Basketball News
Location: Toyota Center — Houston, Texas
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME Sports Talk 790
Online: Rockets App, SCHN+
Time: 7:00 CST
Rockets: Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun
Pelicans: Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, Saddiq Bey, Zion Williamson, Herbert Jones
The Washington Wizards play the Boston Celtics tomorrow night. Let’s get to the preview.
When: Saturday, Mar. 14 at 6 p.m. ET
Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Injuries: For the Wizards, Kyshawn George (elbow), Anthony Davis (hand, groin), Cam Whitmore (shoulder), and D’Angelo Russell (not with team) are out.
For the Celtics, Nikola Vucevic (hand) is out. Derrick White and Jayson Tatum are day-to-day.
The Wizards head into Saturday’s game on a 10-game losing streak and the NBA’s worst point differential at 11.1 points. Despite Washington’s losing streak, they are still 1.5 games ahead of the Indiana Pacers, who are on an 11-game losing streak and haven’t lost as many games as the Sacramento Kings, who are 16-51. Washington is 16-49.
Boston, on the other hand, has lost two games in a row, most recently to the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road last night. Stranger things have happened in basketball, like …. the 83-point game by some player on the Miami Heat earlier this week. And perhaps the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks’ 31-0 start before losing to UMass last night in the MAC quarterfinals. But it will be hard to see the Wizards upsetting the Celtics tomorrow night. That said, it’s all about the lottery balls now, right?
Almost three hours later, the play was fresh in coach JJ Redick’s mind. How the Lakers started their win over the Chicago Bulls felt like the blueprint for success.
The Lakers ran a movement set on the opening play Thursday, and using a screen from Deandre Ayton, Luka Doncic found LeBron James in the corner. Ayton rolled toward the basket. James then made the extra pass. Austin Reaves splashed a three.
Working in perfect unison, the Lakers showed every component they spent the season searching for: Doncic powering the offense, Reaves finishing it, Ayton’s motor and, at the center, James’ selflessness.
With one month left of the regular season, James is prepared to continue sacrificing for the Lakers if it means they can get closer to contending in a crowded Western Conference playoff race.
"I know what I'm capable of still doing as an individual," James said after he scored 18 points to go with seven rebounds and seven assists against the Bulls in his first game back from a three-game absence. "But what's important for this team, I'm able to adapt to what's important for this team. And that's the only thing that matters. And the win is the only thing that matters.”
Read more:Luka Doncic scores 51 points as surging Lakers rout Bulls in LeBron's return
The Lakers (41-25) have won seven of their last eight games, climbing from sixth in the West to third before Saturday’s 5:30 p.m. game against Denver (41-26) at Crypto.com Arena. The critical conference game will decide the head-to-head tiebreaker between the teams that are separated by half a game in the standings.
During the week since their last loss to the Nuggets on March 5, the Lakers have reasserted themselves into the postseason conversation despite not having James. He injured his elbow and hip late in the Denver loss on a hard fall. But the Lakers didn’t appear to miss the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
They started this five-game homestand with three convincing wins without James, including two of their most significant of the season. Consecutive wins over New York and Minnesota, teams with records above .600, made the Lakers look like they were peaking at the right time.
Fitting James, Reaves and Doncic on the court together this season hasn’t been seamless. The Lakers are 12-7 in games the three play together. They’re 22-9 in games with only Reaves and Doncic.
Doncic, who scored 51 points Thursday, leads the NBA in scoring at 32.9 points per game and, despite a calf injury that sidelined him for more than a month, Reaves is in the midst of a career season with 23.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. James, averaging 21.4 points and seven assists, has a career-low usage rate.
While James was sidelined over the last week, he and Redick further discussed the approach necessary for the team to continue its recent success when he returned.
“He understands how important it is for Luka and AR to have time on the ball,” Redick said. “The realistic thing is that when they're on the court together, that's going to take away time on the ball from him.”
James didn’t take a shot in the first quarter against the Bulls. He didn’t score his first points until 54 seconds left in the second quarter. But he had three assists in the first half before he and Doncic combined for 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting in the third quarter. James was a perfect five for five from the field during the third quarter, then Reaves took over in the fourth, scoring 13 of his 30 points in the final quarter to eclipse 5,000 points for his career.
The trio was plus-25 together on the court against the Bulls, tied with Doncic, Reaves and Rui Hachimura for the best plus-minus rating of any three-man combination in the game.
“He’s one of the smartest guys to ever play the game of basketball,” Reaves said of James. “So his ability to adapt and to figure out what the game needs is second to none. … When you’ve got a player of that stature who’s willing to play the way the game needs him to play, it just shows how selfless he is.”
The Lakers needed all of James’ versatility with backup big men Jaxson Hayes (back soreness) and Maxi Kleber (lumber back strain) sidelined. Hayes got imaging on his back Thursday, but Redick did not have the results before the game. Redick expects Kleber to “be out for a little bit” after a previous back injury flared up again. Guard Marcus Smart, who missed Thursday’s game because of a hip injury that was lingering for several games, could return Saturday, Redick said.
James recognized he would have to set more screens, be more active on the glass and roll toward the basket more with the shorthanded frontcourt. Smart’s tenacity was a key ingredient to the defensive effort that locked down the Knicks and Timberwolves, and James, revered by coaches and teammates for his defensive communication, stepped up to anchor the defense too.
He and Doncic each had one block against the Bulls and combined for five of the Lakers’ nine steals.
“Greatness fits in with anything,” Ayton said. “That's LeBron James.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Another NBA jersey is going up on the Gonzaga Bulldogs’ wall, as former guard Malachi Smith is signing a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets.
Smith averaged 14.4 points on 52 percent shooting from the field and 42 percent from three-point range, 5.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game with the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s G League team.
That now marks 34 players from the Pacific Northwest college basketball program who have played in the NBA. 13 of those are competing in the NBA right now.
Smith started his collegiate career with the Wright State Raiders from 2018-19, transferred to the Chattanooga Mocs from 2020-22, before making his way to Spokane, Washington, for his final season of eligibility. He was named the West Coast Conference Sixth Man of the Year in 2023 before going undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Since then, he’s had stops with the G League’s Rip City Remix, Wisconsin Herd, Memphis Hustle, and Long Island Nets over the last three years.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
Well, it appears no reinforcements are on the way for the Sixers any time soon.
Joel Embiid will miss his seventh straight game with a right oblique strain when the Sixers host the Brooklyn Nets Saturday afternoon. Head coach Nick Nurse told reporters in Detroit Thursday that Embiid would be reevaluated on Friday. As of this posting, there’s been no update provided by the team.
Centers Adem Bona and Andre Drummond, who both sat out the blowout loss to the Pistons, are considered questionable with respective back issues.
With Tyrese Maxey (pinky), Kelly Oubre Jr. (elbow) and Paul George (suspension) all set to miss the next couple weeks at minimum, Embiid is the Sixers’ only real hope of getting any type of relief. Alas, it does not appear as if Embiid will be available for the team’s home back-to-back this weekend.
The glass half-full outlook is that the Sixers will play three of their next six games against teams that are openly tanking. The glass half-empty outlook is that the Sixers have even struggled with tanking teams in their current state.
In addition to being down Embiid Thursday night in Detroit, the Sixers were missing Bona and Drummond. That meant Dominick Barlow started and played most of the minutes at center while being backed up by Jabari Walker. It’s going to be awfully tough to win games if that arrangement continues.
The Sixers host the Nets Saturday afternoon and are right back at it against the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday night. After that, they go on a three-game road trip out West beginning with a St. Patrick’s Day matchup against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
The Sixers currently sit at 35-31, ninth in the Eastern Conference. They went from being pretty securely in the top-six to free falling to the bottom of the Play-In. They’re 2.5 games up on the 10th-place Charlotte Hornets.
Jayson Tatum returns when the Celtics face the Wizards on Saturday night at TD Garden. Tatum, who made his season debut last Friday, played in three consecutive games before he sat out on Thursday night vs the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In addition, Derrick White, who missed Thursday’s game with a right knee contusion, is listed as probable on the injury report. A one-game absence likely signals the injury is not a severe one.
Baylor Scheierman appeared to be in pain at the conclusion of Thursday’s game after rolling his ankle. But, like White, Scheierman is listed as probable — also a good sign when it comes to getting a better sense at how severe his ankle injury might be.
The only Celtic expected to miss Saturday’s contest is Nikola Vucevic, who has missed three straight games since fracturing his right ring finger last Friday.
The Celtics and Wizards are two teams headed in complete opposite directions. The Celtics are 43-23, owners of the Eastern Conference’s second-best record. The Wizards, meanwhile, are 15-51, owners of the Eastern Conference’s second-worst record. The Celtics have the NBA’s second-best net rating at +7.8; the Wizards have the NBA’s worst net rating at -10.9.
The Wizards will be without Anthony Davis, who has yet to lace up for DC. Kyshawn George (left elbow sprain) and Cam Whitmore (right shoulder deep vein thrombosis) are also out, while Sharife Cooper (right ankle/foot sprain) is questionable.
The rest of the Wizards roster — Alex Sarr (17.2 points, 7.6 rebounds), Trae Young (14.7 points, 6.7 assists), and Jaden Hardy (12.8 points) have led the way. But, the Wizards have lost 10 straight — including infamously giving up 83 points to Bam Adebayo in a loss to the Heat on Tuesday night.
The two teams have faced off twice this season (in November and in December), and both times, the Celtics walked away with blowout wins.
The Celtics are set to face the Wizards in a third and final match-up at 6pm ET on Sunday.
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Our NBA player prop projections are back for tonight’s primetime matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors, and the model has already identified several standout opportunities.
After breaking down the data and comparing our projections with the current market lines, we’ve pinpointed the spots offering the strongest betting value.
These Timberwolves vs. Warriors predictions aren’t based on gut instinct — they’re driven by the numbers. If you’re building your betting card, these are the model’s top NBA picks for Friday, March 13.
 Timberwolves |  Warriors |
|---|---|
| Edwards u29.5 points -105 | Podziemski o15.5 points -115 |
| Reid o6.5 rebounds +102 | Green u1.5 threes -105 |
| Randle o4.5 assists +120 | Horford o5.5 rebounds -145 |
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Projection: 28.0 points
Although Anthony Edwards has only gone Under his 29.5-point line in four of the last 10 games, the matchup still presents challenges.
Opposing starting shooting guards have been held to just 38.4% shooting from the field against the Golden State Warriors — the second-lowest mark allowed in the league — making this a difficult spot for the Minnesota Timberwolves star to erupt offensively.
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Projection: 6.6 rebounds
The Timberwolves have played at the ninth-fastest pace in the league over their last 25 road games, a tempo that could boost rebounding opportunities for Naz Reid.
Reid has cleared his 6.5-rebound line in four of his last 10 games and could benefit from the increased possessions in this matchup.
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Projection: 4.6 assists
Julius Randle has only cleared the 4.5-rebound line in three of his last 10, but tonight’s matchup presents a much more favorable environment for him to get back on the glass.
One key factor is the style of this Warriors offense. Golden State relies heavily on perimeter shooting and high-volume 3-point attempts, which naturally creates long rebound opportunities.
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Projection: 16.3 points
Brandin Podziemski has averaged 17.6 points per game over his last five contests, which is 5.0 points higher than his season average.
That scoring bump could continue against the Timberwolves, who have played at the ninth-fastest road pace in the NBA over their last 25 games.
The uptick in tempo should lead to more possessions for the Warriors, giving Podziemski additional opportunities to stay aggressive offensively.
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Projection: 1.4 threes
The matchup with the Timberwolves isn’t an ideal one for perimeter shooting. Opposing starting power forwards are attempting just 3.6 threes per game against Minnesota this season — the third-fewest in the league.
That trend could limit opportunities from deep for Draymond Green of the Warriors, especially after he’s already gone Under his 1.5 made threes line in six of his last 10 games.
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Projection: 6.0 rebounds
The Warriors should see an increase in possessions against the Timberwolves.
Golden State has also been the league’s top offensive-rebounding team over the last 10 games, a trend that could benefit Al Horford, who's cleared his 5.5 rebound line in six of his last 10 games.
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| Location | Chase Center, San Francisco, CA |
| Date | Friday, March 13, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Prime |
Not intended for use in MA.
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The Milwaukee Bucks are six games out of the final play-in spot in the East with 17 games to go, and they are chasing some of the league's hottest teams in Charlotte and Atlanta. Milwaukee's loss to Miami on Thursday was its seventh loss in eight games, and they are 1-4 since Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the lineup. The Bucks aren't trying to lose, they are just not a good team.
After that game, Antetokounmpo's comments sticking up for Bam Adebayo and his 83-point outing a couple of nights before drew the initial headlines. But Antetokounmpo's comments about the Miami Heat raised eyebrows as well. Here's what he said, via Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
"They're going to play tough, and they're not going to stop playing. That's the Miami Heat culture. It's tough. For me personally, I don't know how the team feels, but for me personally, it's a tough season… I'm just trying to take it game by game. I'm grateful — happy that I'm out here competing. But at the same time, it's in my nature to win games...
"Miami's head coach [Erik Spoelstra] is going to keep playing, man. Even when they don't knock down shots, you're going to get second chances. They're going to crash the board, get rebounds, find the open man, try to get to the free-throw line, keep on moving the ball, get the ball to Bam (Adebayo), and try to execute from there. They're going to play hard. They have guards that can penetrate and drive and kick, and that's what they do, man."
Antetokounmpo has been frustrated this season, whether that's enough to get him to leave the only team he has played for in the NBA — the only city he has called home since leaving Greece — is another question. Whatever moves the Bucks front office can make this offseason may well have a lot to say about that.
This offseason, the Bucks and Antetokounmpo will have an honest talk, which will include them offering him a max contract extension. How he responds to that will set the course for what comes next. While many people will read his comments above — and look at his actions over the past year — and think they know the answer, nothing is set in stone until he actually turns down the money Milwaukee puts on the table, which he has never done before.
That said, a lot of teams are prepping their offers to the Bucks for this offseason.
Welp, Miami (Ohio)'s loss in Thursday's MAC quarterfinal has the potential to throw a wrench into Selection Sunday.
The RedHawks' first loss of the season didn't knock them out of USA TODAY Sports' latest bracketology field prediction, but it means the MAC is going to get a second bid with whoever its automatic qualifier is. That means one less bubble spot.
Elsewhere Thursday, Auburn (17-16) had a chance to punch its NCAA ticket by beating Tennessee but lost to the Volunteers 72-62. The Tigers' case is a curious one.
Missouri lost 78-72 to Kentucky on Thursday and is now on the wrong side of the bubble.
In Friday's early games, top seeds Saint Louis (Atlantic 10), Michigan (Big Ten) and Florida (SEC) avoided upsets.
The bubble remains messy but is starting to get a little clearer as contenders advance in or fall out of tournament play.
One team making a late push is Oklahoma, which dropped nine midseason games in a row but has rebounded to go 8-2 in its past 10. The Sooners have recently added wins against Auburn, Texas before strong efforts against South Carolina and Texas A&M at the SEC tournament.
Two contenders to watch are Mountain West rivals San Diego State and New Mexico, which will meet in the conference semifinals. While the Aztecs or Lobos could make it easy by going ahead and winning the MWC title, the winner of the semifinal is in good shape for an at-large spot.
In the Atlantic 10, VCU (24-7) could do itself a favor Friday by beating Duquesne in the A-10 quarterfinals. And Seton Hall (21-11) is making late push in the Big East tournament. If the Pirates beat St. John's in Friday's semifinal, they'll be just one win away from an automatic bid.
* bold means automatic berth clinched.
Santa Clara, VCU SMU, Miami (Ohio).
New Mexico, Oklahoma, Auburn, Indiana,.
Multi-bid leagues: SEC (10), Big Ten (9), ACC (8), Big 12 (8), Big East (3), West Coast (3), Atlantic 10 (2), MAC (2).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness bracket predictions, NCAA Tournament bubble, seeds
The Dallas Mavericks (22-44) play host to the Cleveland Cavaliers (40-26) on Friday on the second night of a back-to-back. The Mavericks are coming off a win in one of the year’s biggest Tank games, where they outlasted the vaunted Grizz starting four NBA 2k randomly generated characters and former Mav, Olivier-Maxence Prosper.
Now they’ll go against a Cleveland squad scrapping for seeding in the East and trying to hold off the Orlando Magic for the fourth spot and home-court advantage in the playoffs. Dallas wishes them the best in that endeavor.
This is not rocket science, but it’s hard to play NBA basketball when you’re tired. Dallas flew back home from Memphis and has less than 24 hours before lacing ‘em up again for the Cavs. While many of the older vets sat out the front half of the back-to-back, Cooper Flagg seems like he’ll be available for both.
With zero days rest this season, Flagg has played eight times, and he averages roughly two fewer points, one fewer assist, and one fewer rebound than his season averages this year. The disparity between zero days’ rest and two days is even higher. On a back-to-back, and especially this late in the season, we’ll get a look at when or if Cooper does finally hit that rookie wall.
Cleveland adding James Harden as a backcourt partner to Donovan Mitchell has made them one of the more formidable pairings in the league, with Harden flashing some vintage performances since putting on a Cavs jersey.
Dallas, which often flips back and forth between starting Brandon Williams and Ryan Nembhard at lead guard, is going to have its hands full trying to contain even one, let alone both of those guys. And if one of them gets on a heater, watch out. Things could get out of hand fairly quickly in this one.
After this game, Dallas will be on the road again, flying out to take on… the Cleveland Cavaliers! In a rare mid-season home-and-home. How that plays into how Dallas wants to play their lineup is something to consider. Coach Jason Kidd has never been one to shy away from some rather kooky tinkering, and the chance to run his guys against the same team in back-to-back contests might prove irresistible. How will Dallas’ lineup fare in an A/B test? Will Cooper play all his on-court minutes with Nembhard and Powell in game one, and BWill and Gafford in game two? The potential for lineup data is tantalizing.
Jeff Capel will not see his name added to the growing list of Division I men's college basketball coaches to be fired after the 2025-26 season.
In a letter addressed to "Panther Nation," Pitt athletic director Allen Green announced that Capel will return for the 2026-27 season, his ninth season leading the Panthers. Capel had been one of several coaches who had their seats hot for much of this season, and has led the Panthers to a 127-127 overall record.
"Over the past several months, I have spent a great deal of time evaluating every aspect of our men’s basketball program. That process included conversations with Coach Capel, a review of our staff and our roster, our program structure and the transfer portal landscape as well as our investment in the program. I consulted with University leadership to ensure we continue to be aligned with our expectations for the program," Green wrote in the letter.
"After that comprehensive evaluation, I have made the decision that Jeff Capel will continue to lead our men’s basketball program. I believe our best path forward is leadership continuity paired with clear expectations and a willingness to evolve."
The decision by Green to keep Capel for another season comes two days after the Panthers were eliminated from the ACC tournament with a 98-88 loss to No. 7 seed NC State. Pitt opened the ACC tournament in Charlotte in upset fashion, as they knocked off No. 10 seed Stanford 64-63 thanks to a layup from Damarco Minor with 0.4 seconds left on the game clock.
Green continued by noting the Panthers' 13-20 record this season, their fifth losing season under Capel, "well short of our expectations," given the level of investment the program had that was "sufficient enough" to "reach the NCAA Tournament at a minimum."
Pitt went 5-13 in the ACC this season, which was good enough for the last seed in the ACC tournament at No. 15. The ACC tournament only includes the top 15 teams in the conference. Of the 13 losses the Panthers took in ACC play this season, one of them came against Boston College, who did not qualify for the 2026 ACC Tournament.
"Effort alone is not enough. We must be better going forward. I know it. Jeff knows it. And you know it," Green continued. "Jeff and I will continue to examine every aspect of the program and will make the necessary changes."
In eight seasons, Capel has led the Panthers to a .500 overall record at 127-127, and a 60-92 record in ACC play.
The Panthers have only made the NCAA Tournament once under Capel, in the 2022-23 season, when they were the 11-seed in the Midwest Region. After a quarterfinals exit in the ACC tournament, Pitt was sent to Dayton for the First Four of the NCAA Tournament, where they beat Mississippi State in the play-in game of March Madness. From there, the Panthers earned a Round of 64 win against Iowa State before losing to Xavier in the Round of 64.
Pitt has had only three winning seasons so far under Capel: 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25. The 24 wins the Panthers won in the 2022-23 season are the most wins they've had thus far under Capel.
Here's a year-by-year breakdown of how the Panthers have fared under Capel:
Capel was awarded a three-year contract extension by former Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke in July of 2024. The extension keeps Capel under contract with the Panthers through at least the 2029-30 season.
His annual compensation for the 2023-2024 season was $3,947,729, according to USA TODAY Sports' database.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jeff Capel gets another season as Pitt basketball head coach
It's official: The Big 12 is gatekeeping hardwood floors.
With No. 1 Arizona primed to take on No. 5 Iowa State and No. 2 Houston gearing up for No. 3 Kansas in the conference tournament semifinals, Brett Yormark and the conference are scrapping the controversial LED surface the first rounds of the men's tournament and the entire women's tournament was played on.
Instead, the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City will have good, old-fashioned hardwood for the semifinal and final rounds of the men's tournament.
Yormark went on the "Pat McAfee Show" to discuss the decision to go back to basics for the latter part of the conference tournament, citing "mixed reviews" from players about playing on glass while going back to the conference's desire to "innovate."
"First of all, anytime you innovate, you know there's gonna be risk. And you know that going in," Yormark said when he was asked. "And I think it's fair to say that you never expect 100% buy-in. That being said. There were mixed reviews. Some players liked it, some people didn't ... There was discussion about the potential slippage. And following the games yesterday I met with the four semifinal coaches. And I had been encouraging feedback ... the last two weeks in fact starting with the women's and into the men's ... And we decided last night that for us, most importantly, is that you've got four of the biggest brands in college basketball competing (March 13), and the conversation should be about those teams, and not the court."
Yormark saying as much, of course, opens a Pandora's Box of questions, including but not limited to: Why was it OK to overshadow TCU vs. West Virginia as the women's final? Was slippage discussed before the conversation fell down to Bill Self, Kelvin Sampson, Tommy Lloyd, and T.J. Otzelberger? And how much feedback was received to make the choice to scrap the court with two days of tournament play left?
The climactic incident that spurred the decision to replace the court may have been the injury to Texas Tech's Christian Anderson, who was injured while slipping on the floor March 12.
The Big 12, for its part, is having an outstanding college basketball season. It has eight Men's NCAA Tournament locks, and Arizona has a real shot at the No. 1 overall seed.
Yormark did praise the court and said some tweaks could make it viable.
"I'm still a lover of the LED court based on what it can do and it was brought to life certainly throughout the women's and men's," he said. "That being said, I said to the owner last night and his staff: 'You gotta go back to the lab. You gotta refine some things.'" Yormark added he would "stay in touch" with ASB GlassFloor, the aforementioned developers of the court, meaning the door is not closed on reintroducing the court in future conference events.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brett Yormark on decision to scrap LED court: 'There were mixed reviews'
Cincinnati has fired men’s basketball coach Wes Miller, according to multiple reports on Friday, March 13.
The Bearcats went 100-74 in five seasons under Miller, including an 18-15 mark this season.
Cincinnati started 11-12 this season before rattling off seven wins over a nine-game stretch, but it coughed up an eight-point lead in the final two minutes in a 66-65 overtime loss to UCF in the second round of the Big 12 tournament on Wednesday.
"If it's about the best teams at this point, we're one of the best teams in the country," Miller said after the loss to UCF while making the NCAA tournament case for his team. "We're an NCAA tournament team. I think we've won seven of our last 10 Big 12 teams. When's the last time someone won seven out of 10 in the Big 12 and didn't play in the NCAA tournament? I certainly feel we belong. I know tonight (vs. UCF) would have helped.”
The Bearcats never had a losing record under Miller, but failed to make the NCAA tournament, a glaring shortcoming at a proud program with a decorated history. Cincinnati had participated in the NCAA tournament 23 times over a 28-season stretch from 1992-2019, including in each of former coach Mick Cronin’s final nine seasons at the school before he left for UCLA in 2019.
According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, a part of the USA TODAY Network, Miller’s buyout is $9.9 million. Had the school waited until April 1, that figure would have dropped to $4.69 million.
A former point guard at North Carolina, Miller was hired at Cincinnati in 2021 after a successful 10-year run at UNC Greensboro, where he went 185-135 and guided the Spartans to the NCAA tournament twice.
Though the Bearcats are looking for their first NCAA tournament berth since 2019, they’re a program with a lengthy and storied past, with two national championships and six Final Fours.
Among the candidates who would likely be considered for the role is Utah State coach Jerrod Calhoun, an Ohio native and Cincinnati graduate who previously worked as an assistant under former Bearcats coach Bob Huggins at West Virginia.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cincinnati fires basketball coach Wes Miller after five seasons
Who: Phoenix Suns (39-27) vs. Toronto Raptors (36-29)
When: 4:30pm Arizona Time
Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Toronto Raptors come into tonight losing six of their last eight, with their only wins in that stretch coming against the Mavericks and Wizards. On Wednesday, they lost 122-111 to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Dinos from across the border will be looking to bounce back, while the Phoenix Suns will be continuing an Eastern Conference road trip on the second night of a back-to-back after last night’s win against the Pacers.
This will be the first of two meetings between the Suns and Raptors in the next ten days, as the Raptors will come to Phoenix on March 22nd.
Scottie Barnes has struggled since missing a game on February 22nd for personal reasons. Averaging just 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists compared to his season averages of 18.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.3 assists.
Coming off two days of rest and playing against a Suns frontcourt missing size due to injury, be on the lookout for a big Scottie Barnes game.
Tonight has big storyline potential for both teams. Can the Suns continue to rebuild some momentum with a fifth straight win? Can the Raptors right the ship after a disappointing stretch?
UPDATE: Scottie Barnes is currently questionable with an illness. If he misses tonight’s game, that significantly reduces the size available to the Raptors.
Both teams are almost equal on the season when it comes to average rebounds per game. With the Suns continuing to miss some key frontcourt players, the whole team will need to lock in and box out tonight.
The Suns shoot, on average, eight more threes per game than the Raptors (41 to 33). If they hit their shots tonight, like they did in Milwaukee, the Suns could pull out a big win on little rest. Unfortunately, shooting tends to be one of those things that falls off on the second night of a back-to-back.
We will have to see how fresh their legs are after the flight from Indiana.
Hopefully, it will be a hard-fought game. These teams score and give up almost identical points per game. Phoenix has the best player in the matchup, and Toronto has the rest of the advantage. Before last night’s game, I was predicting a Raptors win. With Scottie Barnes questionable with an illness and the high I am riding after the Pacers game, I have to go with the Suns:
Suns 114, Raptors 109