 2 seed in the East. Would you believe it!?

Here’s the latest.

Mike Brown

On Mikal Bridges’ history of production:

“He’s shown time after time that he’s a high-level player. And he’s done it. I’ve been around many players who have gone through their ups and downs throughout the course of the season. And he works at it very hard. And he cares at a high level. Usually when you have that combination from a veteran guy that’s produced the way he’s produced in the NBA, it tends to lead to good results, eventually.”

On Tyler Kolek playing two games in one day:

“That’s an amazing feat. To play in a G-League game in the afternoon and come play in an NBA game, it’s gotta be a weird feeling. But these guys are pro athletes, they do a great job taking care of their bodies and our performance group does a good job with them in that area too. For them to be able to do that, to me, is an amazing thing. And then the group came out and I thought they played well. It was fun to see Tyler hit some shots and hear the crowd cheering his name.”

On Jordan Clarkson setting an example:

“One hundred percent. Not just for guys who are in a funk, but guys who are not playing. You might only play 20 minutes tonight — or may only get five shots. You may sit down here. But you’re talking about the former Sixth Man of the Year — that should tell anybody and everybody that if he can handle that as professional as he is, then anybody on this team should be able to handle it. From minutes to shots to whatever it may be. That should definitely send a message to everybody loud and clear.”

Josh Hart

On the unfair criticism of Mikal Bridges:

“He’s been doing what’s been asked of him. And I’ve said it before — when you’re a guy who, for a year and a half with the Brooklyn Nets when you’re the No. 1 guy and he’s getting those plays called for him. Last year, he didn’t have many plays called for him. This year, he probably has even less plays called for him. So obviously there’s a mental hurdle he needs to get through and that’s something where some of us can help him. I think he gets some of that unfair flak just because he’s doing what’s asked of him. And if we were to sit there and say, go shoot 15 shots a game, he would be efficient and he could do it. But that’s not what’s been asked of him.”

On trying to help Bridges find his rhythm:

“Try to make sure to get him involved a little bit more, get him the ball when he’s running in transition, get him in position to be successful. He’s been doing what’s been asked of him.”

On Zion Williamson’s talent level:

“Extremely talented. When he’s locked in and he’s focused, he’s one of probably 15 or 20 top players in the league, if not better.”

On Williamson posing a challenge to the Knicks:

“He’s a freak of nature. I say that with all due respect. He’s obviously extremely explosive, the way he’s able to maneuver and contort his body, and he has a great touch around the rim. That’s going to be a challenge for us. We got to make sure we’re just solid. Don’t swipe down. Don’t smack down. And try to make him finish.”

On Williamson’s skill set and natural abilities:

“I think what’s really impressive is that first burst but also his second jump. When I first saw him, the way he shoots the ball around the rim, you’d think he has no touch. But he has an amazing touch. And the ones where he doesn’t, he has a quick enough second jump where he’s able to get the rebound and sometimes before guys even get off the ground.”

Jalen Brunson

On Tyler Kolek’s professionalism:

“It’s tough. He was able to play well down there and then came here and continued it. That’s just him being professional, that’s him being himself. We have a lot of guys on this team that are very high character, very good work ethic and he’s one of them. That’s just who he is.”

On Jordan Clarkson’s perseverance:

“It can be example for anybody. It doesn’t matter where you are in your career. Things may not be going your way and continue to work, continue to persevere. And you never know when things are going to fall into place.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On Clarkson’s impact off the bench:

“When he’s doing that he’s playing with that fire and that passion he has, there’s not many players in the NBA coming off the bench you feel better about.”

On ignoring the standings:

“Honestly, I’m not even looking at the standings. I didn’t even know that. I’m just focused on this locker room and this team. We can’t control Boston losing, Detroit losing.”

John Calipari is quite proud of Darius Acuff Jr. and others for getting their own signature shoe. It helps that the Arkansas star is partnered with Reebok and Allen Iverson.

In addition to Acuff, Calipari mentioned that he had numerous players with mega shoe deals and worth a lot in endorsements. While speaking on the Pat McAfee Show, Calipari was eager to talk about the partnership, but also get ready for Arkansas’s next game in the NCAA tournament against Arizona.

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“Having a signature shoe with AI, who I coached when we were in Philadelphia. And I love him. He and I have stayed in touch,” Calipari said. “I got about 10 guys that have signature shoes. And, you know, I have them all in my office. We have 13 all-stars, two MVPs, $6 billion in salaries, I mean, and the guys I have on this team, they’re going to be NBA players because they deserve to be. 

“Now, they got the challenge of their lives with Arizona. Tommy’s done an unbelievable job with his team. And so we’re going in like, let’s go, let’s see who we are. Probably have to make adjustments as the game unfolds, because of how they’re going to play, and seeing what they’ll do defensively to us, because we’re a good offensive team. We score 90 a game. And so they’ll probably do some different things. We’ll have to see.”

Acuff Jr. originally signed an NIL deal with Reebok last May, joining Tennessee freshman Nate Ament and Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese on the brand’s roster. Following a stellar freshman campaign, which saw him become just the second freshman in the past 13 seasons to win SEC Player of the Year, he now earns his first signature shoe before landing on an NBA team.

The Detroit native averaged 23.3 points, 6.5 assists, and 3.1 rebounds this season for John Calipari‘s Razorback team. He has been even better in the postseason play, averaging 30.2 points in five SEC Tournament/NCAA Tournament games this season.

The announcement comes as Reebok continues to invest more in basketball after legends Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson joined the company in 2023. Angel Reese is a key part of the roster and launched her own signature shoe last September, as part of an extension with the brand. The company added other stars such as Dink Pate, Matas Buzelis and DiJonai Carrington, as well.

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Our NBA player prop projections are locked in for tonight’s clash between the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns, with the model highlighting several standout opportunities.

After digging into the data and lining it up against current market prices, we’ve identified the bets with the strongest value.

These Nuggets vs. Suns predictions aren’t based on feel — they’re backed by the numbers.

If you’re putting together your card, these are the model’s top NBA picks for Tuesday, March 24.

Nuggets vs Suns computer picks for March 24

Nuggets	Suns
Murray o23.5 points -115	Booker o25.5 points -115
Jokic o13.5 rebounds -110	Gillespie u4.5 assists  -140
Hardaway Jr. u2.5 3-pointers  -150	Ighodaro o6.5 rebounds -130

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Nuggets computer picks

Jamal Murray Over 23.5 points (-115)

Projection: 23.8 points

From an offensive standpoint, the Denver Nuggets lead the league with an impressive 120.8 points per game this season.

This matchup against the Phoenix Suns sets up favorably, as they’ve allowed a league-high 29.2 points per game to opposing starting point guards over their last five contests.

That trend creates a strong opportunity for Jamal Murray to clear his 23.5-point line, especially after going Over in four of his last 10 games.

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Nikola Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds (-110)

Projection: 13.7 rebounds

The Nuggets have pushed the fastest pace in the league over their last 10 road games, and Nikola Jokić continues to pile up rebounds with ease, clearing the 13.5 line in five of his last 10 outings.

Expect him to get Over that number again tonight.

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Tim Hardaway Jr. Under 2.5 3-pointers (-150)

Projection: 2.3 3-pointers

Tim Hardaway Jr. has gone Under his 2.5 three-pointers line in six of his last 10 games, and this matchup suggests that trend is likely to continue against the Suns. 

Against Phoenix, that concern is amplified. The Suns have done a solid job of running shooters off the line and forcing opposing wings into mid-range looks or drives into traffic.

With defenders closing out aggressively on the perimeter, Hardaway may struggle to find clean catch-and-shoot opportunities, which is usually his bread and butter.

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---

Suns computer picks

Devin Booker Over 25.5 points (-115)

Projection: 26.3 points

Devin Booker has averaged 29.8 points Over his last 10 games, about 5.4 more than his season-long average.

With the Suns set to face the Nuggets, who’ve played at the fastest road pace in the league over that span, this matchup should create an uptick in scoring opportunities.

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Collin Gillespie Under 4.5 assists (-140)

Projection: 4.4 assists

The Suns have played at the slowest home pace in the NBA over their last 20 games, which could limit playmaking opportunities for Collin Gillespie.

With that tempo working against him — and having gone Under this 4.5 assists line in four of his last 10 games — he’s at risk of falling short of the mark again.

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Oso Ighodaro Over 6.5 rebounds (-130)

Projection: 7.2 rebounds

The Suns rank as the top offensive rebounding team in the NBA over their last 10 home games, creating extra opportunities on the glass.

That sets up well for Oso Ighodaro to see an uptick in rebounds, especially after clearing the 6.5 line in three of his last 10 outings.

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How to watch Nuggets vs Suns tonight

Location	Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Date	Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Tip-off	11:00 p.m. ET
TV	Peacock

Not intended for use in MA.
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Embiid listed as questionable to make return vs. Bulls originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Joel Embiid looks to be on the verge of making his March debut.

The Sixers on Tuesday night officially listed Embiid as questionable ahead of their Wednesday matchup with the Bulls. Embiid’s appeared to be nearing a return from his right oblique strain in recent days. He participated in the Sixers’ shootaround Monday and also did a post-shootaround workout on the Xfinity Mobile Arena floor. 

A loss Monday night to the Thunder dropped the Sixers to 6-7 in their past 13 games without Embiid. They may very well receive two major reinforcements against Chicago, since Paul George is set to come back from his 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy. 

When available, Embiid’s often played at a superb level this season. He’s averaged 26.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists over 33 games.

The 39-33 Sixers will still be without Tyrese Maxey (right pinky finger injury), Kelly Oubre Jr. (left elbow sprain) and Johni Broome (right knee surgery recovery). Quentin Grimes was listed as questionable with an illness.

The 29-42 Bulls’ absences include Jaden Ivey, Zach Collins and Noa Essengue. Isaac Okoro, Anfernee Simons and Guerschon Yabusele were all listed as doubtful. 

No. 9 seed Iowa and No. 11 Texas saved the 2026 NCAA Tournament from an almost-completely chalk Sweet 16.

Only two teams seeded No. 1 through No. 3 were bounced during the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, after Iowa took down No. 1 Florida and Texas upset No. 3 Gonzaga, both of which happened in the second round. Only four double-digit seeds won first-round games this year — No. 12 High Point, No. 11s Texas and VCU and No. 10 Texas A&M.

Re-seeding Sweet 16 teams: Separating the contenders from pretenders

March Madness predictions redo: Revised Final Four picks ahead of Sweet 16

Will there be any more upsets in the Sweet 16?

Iowa has a chance to keep its March Madness run going when it faces No. 4 Nebraska, a Big Ten foe it has already defeated once this season. Same for Texas, although with a much-tougher matchup against No. 2 Purdue, winners of 10 straight.

Here's a look at the full Sweet 16 schedule, including times and TV channels for all eight remaining games:

When are the next March Madness games? Sweet 16 schedule, channel info

All times Eastern.

Thursday, March 26

• No. 11 Texas vs. No. 2 Purdue | 7:10 p.m. ET | CBS (Fubo)
• No. 9 Iowa vs. No. 4 Nebraska | 7:30 p.m. ET | TBS/truTV (Sling TV)
• No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 1 Arizona | 9:45 p.m. ET | CBS (Fubo)
• No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 2 Houston | 10:05 p.m. ET | TBS/truTV (Sling TV)

Friday, March 27

• No. 5 St. John's vs. No. 1 Duke | 7:10 p.m. ET | CBS (Fubo)
• No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan | 7:35 p.m. ET | TBS/truTV (Sling TV)
• No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 2 UConn | 9:45 p.m. ET | CBS (Fubo)
• No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 2 Iowa State | 10:10 p.m. ET | TBS/truTV (Sling TV)

What TV channel are Sweet 16 games on? How to stream March Madness

• TV channels: CBS, TBS, truTV
• Streaming:Fubo,Sling TV

Sweet 16 games will air on either CBS or TBS/truTV in 2026. Games airing live on CBS can be streamed with Fubo, which offers a free trial and carries CBS. Games airing on TBS/truTV are available for streaming on Sling TV, which carries both TV channels.

Both TV channels can also be accessed with March Madness Live, which requires a TV subscription login.

Updated March Madness bracket

The East Region and South Region match up in the Final Four, along with the West and Midwest Regions.

Here's a look at the updated March Madness bracket after the first weekend:

East Region

• No. 5 St. John's vs. No. 1 Duke
• No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 2 UConn

South Region

• No. 9 Iowa vs. No. 4 Nebraska
• No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 2 Houston

West Region

• No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 1 Arizona
• No. 11 Texas vs. No. 2 Purdue

Midwest Region

• No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan
• No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 2 Iowa State

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When are next March Madness games? Sweet 16 schedule, how to watch

NBA Draft analysis makes for some funny discourse.

Some basketball fans are obsessive about it. Once a player hits 25, they’re like Leonardo DiCaprio – they lose interest.

(My fingers typed that without my permission. It just, happened).

There’s nothing (in the case of basketball) wrong with that. Taking an interest in prospects is fun. There is a bit of a tendency to overrate young players. You’ll hear draft acolytes suggest that a team can plug an immediate hole by drafting a particular player, neglecting to consider that even the best prospects are typically bad NBA players in their first season. Otherwise, it’s fine.

Here’s the funny thing about draft discourse: It’s a funk that can be readily faked. It is frustrating for fans who commit large swaths of their free time to watching obscure 17-and-under Balkin tournaments. You can cobble together highlight packages and other people’s scouting reports, and honestly, make predictions that are comparable in accuracy to the zealots.

All of which is to say: Take my draft takes with a grain of salt. I try to watch prospects, but I’m not “A Draft Guy”. It’s a tertiary interest. In 2021, I would have moved mountains for Jalen Johnson. In 2022, I would have done the same for Ousmane Dieng. It’s possible that I “simp” for any ball-handling wing to hit the court.

Still, I’m pretty sure the Rockets should target Luigi Suigo in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Perfect Rockets target could be available in draft

Yes, it would be nice if the Rockets could target AJ Dybansta or Darryn Peterson. If you’re beginning to relitigate the Nets-for-Suns picks trade, you’re not alone. Sure, the Nets likely don’t move Bridges if they’re not getting their pick back. Are we sure the Nets aren’t a lottery team with Bridges? Is it possible that Bridges demands a trade anyway?

Such is life. The Rockets don’t have the pick. For the first time in five years, they won’t even have a first-round pick. Rockets fans watching 7’3″ behemoth Aday Mara in the March Madness tournament are even dreaming too big.

Suigo is different. He’s a projected second-round pick. To my semi-educated eye, he looks like he could exceed his projected value.

He’s a 7’2″ big man who plays for a club called Mega Superbet in Serbia. Side note: Does it feel like a lot of these European teams have the words Mega or Super in their name?

Table that. Suigo is a real big man at 250 pounds. He’s shooting 26.7% from three-point range this year. That’s not great, but let it be said that it puts him ahead of, as a random example, Blazers big man Donovan Clingan. He didn’t shoot threes in college, and he’s a credible floor spacer at the NBA level. At the NBA level, trainers will emphasize shooting for any big man who’s even hinted at floor spacing capacity. Suigo can likely flirt with 35% shooting in time.

Defensively, he’s mostly a rim protector. He seems to be, let’s say, not entirely useless in space, but he’s not a switch big. Still, at 7’2″ with good instincts, he should have considerable utility on that end of the floor.

By now, I know my audience. I know what you’re thinking: I’m in your head, man. The Rockets already have a starting-caliber big:

Is this guy really trying to replace Alperen Sengun again?

Rockets need a long-term rotational solution

Put it this way: If Suigo is good enough to replace Sengun, he’ll be a top five-or-ten second-round pick in NBA history.

More likely, he’s a career backup. That’s a value pick in the second round. In time, the hope is that he can replace Steven Adams and Clint Capela.

His viability next to Sengun in situational double big lineups should be part of his appeal to Houston. If Suigo does continue to develop as a floor spacer, that could be more effective than any of the two non-shooting bigs looks Ime Udoka has gone with. If he’s on the board when the Rockets are picking, they ought to give him some serious consideration:

Unless I’m missing something.

Who: Phoenix Suns (40-32) vs. Denver Nuggets (44-28)

When: 8:00pm Arizona Time

Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona

Watch: NBC, Peacock

Listen: KMVP 98.7

The Phoenix Suns need to string together good performances to get back on track before the playoffs. The Suns have been missing two starters for almost a month now and have had their chances to climb into the race for a top-six seed in the Western Conference playoffs. However, now 3.5 games behind the Rockets and just 10 games left this regular season, the Suns will likely finish the season in seventh spot in the West.

The Nuggets are now playing at full strength for the first time in 2026 and are starting to come together as a championship contender. The extremely undersized Suns will need Oso Ighodaro, Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and others to defend and rebound against the best offense in the NBA, led by Nikola Jokic. The Suns will need Devin Booker, Jalen Green, and Collin Gillespie to score at a high level to keep pace.

The good news for the Suns is that the Nuggets have the 21st-best defense in the NBA with a 120.2 rating. This nationally televised game should be a fun, high-scoring, highly entertaining affair if the Suns can keep pace.

Probable Starters

Injury Report

Suns

• Grayson Allen — QUESTIONABLE (Left Knee Injury Management)
• Dillon Brooks — OUT (Left Hand Fracture)
• Amir Coffey — OUT (Left Ankle Sprain)
• Haywood Highsmith — OUT (Right Knee Injury Management)
• Royce O’Neale — PROBABLE (Left Knee Soreness)
• Mark Williams — OUT (Left Foot Third Metatarsal Stress Reaction)

Nuggets

• Payton Watson — OUT (Right Hamstring Injury Management)

What to Watch For

In the previous two matchups this season, Phoenix has had no answer for Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets, who have blown the Suns out of the water and scored over 130 points in both games. Both games took place before December, which was before Ighodaro’s jump to a higher level of play. Ighodaro and the rest of the Suns’ defense will need to play ultra-aggressively by creating turnovers with their frenetic defense. While Maluach is still young and raw, the reason why the Suns drafted him is for his physical gifts defensively against the players in the world. It will be interesting to see how Jordan Ott deploys Maluach and if he will get substantial reps against the best player in the world.

Offensively, poor fourth-quarter play has plagued Booker and Green specifically, and the rest of the Suns over their recent five-game losing streak that they snapped on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors in a blowout win. Unless the Nuggets fall completely flat, the Suns will likely need to win a close game to defeat the Nuggets. Elite shotmaking from Green and Booker in the fourth quarter is a necessity to hang with the Denver, and the two have to take care of the ball as well. The Nuggets’ defense is nothing special, so the Suns just need to play a clean game to be in this one late, then it comes down to whose stars can come up with the win.

Key to a Suns Win

Turnovers. The Suns have to take care of the ball and force the Nuggets to make mistakes. While the Suns are significantly undersized against the Nuggets, they can make up for that disadvantage by pressing the Nuggets and creating turnovers that lead to easy offense on the other end. Jordan Goodwin and Ryan Dunn need to lead the charge in causing the kind of chaos this team thrives in when they are at their best.

Offensively, the Suns are going to target Jokic. While he does not block shots at an elite level, he is incredibly smart with great hands and forces turnovers at a high level. The Suns have to effectively attack Jokic without turning the ball over and giving the Nuggets easy baskets in transition. The Suns have to take care of the ball to win the game.

Prediction

Jokic leads the Nuggets to a narrow win.

Nuggets 125, Suns 121