Category: Basketball

The 36-game sprint of a regular season has officially come to an end. By now, you probably caught wind that the Iowa Wolves have ended their 11-year postseason drought! Huzza!

Let’s review the month of March, and preview what’s to come in this edition of Eyes on Iowa Wolves.

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December Summary (Click to open)

January Summary (Click to open)

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March Overview

Overall Month Record: 7-4

Current Regular Season Record: 21-15
Final Standing: 6th in Western Conference

OFFRTG: 123.8 (6th)
DEFRTG: 119.1 (13th)
NETRTG: 4.7 (7th)

The story of the Iowa Wolves season has been about battling back from adversity.

They started off the season in November strong. They were among the elite teams, overwhelming opponents with their league-best offense. Zyon Pullin was the lightning rod of the team. An avatar of Iowa’s style — Breakneck pace by attacking the paint, and limited, but efficient, three-point shooting. Unfortunately, a wrist injury took him out of the lineup for over two months. Iowa was able to tread water despite various roster changes to until Pullin finally returned late February amidst a skid of four losses in five games to end the month.

It just took a little time for Pullin’s impact to reflect in the win column.

A pair of dominant victories against the Rip City Remix helped keep their playoff dreams alive. Pullin averaged 28 points in those games while scoring on 20 of his 26 field goal attempts, enough to earn the G League Player of the Week honors.

Iowa ran into a buzzsaw that was the South Bay Lakers though. The Lakers were on a double-digit game win streak before dispatching the Wolves twice. Timberwolves rookie Joan Beringer was active and ultra productive for Iowa during a three-game losing streak though, providing some silver lining to his third assignment in the G League.

Speaking of temporary assignments, newly acquired Julian Phillips suited up for a pair of games against the Salt Lake City Stars. The 22-year-old shined, posting a career-high in points at any level of collegiate or professional play. He helped get Iowa back on track as they headed towards their final four games of the season with the playoffs on the line.

They nearly punched their ticket in a set of games against the Texas Legends. Iowa performed a miracle 16-point fourth quarter comeback in the first game, but dramatically lost the second. The Wolves most clutch player of the regular season, Jalen “Clutch” Crutcher, uncharacteristically missed a pair of free throws and a clean step-back three-pointer.

Regardless, they had done enough that a loss by the Santa Cruz Warriors a few days later secured a postseason berth. With nothing but playoff seeding to play for, Pullin and his teammates torched the Oklahoma City Blue by an average of 21 points to end the season.

Their positive momentum will hopefully carry them far into the postseason tournament.

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Playoff Preview

In prior G League seasons, only the top six (or less) teams of each conference made the postseason. This season, they’re reintroducing the 16-team playoff bracket. There’s no need for asterisks though, as the Iowa Wolves finished as the sixth seed and will face the third seed Stockton Kings in the first round.

Every playoff series will be a single-elimination format until the Finals, where the format changes to a best-of-three.

Who are the Stockton Kings?

The Stockton Kings, contrary to their NBA affiliate, are no joke.

Sure, Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé named his daughter, a wildlife activist and aspiring pop star with zero professional basketball experience at any level, the Assistant General Manager of the Stockton Kings (She has since stepped down from her role). Yes, it was around that same time where an off-the-court scandal featuring one of the their players was charged with the kidnapping and murder of a woman two years ago (Ranadivé’s daughter may or may not have been involved). And okay, Stockton’s leading scorer is the 28-year-old veteran DaQuan Jeffries, who has played with five different NBA teams across six seasons and is married to the daughter of current unqualified Sacramento Kings Head Coach, Doug Christie.

That said.

On the court, they have been the number one seed in the Western Conference for four of their last five seasons. They’ve made back-to-back G League Finals, and won their first championship a year ago. They are a good basketball team.

Their roster does look considerably different than last season. First and foremost, their Finals MVP and three-time All NBA G League selection Mason Jones is now playing overseas. Their entire starting frontcourt from the playoffs, Skal Labissière, Isaiah Crawford, and Terry Taylor are no longer on the team. In fact, Taylor is now coming off the bench for Iowa (Institutional knowledge?). Of the Kings postseason lineup from their championship run, the only rotation players who are returning are Jon “Temu Alex Caruso” Elmore, and Dexter Dennis.

The Kings two-way players are Patrick Baldwin Jr., Isaiah Stevens, and Daeqwuan Plowden. Due to tanking the laundry list of a injury report, Plowden has been called up to Sacramento and has been playing well over 30 minutes a night for nearly two months. Stockton’s best player has been the aforementioned DaQuan Jeffries recently signed a 10-day contract with Sacramento and hasn’t been available for Stockton either.

The Kings are ninth in offensive rating, and 16th in defensive rating. They’re dead last in pace, where they’ll grind out possessions, moving the ball until they get a good shot as evidenced by their 64.3 assist percentage (Fourth) and 55.6% effective field goal mark (11th). They take the third most amount of threes per game, yet they convert on the second most three-point makes per game. A stark contrast to Iowa’s style of play.

On the other end of the court, they hold their opponents to just 33.2 three-point attempts per game, and 31.9% from distance when they do get shots off. Both of these marks are second-best in the league.

Matchup vs Iowa

The Iowa Wolves and Stockton Kings split their season series 1-1, both occurring in February and in California. The Wolves were led by the hot shooting of Jalen Crutcher and a near triple-double by Alize Johnson in his final game before departing overseas. Despite being without Pullin’s services, Iowa still eked out a five-point win without Pullin.

In the second contest three weeks later, the Kings cruised to an easy triumph courtesy of a 16-0 run that bridged the two halves together. The Wolves never recovered from there, as Stockton was on fire from deep. Three different players scored 25 points or more for the Kings, including bench reserve Antoine Davis, who poured in surprising and season-best seven triples. Across both games, DaQuan Jeffries averaged a ridiculous 34 points in this series, but as mentioned earlier, he may not be available for Stockton on Wednesday as Sacramento has a game against the Raptors.

Here is the tale of the tape:

	Iowa	Stockton
OFFRTG	124.1 (5th)	122.7 (9th)
DEFRTG	119.1 (12th)	119.4 (16th)
NETRTG	5.0 (6th)	3.3 (10th)
eFG%	56.3 (7th)	55.6 (11th)
ORB%	30.3 (3rd)	26.1 (23rd)
TOV%	14.0 (17th)	13.6 (12th)
FTr	17.6 (15th)	16.9 (19th)
Pace	97.5 (9th)	93.4 (31st)
AST%	59.6 (17th)	64.3 (4th)
%3P	35.0 (20th)	47.7 (2nd)

By the numbers, Iowa should have a sizeable advantage. They’re the stronger team in terms of offensive and defensive rating. They score better in three of the Four Factors. They hold a ginormous pace advantage. However, Stockton holds a big edge in the ultimate wild card factor: Three-pointers. Nearly half of their field goal attempts are from distance, and for a team that shoots 37.4% from distance, that could be a problem. Another outlier night from perimeter could doom the Wolves as it did a month ago.

Iowa will travel to Stockton to face the Kings on Wednesday, April 1 at 8:30pm CT on Prime Video.

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Joan & Julian Assignments

Joan Beringer
Full season stats:
11 GP | 29.5 MP | 14.6 PTS | 10.7 REB | 0.9 AST | 0.5 STL | 2.4 BLK | 1.3 TOV | 2.3 PF
62.7 FG% | 66.7 FT%
Glass ceiling comp: Ultimate Giannis Antetokounmpo
Boring mezzanine comp: Faster Jarrett Allen
Dark basement comp: Taller Bismack Biyombo

Joan looked like prime Dwight Howard in his final four-game assignment with Iowa. He averaged:

• 20 points
• 15.3 rebounds
• 1 assist
• 1.8 blocks
• 68.6% field goal percentage
• 83.3% free throw percentage

Beringer was as dominant as the numbers looked despite having almost no plays called for him. His confidence as a play finisher has skyrocketed. He’s showing a much larger assortment of post moves, and deft touch around the rim. He’s even had a handful of dribble-drive finishes from outside the paint.

It’s likely that the Frenchman may have played his last game in Iowa considering his growth and opportunity moving forward for the Timberwolves.

Julian Phillips
Full season stats:
2 GP | 34.7 MP | 29.0 PTS | 8.5 REB | 1.5 AST | 1.0 STL | 0.5 BLK | 3.0 TOV | 2.0 PF
54.2 FG% | 30.8 3P% | 16.7 FT%
Glass ceiling comp: Ideal Jerami Grant
Boring mezzanine comp: Young Derrick Jones Jr.
Dark basement comp: Smaller Josh Minott

Julian was really aggressive in his two-game stint with Iowa, to say the least. He led Iowa in field goal attempts in both games, averaging 24 shots per game. What was clearly evident was his ability to slither into the lane and use his length, athleticism, and craftiness to score.

He got to the cup at will.

Phillips is a dangerous cutter and transition player as well, with tremendous top-end speed and the ability to play fly above the rim. He was excellent in contest-and-release situations, often taking advantage of careless defenses. Coach Abdelfattah also used Phillips in defensive lineups, as his near seven-foot wingspan caused problems for opponents.

It’s hard to be too critical about his less than ideal shot selection. Often times when non-two-way players are sent on G League assignments, they’re sent with the goal of getting in reps. That said, Phillips does have a considerably long journey ahead of him in terms of his jump shot. He has a bit of a wonky shot release that results in shots either swishing through the cylinder, or not being close at all. The consistency is not there, as was reflected in his one for six mark from the charity stripe.

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Two-Way Wolves Update

Rocco Zikarsky
Full season stats:
42 GP | 25.1 MP | 14.8 PTS | 8.9 REB | 0.9 AST | 0.6 STL | 2.5 BLK | 1.9 TOV | 2.2 PF
53.3 FG% | 30.8 3P% | 75.6 FT%
Glass ceiling comp: Healthy Kristaps Porziņģis
Boring mezzanine comp: Less athletic Jay Huff
Dark basement comp: Shorter Tacko Fall

Rocco has really come into his own throughout the G League season. For the first month all season, Zikarsky averaged over 30 minutes per game in March. As a result, we saw him post his best scoring, rebounding and shot blocking marks of any month. Averaging a 19.5 point and 11.8 rebound double-double is amazing, but swatting away a ridiculous 5.2 blocks per game is mind-boggling. The Aussie finished second in the league in total blocks (103). His 8.4% BLK% would’ve been second in the NBA behind Victor Wembanyama.

Unfortunately, his three-point shooting has been anything but reliable. He showed signs of promise at the beginning of the season, but then really tailed off in February. His 31.6% mark from distance in March might not be exciting, but consider the fact that he went zero for 15 in February and you’ll be relieved to know that he even has the ability to score from beyond the arc.

At 19-years-old (20 in July), this isn’t to say Zikarsky can’t keep developing. Jump shooting tend to trend upwards, not downwards, as players get older. He still has upside and that’s all anyone should ask for from a 45th overall pick.

Zyon Pullin
Full season stats:
22 GP | 34.9 MP | 25.3 PTS | 4.2 REB | 6.2 AST | 0.9 STL | 0.2 BLK | 2.2 TOV | 2.3 PF
58.4 FG% | 53.4 3P% | 82.4 FT%
Glass ceiling comp: Explosive Ajay Mitchell
Boring mezzanine comp: Offensively skewed Tre Jones
Dark basement comp: Devin Carter

What more can you say about Zyon that I haven’t already said about him at this point? I’ve been a Pullin truther since November and he’s only gotten better as the season progressed, despite a significant injury. Take a look at his month-by-month splits:

	PTS	REB	AST	STL	3PM	3P%
NOV	27.7	3.3	6.0	0.7	1.7	54.5%
DEC (INJURY)	14.8	3.3	5.5	0.5	1.3	41.7%
FEB (RETURN)	26.7	4.0	5.7	0.7	1.7	42.9%
MAR	28.0	5.6	7.0	1.3	2.4	59.4%

With the loss of players like Tristen Newton and Alize Johnson, Pullin has shouldered even more of the workload in the past month. He’s picking up the playmaking hole left by the former, while attacking the glass to makeup for the loss of the latter. Most impressive has been his three-point shooting. Never known as a volume chucker from beyond the arc, Pullin has become an absolute sniper in recent games including a career-high six makes in his second to last game.

As mentioned in the February recap, Zyon isn’t a star on the defensive end of the court, but he has great court awareness and isn’t typically a defender that’s targeted by opponents. It’s clear that Iowa will only go as far as Zyon can pull them.

Enrique Freeman
Full season stats:
39 GP | 33.2 MP | 16.5 PTS | 8.8 REB | 2.4 AST | 0.8 STL | 0.8 BLK | 1.8 TOV | 2.8 PF
54.6 FG% | 32.3 3P% | 73.8 FT%
Glass ceiling comp: Poor man’s Paul Millsap
Boring mezzanine comp: Trim Jared Sullinger
Dark basement comp: Poor man’s Craig Smith

The oft-forgotten two-way player for the Wolves has steadily found his groove in recent months. He had a breakout February, averaging a 22.5 point, 10.5 rebound double-double while shooting 41.7% from distance. Though his 11-game March hasn’t been as good, he’s logged a repeatable and consistent 16.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per game averages while knocking down 36.6% of his triples.

Something that has stood out from Freeman has his been his increased playmaking skills. He’s averaged a career-best 3.5 assists this month while decreasing his turnovers down to just 1.5 per game. Enrique is a strong roll man who has made good decisions in the short roll, but also flashed some ability as an offensive hub at the top of the arc. The Puerto Rican has a dependable jump hook with either hand that Iowa can lean on in tough possessions.

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Freeman will have a chance to prove himself on the defensive end in the postseason. He’s shown the ability to get deflections or go up for difficult rim contests, but he has to be more reliable on that end. I’d like to say that he is one of those players that acts before he thinks, often playing off instinct for better or worse. Sometimes he’ll wow you, but other times it’ll make some forehead slapping decisions.

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Intriguing Prospects

Jalen Crutcher
Full season stats:
34 GP | 35.3 MP | 18.4 PTS | 3.2 REB | 6.0 AST | 0.8 STL | 0.4 BLK | 2.0 TOV | 1.9 PF
46.9 FG% | 43.3 3P% | 83.6 FT%
Glass ceiling comp: Better shooting Dennis Schröder
Boring mezzanine comp: “We Have Cameron Payne at home”
Dark basement comp: Ryan Nembhard in four years

Jalen Crutcher has slowly, but surely, become one of the most important players on the roster. Sure, Rocco gets a lot of fanfare as a seven-foot unicorn. Joan makes waves every time he’s violently throwing down a dunk or swatting a shot. Zyon’s emergence has become the story of the season for Iowa.

But Crutcher has become an invaluable engine to this team.

Ever since he took over as the full-time starting point guard after Tristen Newton signed with Houston, the 26-year-old has been the best ball handler, playmaker, and perimeter shooter for Iowa. In March, Crutcher was launching 9.5 three-point attempts per game and connecting on 41% of them. Many of those were of the dribble pull-up variety. When defenders play up on him, he beats them with his signature floater.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Crutcher is offered a lucrative contract elsewhere. This is his fifth year in the G League and he’s been a more than productive innings eater for multiple teams.

Jules Bernard
Full season stats:
45 GP | 34.0 MP | 22.1 PTS | 6.2 REB | 5.2 AST | 1.1 STL | 0.4 BLK | 3.4 TOV | 1.9 PF
42.0 FG% | 32.9 3P% | 79.3 FT%
Glass ceiling comp: Norman Powell
Boring mezzanine comp: Bigger Cole Anthony
Dark basement comp: Discount Jaden Hardy

The return of Pullin and increased role for Crutcher has predictably limited Bernard’s role. He had a standout January, but has begun to regress back to his inefficient ways in the last two months. Jules has also dealt with some injuries and illnesses recently, perhaps impacting his play.

At his best, Bernard is an overqualified third option on offense. At his worst, he’s disrupting the offensive flow by calling his own number too often. His perimeter shooting has steadily declined from 38.3% in January, down to 25% in March. He’s still effective at getting to the paint and drawing contact, but he frequently gets caught in the paint with no second plan of attack if the whistle isn’t blown.

NBA playoff picture: What are Celtics' best and worst first-round matchups? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

There are 13 days left in the NBA’s 2025-26 regular season, but the Eastern Conference playoff picture remains a chaotic blur with the six teams in spots 5-10 separated by just 3.5 games. Trying to predict who might emerge as the Boston Celtics’ first-round opponent remains a dart throw. 

Here’s what we know: The Celtics hold a two-game lead on the Knicks in the race for the No. 2 seed, though New York holds the head-to-head tiebreaker (division record) if the teams finish with matching records. There’s a very good chance that the final head-to-head meeting on April 9 will dictate exactly who emerges with the No. 2 seed.

The finish line of the Celtics’ schedule feels a bit like a playoff appetizer platter. Seven of Boston’s final 10 games are against potential first-round opponents, or that cluster of six teams slotted in spots 5-10 in the East. The Knicks would be the Round 2 opponent if they stay at No. 3 and the higher seeds take care of business in Round 1. 

Given the volatility in spots 5-10, we wondered if there are more agreeable opponents than others for the Celtics. If Boston finishes with the No. 2 seed, it would play the winner of the 7-8 play-in game in Round 1; if the Celtics finish with the No. 3 seed, they would play the No. 6 seed to start the playoffs.

Just how jumbled is the bottom of the playoff bracket? All six teams in spots 5-10 are alive for the No. 7 spot, with no team holding better than a 33.1 percent chance to finish there, per Basketball Reference’s daily playoff probabilities report. The Charlotte Hornets face the longest odds to shuffle beyond the 9-10 matchup of the play-in tournament, but five teams have at least a 12 percent chance at the No. 7 spot, per Basketball Reference’s simulations.

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If the season ended today, the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic would meet in the 7-8 game to determine the No. 7 seed. The Atlanta Hawks, who snapped Boston’s three-game win streak on Monday, would be the No. 6 seed.

Who should Celtics fans want their team to face in Round 1? Is there truly a better matchup than another? Is there an opponent they might want to avoid more than another?

The Celtics own a 13-6 record against the teams at the bottom of the East bracket. That includes 3-0 marks against Miami and Toronto, though they’ll play both again over the next six days. Boston lost twice to Philadelphia, but played three games against the 76ers before November 11. The Celtics don’t look like quite the same team now, even beyond the obvious recent return of Jayson Tatum.

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To determine the most daunting opponent, we wondered how each of the teams in spots 5-10 fared against top-tier talent. So, we crunched each team’s numbers vs. opponents in the top 10 of point differential in the NBA. Here’s the data from the folks at Cleaning the Glass: 

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It’s somewhat surprising that Miami has four more wins than any other team in that cluster. The Hornets — the only team in spots 5-10 that resides in the top 10 in point differential overall — have played fewer total games against top teams than their rivals.

Miami’s biggest weapon might be on the sideline with head coach Erik Spoelstra, who is capable of putting his team in the best possible position to be successful. In fact, the 2023 Heat are basically the only team to emerge from a play-in position and create noise in the postseason (as Celtics fans know all too well). The Heat made the NBA Finals as the No. 8 seed that season.

The Celtics rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating this season, making a notable surge defensively in the second half of the season. So, how has the cluster of play-in potential teams fared against the top 10 squads in defensive rating this season?

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The Magic fare better than the pack against elite defenses, while Miami’s winning percentage dips compared to game against teams with the highest point differential. 

The data suggests that Toronto might be the most ideal matchup for a top-tier opponent. Basketball Reference’s simulations give the Raptors a 79.5 percent chance to land outside the play-in. 

The most likely 7-8 matchup per Basketball Reference’s simulations: Miami vs. Philadelphia. Those two teams just happened to meet on Monday night with the Heat, even while playing without Norm Powell, earning a double-digit win against a full-health Sixers squad. 

Buckle up. There are still plenty of twists and turns before this playoff picture comes into focus. 

The Warriors are 36-39, three games under .500, and Brandin Podziemski has been on the floor for almost all of it.

However you want to slice it, whether it’s NBA.com, lineup data, or just watching the season unfold night after night, the same reality keeps surfacing. Podziemski is right there at the top of this roster in minutes and games played. I’m talking ahead of the names the offense is supposed to orbit around; the veterans who were meant to stabilize everything. And somewhere in that, this season quietly decided he wasn’t a supporting piece anymore.

Podz is a 23-year-old guard learning the job while doing it.

Warriors by minutes played this season:

1. Brandin Podziemski (2137)
2. Draymond Green (1706)
3. Moses Moody (1540)
4. Will Richard (1306)
5. Gui Santos (1289) pic.twitter.com/eUnv5Vw6JD

— Peter O’Keefe (@POK252) March 31, 2026

He’s out there running point, crashing the glass, AND getting ran over attempting to take charges. Trying to read the game at full speed while the structure around him kept shifting. That kind of workload isn’t something cosmetic that sits all pretty on a stat page. It sticks to you. It says you were here for this season in a way nothing else really can.

Through the stretches where the offense barely held together, and through nights where it looked like something had finally clicked before slipping away again, Podziemski kept showing up in the middle of it.

And the thing about showing up like that, in this particular moment of Warriors basketball, is that it doesn’t happen in a vacuum. This isn’t just a young guard getting reps. He’s openly talked about what those reps are building toward in terms of earning trust and potentially one day being the guy they hand this to when the current era finally lets go.

“When they leave this thing, they got to leave it with somebody,” Podziemski said. “How can I have their trust?”

That’s not a quiet ambition or “I’m just here to help.” That’s someone looking at a dynasty and thinking about what it means to be next. And once you say that out loud and put that idea in the air? Everything you do starts getting filtered through it.

Every pull-up that comes a beat too early or a missed read when a better option was sitting there can fall under the microscope. That’s where the tension comes from.

You saw it again in Sunday’s loss to Denver. Podziemski forces a look, Kristaps Porzingis is standing open, and Steve Kerr’s voice cuts through the possession like he had a megaphone.

Porzingis was PISSED at Podz for not passing him the ball WIDE OPEN…

Steve Kerr even yelled at Podz: "PASS THE BALL!" pic.twitter.com/YxKGZYQyWh

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) March 30, 2026

Kristaps Porzingis was PISSED at Podz for forcing a tough shot and not passing to him wide open 😭

Steve Kerr even yelled: “PASS THE BALL!” 💀 pic.twitter.com/CqWt4R2mHN

— Hater Report (@HaterReport) March 30, 2026

Because if you’re going to talk about holding the baton someday, people are going to watch how you handle it now. To his credit, he hasn’t backed away from that. He’s rebounded like someone who refuses to let position define effort, pushed the pace like he’s trying to solve problems before they fully form, and kept stepping into moments that don’t come with guarantees. He hasn’t answered the question perfectly. That was never really on the table. But he’s answered it in real time.

Night after night, in a season that has asked more questions than it’s answered, Podziemski kept taking on possessions that didn’t have easy solutions. These aren’t empty minutes or safe reps tucked inside a functioning system. These are decisions that live with you, that show up on film, that get talked about in ways young players don’t always get exposed to this early.

This is what the early part of 10,000 hours looks like when it’s happening in public.

It’s uneven. It can be frustrating. It doesn’t always reward you right away. But it builds something underneath the surface that box scores don’t fully capture. Availability is part of it, sure! But this goes deeper. It’s exposure to blinding levels of accountability. It’s a young guard being handed responsibility on a team that didn’t have the luxury of easing him into it.

"Fans don't get what you see in Podz." 😅

– @dandibley asked Steve Kerr the tough questions on @WillardAndDibs. pic.twitter.com/foKGjrTJUJ

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) March 5, 2026

And he kept going.

So when this season settles into memory (and it will, because seasons like this always end up meaning more later than they do in the moment) it won’t really be about the record. It’ll be about who was out there when nothing felt settled. Podz is absolutely out there in the trenches. What matters now isn’t whether he’s ready, it’s that the season already decided he had to be.

“Yeah, I see it (what is said online). Like I said, a lot of the things I said, I probably shouldn’t have said… But all I can do is look forward and give it my all every night.”

Podz on the noise surrounding his previous viral comments pic.twitter.com/vTR8EhaW95

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) March 28, 2026

On Monday night, Victor Wembanyama had his seventh career game scoring 40 or more points. Many of those baskets came from lobs while he was posted at the rim.

During the postgame press conference, Wemby was asked about the connection he has with Stephon Castle and how their game has developed as a result.

Wembanyama on his relationship with Castle:

“We’ve had the chance to spend lots of minutes on the court together and he understand me very well.. It’s just the beginning, I hope to spend 15 years as his teammate so hopefully we see thousands of lobs.”

🖤🤍#GoSpursGo#PorVidapic.twitter.com/qB0fkqHJKc

— Wemby Alien Era (@WembyAlienEra) March 31, 2026

“We’ve had a chance to spend lots of minutes on the court together and he understands me very well. And that’s not just randomly, we’re just in synch. We get along together because he as the ball handler is actively trying to get the best shot for the team. And me as the roller, try to make a shot every time he throws it up high enough — still sometimes he doesn’t throw it high enough — when he throws it up high enough it ends up in a dunk. And it’s just the beginning, I hope to spend fifteen years as his teammate, so hopefully we see thousands of lobs.”

That’s a lot of high praise for a young player, but then again, Castle isn’t just any player. As the reigning Rookie of the Year, the baton he took from Wembanyama, The UConn guard came in prepared for the rigors of the NBA and has developed at a rapid rate. Whether it’s because of his time with Wemby or whether this is the player Castle could have been on any team, it’s obvious the mutual respect on and off the court has forged a kinship that will shape the future of the San Antonio Spurs and define the next era of franchise.

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The Celtics fell to the Hawks on Monday night, 119–109, in a game that felt competitive for long stretches before slipping away in the second half. Playing short-handed on the second night of a back-to-back, Boston leaned heavily on its depth, getting strong contributions from Luka Garza and the second unit while hanging around into the third quarter.

But as the game wore on, the cracks started to show. Atlanta controlled the paint, pushed the pace, and capitalized on Boston’s turnovers and missed free throws, while Jaylen Brown shouldered the offensive load in a night that felt a little more chaotic than controlled. It wasn’t a game that changes anything big-picture, but it offered a handful of interesting takeaways — some meaningful, some weird, and one involving the rise of an ancient mythical beast.

1. Godzilla → Garzilla → Luka Garza

Luka Garza checks into a game the same way Godzilla comes out of the ocean. Stomping around violently, making an ear-shattering amount of noise, and immediately becoming an entire city’s biggest problem.

Garzilla

Make Twitter Weird Again pic.twitter.com/HRMKTXdRsY

— John Karalis 🇬🇷 (@John_Karalis) March 31, 2026

There’s just no easing into it with this guy! He simply shows up and produces whenever called upon. Early buckets, threes, constant activity on the glass, keeping possessions alive — every touch turns into something useful. The three in the third quarter — followed by some well-earned chirping — felt like the natural extension of that energy. When Garza is playing like this, he doesn’t ease into the flow of the game. He forces the game to adjust to him.

What stands out most is the readiness. Garza plays like someone who fully expects to impact the game the second his name gets called. There’s no hesitation in his decisions or waiting to “get into rhythm.” He is the rhythm. Offensive rebounds, loose balls, physical finishes, Garza raises the floor of a possession just by being out there.

Luka Garza 20 Points, 9 Rebs, 8/9 FG full highlight vs Hawks | 25-26 NBA Season pic.twitter.com/qmPW7dYwAk

— Hoops Showtime (@HoopsShowtime12) March 31, 2026

Which, now that I think about it, tracks. “Gojira” — Godzilla’s original name, as we all know — comes from a mix of the Japanese words for whale (kujira) and gorilla (gorira), representing his massive size and nature-beast characteristics. Massive, physical, completely chaotic. 

They might as well rename the beast Luka Garza.

2. Joe Mazzulla’s mad scientist rotations hit a limit

At one point in the first half, it felt like Joe Mazzulla, eyes closed, was rattling off every player he remembered seeing on the plane earlier that day.

Garza. Walsh. Scheierman. Amari. Pritchard. Hugo. Hauser. Bassey. We saw every available Celtic touch the floor at some point (even if it was only for 17 seconds for some).

It felt less like a rotation and more like Joe standing over a table full of oddly-shaped beakers wondering, “What happens if I mix this with this?”

And honestly? For a while, the chemistry was working. The cook was cooking.

Luka had something to say to the Hawks' bench after that one 👀 pic.twitter.com/H43mK22WmF

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) March 31, 2026

The Celtics didn’t look overwhelmed one bit, despite all the missing faces. They didn’t look disorganized. Guys knew where to be, what to do, how to play within the system. The Mazzulla structure is so strong that you can plug almost anyone into it and still get functional basketball.

But then the third quarter hit, and the experiment hit its limit.

There’s only so much lineup wizardry you can get away with before the game starts asking for your best stuff. Shot creation. Rhythm. Familiarity. And on tired legs on the second night of a back-to-back against a team that wants to speed you up, that margin shrinks to a tiny sliver.

Joe ran out of magic potions in this one, but the all-cure for the playoffs might just be this team’s depth.

3. Vintage Jaylen showed up…just not the good kind of vintage

If Jaylen Brown is going to be the tip of the spear, he has to be sharp.

And for stretches in this game, he was anything but.

JONATHAN KUMINGA LOCKDOWN DEFENSE & BLOCK ON JAYLEN BROWN. 🔥🔒

pic.twitter.com/uQEyaHQVyi

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 31, 2026

This was one of those nights that felt like a throwback, just not the good kind — like Raptors throwbacks or Nickelodeon GUTS. The inefficiency (9-for-29), the turnovers (6), the missed free throws, possessions where he looked sped up instead of conducting the show. You could almost hear the old narratives creeping back in, the ones that have been rightfully buried for months. I won’t tolerate “does Jaylen Brown have a left hand?” discussions entering mainstream discourse again!

To be clear, this game didn’t feel, to me, like a “Jaylen problem.” More so a “this specific version of Jaylen in this specific game” problem. Which isn’t a problem I’m all that worried about.

Because we’ve seen the other version of JB all season — controlled, efficient, decisive. That version has been real and consistent, and it’s why this one stood out so much. Nights like this feel jarring now because they’ve become so rare.

It also didn’t help that Dyson Daniels was glued to him for much of the night. That’s a real defensive presence they’ve got in Atlanta, the kind that makes every handle, every read, every decision just a little more difficult.

Dyson Daniels' defense on Jaylen Brown tonight is as good as anyone has defended Brown all year. Making Brown work to even just get the ball.

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) March 31, 2026

And maybe there’s something to the context too. Playing in Atlanta. Back in his hometown. Last time he was here, he dropped 41 points. This time, it felt a little like he was trying to recreate that instead of letting the game come to him.

He still finished with 29, 10, and 9. Very respectable considering how the night felt as a whole.

But this is the standard now. When you’re The Guy, the expectation goes way beyond baseline production. It’s control. Luckily, control will be much easier to come by in games where his co-1A teammate, Jayson Tatum, is also available.

4. Atlanta won the game where they always win it

This game was decided in the exact areas Atlanta wants to live in.

• Points in the paint: 48–30 in their favor.
• Field goal percentage: .467 vs .412 for the Celtics.
• Fast break points: 18–8 in their favor.

That’s been their formula for success during this 15–2 stretch.

The Hawks didn’t need anything fancy in this game. They got into the paint early and often, finished efficiently, and kept the Celtics from ever fully settling in defensively. Even when Boston made small pushes, Atlanta had a response ready — usually at the rim. It also doesn’t help when a guy who shoots 15% from three on the season goes 2/2 on the night. Just one of those games.

Dyson corner three 💦 pic.twitter.com/vqVvbAc4al

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) March 31, 2026

This is also what could make them annoying in a playoff series.

They don’t rely on one player to generate everything. It’s waves of pressure. Jalen Johnson attacking, Okongwu finishing, NAW creating chaos, Daniels forcing mistakes. It adds up over the course of a game.

Boston had moments where they slowed things down and made Atlanta operate in the halfcourt. When that happened, things looked manageable.

They just didn’t sustain it for 48 minutes.

5. The Celtics ran out of gas, which HAS to be okay

You could feel the shift.

First half, the energy was there. Everyone was flying around, guys were competing on the glass, the offense had flow throughout the first two quarters. It didn’t feel like the second night of a back-to-back at all.

Then the third quarter hit, and suddenly it did. This is where perspective is important.

THE CELTICS HAVE SECURED THEIR SPOT IN THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE 12TH STRAIGHT YEAR 🍀 pic.twitter.com/48nGazygYy

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 30, 2026

In this game, the Celtics were missing several key pieces, playing their third game in four days, leaning heavily on highly inexperienced depth, and still competing deep into the game against a good team. Over an 82-game season, nights like last night are just the reality of a grueling NBA schedule.

If anything, the fact that this game stayed competitive for as long as it did says more about the Celtics than the final score does.

6. Amari Williams is a Brad Stevens project worth watching

Yup, Brad hit on Amari Williams too pic.twitter.com/lI1o0T18N5

— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) March 31, 2026

You see it too, don’t you?

The size. The activity. The timing on rolls. The instinct to crash the glass. The flashes are absolutely there.

Amari Williams isn’t part of the playoff rotation. Let’s be clear about that. But nights like this are valuable for different reasons. They give you a glimpse of what’s being developed behind the scenes.

There were moments where, if you squinted a little, you could see the Timelord comparisons. The way he moves in space, the way he reads when to slip, the willingness to contest everything. Right down to biting on every pump fake.

Timelord getting in done on both ends!!!!!!!!!#BleedGreen#BeattheHeat#NBAPlayoffspic.twitter.com/B0227aaBDA

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 24, 2023

This new Williams is rawer. Sure, there were a few missed assignments, some spacing issues, moments where the speed of the game caught up to him.

But the intangibles are obvious, and Brad seems to fare pretty well on projects that bring intangibles to the table. Let the Celtics player development team take it from here!

7. Enjoy this beautiful basketball sequence courtesy of Charles Bassey. ENJOY IT.

No words for this one, just enjoy this fun sequence from Summer League darling, Charles Bassey, that came during the 2nd quarter. Because you still deserve joy in this world.

What a sequence by Charles Bassey!

He obliterates a Jonathan Kuminga dunk attempt, Derrick White hits a 3, and then Bassey swats Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s layup attempt.

🎥: @NBCSCelticshttps://t.co/5yuM3J38aipic.twitter.com/fI2tvEHuPT

— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) March 31, 2026

8. Baylor Scheierman is becoming the ultimate plug-and-play piece

Baylor Scheierman is turning into exactly the kind of player this team will always need.

Celtics Baylor Scheierman in 15 games since breaking thumb on dominant hand

7.9 PPG/5.4 RPG/2.4 APG/46% FG/40% 3P pic.twitter.com/Q6dncUO3j3

— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) March 30, 2026

You can drop him into almost any lineup, against almost any matchup, and he’ll find a way to contribute. In this game versus Atlanta, that meant taking on Jalen Johnson defensively and holding his ground longer than he’d typically have to.

Easier said than done.

He competed, stayed connected, and didn’t look overwhelmed by bigger, stronger players. Offensively, he plays with a noticeable joy — which sometimes leads to a heat-check shot that makes Joe immediately look down the bench — but more often than not, it yields positive results rather than negative.

There’s a confidence there that you can’t really teach, and the Celtics are clearly starting to trust it.

9. The missed free throws added up

This one doesn’t need to be complicated.

16-for-23 from the line isn’t going to cut it.

This is a team that’s been one of the best in the league at the stripe all season, which is why it stands out when it slips. It’s not the reason they lost, but it’s part of the story.

You have to take your free points! They’re free! And they really hurt to miss out on in a game that was within reach for most of the night.

10. This game will be forgotten

In a week, you won’t remember this game. In a month, it won’t matter one bit. In a year, when you hear the name Luka, you might think of the one in Los Angeles before the one you were jumping out of your seat for tonight.

That might sound dismissive, but I say it in the hopes that it brings you comfort. This team has built enough equity over the course of the season that a game like this should just…pass through. No need for alarms, overreactions, or spiraling narratives. It’s too late in the season for that.

The game happened. It was frustrating at times. There were things to learn from.

Move on to the next.

The Celtics are back in action Wednesday night against the Miami Heat.

Before you forget this one completely, just know it was part of the journey. Even if it ends up being one nobody talks about again (and don’t forget about me, as I exist only within the confines of this 10 Takeaways article. Fare thee well! And *ghost voice* gooOOooOOOoo Celtics!)

How likely is it that the Warriors’ front office was sitting in a war room in 2015, sweating over draft boards and dreaming about the 7-foot-2 Kristaps Porzingis? KP went 4th in that draft to the New York Knicks, while the Dubs were patiently waiting at 30 for Kevon Looney, the cherry atop their championship sundae.

Golden State had other things on their mind. Little things, like dismantling everything LeBron James thought he’d built in Cleveland, destroying Lob City forever , and quietly assembling the most devastating offensive ecosystem the NBA had ever seen. The lottery? That was somebody else’s problem.

A decade later, Porzingis is wearing blue and gold at a time when the player and franchise need each other more than ever.

Peak Porzingis performances 🔥

Kristaps is averaging 22.5 PPG over his last four games. pic.twitter.com/tXrH6rOUEK

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 30, 2026

Kristaps really is a game changer for this Warriors team. The fit is immaculate, he causes alot of problems for opposing teams on defense. I can't help but imagine Jimmy and Steph on the floor with this dude.

— TheWarriorsTalk (@TheWarriorsTalk) March 30, 2026

His path here reads like a career that kept getting interrupted right before the good part. He announced himself as a Latvian phenomenon in New York, earned Rookie of the Year votes, made All-Star teams, and looked like the future of the position. Then his Achilles, knees, back, hamstring, calves all at some point or another began to betray him. Trades to Dallas, Washington, Boston, Atlanta. And woven through all of it, reports of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, a cardiovascular condition most fans couldn’t pronounce until it apparently started quietly rearranging his availability on a near-monthly basis. The league had a decade of watching one of the most gifted big men on the planet fight logistics as hard as he fought opposing defenses. By the time Golden State called, he was arriving as more a question than the prize.

But that’s actually when the Warriors like their veterans best.

Andrew Bogut showed up battered from Milwaukee and became the defensive spine of a title team. Shaun Livingston, whose 2007 knee injury was so severe it nearly ended everything, reinvented himself as the most reliable backup point guard in the league. Vets like Nick Young, JaVale McGee, and late-career David West came aboard the dynasty and became made men.

The pattern isn’t coincidence. Golden State has demonstrated a specific talent for receiving complicated opportunities and making use out of them at exactly the right time. We’re not talking about the moment those players were promised. Instead they are receiving the moment that was always meant for them.

What Porzingis is doing right now suggests he’s found his moment.

In his ten appearances in March, he’s averaging 18.2 points on 44.1/37/82 shooting splits, adding 4.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. He’s scored at least 20 points in five of those contests. Against Denver on March 29th, he went 5-for-5 from three and dropped 23 points. He’s played in six of the Warriors’ last seven games. After everything his body has put him through, that availability alone feels like a statement. Let him cook!

Asked Kristaps Porzingis how it’s been working with Rick Celebrini and the coaching staff and he said it plain and simple:

“Rick is amazing. Rick is the GOAT.”

Described him as “high-level”. Safe to say Porzingis feels great in Celebrini’s hands. pic.twitter.com/JSkiPJZYGm

— Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) March 26, 2026

Now consider what that work looks like standing next to Stephen Curry.

Golden State has spent years searching for a seven-footer who turns defensive preparation into a hostage negotiation. Do you sag off the big and let him cook from distance, or do you close out hard and hand Curry the acres he needs to make your scheme look like it was designed by someone who has never watched basketball? Porzingis knocks down the three, scores from the mid-range, and protects the rim on the other end. That combination doesn’t just extend what Curry does. It multiplies it. Opponents have to account for two separate extinction-level threats operating from different zip codes on the floor, and there is no defense in this league built to survive that arithmetic with any dignity.

The 2015 Warriors didn’t need Kristaps Porzingis. They were too busy building a dynasty. Now, the 2026 Warriors need Porzingis to be the best that he can be to give the dynasty one more golden run.

After two thrilling weeks of high-stakes games, a group of 68 teams that entered mid-March with dreams of a national championship has been whittled down to four.

And with that, college basketball’s preeminent event is about to get underway.

The Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Tournament will tip off on Saturday, April 4, with Arizona, Michigan, UConn and Illinois heading to Indianapolis hoping to cut down the nets inside Lucas Oil Stadium after securing a national title.

FINAL FOUR PREDICTIONS: Who will advance to 2026 national championship?

Making the Final Four is an accomplishment in and of itself in college basketball, a step in a journey that doubles as a destination after teams successfully navigate all of the challenges that the first four full rounds of March Madness have to offer.

This year, the Final Four is giving fans across the country a pair of teams, Michigan and Arizona, that were two of the three best teams for much of the season and two others, Illinois and UConn, that spent most of the season ranked in the top 15. There’s some history at stake, too. Will Arizona win and break a nearly 30-year title-less spell for schools west of Texas? Can Michigan or Illinois become the Big Ten’s first national champion since 2000? Or is UConn poised for its third title in the past four years, cementing its status as a modern-day dynasty?

Those questions will be answered soon enough, but for now, how do those four squads stack up against one another?

Final Four power rankings

1. Arizona

Though there’s not a whole lot that separates them from fellow juggernaut Michigan, the Wildcats have everything you could realistically hope for out of a title team. They have the consummate floor general in guard Jaden Bradley. They have a pair of five-star freshmen in Brayden Burries and Koa Peat who have more than lived up to their immense hype before likely heading off to the NBA in a few weeks. They’ve got size and toughness down low, with Ivan Kharchenkov, Motiejus Krivas and Tobe Awaka. While he still hasn’t won a title, their coach, Tommy Lloyd, has exorcised some past March demons by leading the program to its first Final Four since 2001.

What might be most encouraging for Arizona is that it’s much less prone than anyone else in the country to an off shooting night. The Wildcats have the third-lowest 3-point rate among all Division I teams, preferring instead to get high-percentage shots closer to the basket. Even when they do fire from beyond the arc, they’re still pretty good, shooting 36% as a team.

While it’s presumptuous to declare Arizona’s game against Michigan as the pseudo national championship, whoever wins the matchup will be a decided favorite in the title game.

2. Michigan

The Wolverines were a pleasant surprise in coach Dusty May’s first season, more than tripling their win total from the previous season and advancing to the Sweet 16. In his second season at the helm, they’re not an upstart; they’re a freight train.

After a 31-3 regular season, they’ve won their four NCAA Tournament games by a combined 90 points, including a 33-point beatdown of Tennessee in the Elite Eight. For all the size Arizona has, Michigan counters with perhaps the best frontcourt in the country, a physical and highly skilled trio featuring Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. May’s team is No. 1 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency and is just one of two squads ranked in the top five in Division I in both offensive and defensive efficiency, according to KenPom (Arizona, fittingly, is the other). The Wolverines’ guards are a bit more of a question mark, but North Carolina transfer Elliot Cadeau has been on a heater in the tournament, with 33 assists to just seven turnovers.

MARCH MADNESS BRACKET HOT TAKES: Duke blows it, UConn wins it, Arizona shouldn't care

3. UConn

While the Huskies are only 24 months removed from the second of their back-to-back national championships, this is a largely remade team, with program stalwart Alex Karaban the only player left who received significant minutes from either of those squads. Though they don’t have that championship pedigree, this is a squad that has shown its mettle, hanging on to beat Michigan State in the Sweet 16 before pulling off an epic comeback victory against Duke in the Elite Eight, a game they trailed by 17 in the second half.

No player has been more integral to this run than Tarris Reed Jr., who has been perhaps the best player in the tournament. Reed enters the Final Four averaging 21.8 points and 13.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 60% from the field. UConn isn’t nearly as offensively potent as it has been in recent years, but it was still able to beat Duke despite missing 18 of its 23 3s. Cliche as it may sound, this is a team, program and coach that simply finds ways to win.

Dan Hurley’s squad has this working for it, too: the Huskies have now won 18 consecutive games in the Sweet 16 or later in the tournament.

4. Illinois

The Fighting Illini’s road to Indianapolis wasn’t as arduous as the paths traveled by the other three national semifinalists, but coach Brad Underwood’s team didn’t look any less impressive. It won its four tournament games by an average of 19.5 points and each game was decided by at least 10 points, including a win against No. 2 seed Houston in a game played in the Cougars’ hometown.

Illinois is No. 1 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom, more than three points per 100 possessions better than any of the teams remaining in the field. Even when shots aren’t falling at a dizzying pace, it has shown an ability to gut out games behind an improving defense that has held each of its past three opponents under 60 points. 

UConn will be a sizable challenge, but don’t let the Huskies’ 74-61 victory against the Illini back in November at Madison Square Garden sway you too much, especially since the teams’ current top scorers, Reed for UConn and Keaton Wagler for Illinois, combined to play just 29 minutes.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Final Four power rankings: Who's the best team left in March Madness?

What a difference just one year makes.

Last season, the NCAA Tournament featured four No. 1 seeds in the Final Four. That number has been halved in the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament, as just Michigan and Arizona survived to the final weekend of the season.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness bracket hot takes: Duke blows it, UConn wins it, Arizona shouldn't care

While this year's bracket was more exciting in terms of upsets, the final seeds in the Final Four are 1, 1, 2 and 3. It's not quite like the 2024 NCAA Tournament, where No. 11 North Carolina State crashed the party, but there should be plenty of excitement in Indianapolis.

The second of two Final Four matchups on Saturday, April 4, will feature a pair of No. 1 seeds. Arizona defeated Purdue to advance to the semifinals, while Michigan dominated No. 6 seed Tennessee to do the same.

In a more shocking showing, No. 2 UConn unseated the No. 1 overall seed Duke with a last-second, heartbreaking 40-foot 3-pointer from Braylon Mullins. The Huskies will take on No. 3 seed Illinois, which defeated Big Ten foe Iowa. The Hawkeyes had knocked out No. 1 seed Florida in the second round.

Here's the full list of teams to make the Final Four in 2026:

Who's in the men's Final Four?

• No. 2 UConn (East)
• No. 1 Michigan (Midwest)
• No. 3 seed Illinois (South)
• No. 1 Arizona (West)

Final Four schedule, game times, TV info, Final Four location

Saturday, April 4

• Game 1: No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 2 UConn | 6:09 p.m. | TBS | Sling TV
• Game 2: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 1 Michigan | 8:49 p.m. | TBS | Sling TV

The Final Four will be hosted at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The first game between No. 3 Illinois and No. 2 UConn will tip off at 6:09 p.m. ET, while the second game between No. 1 Arizona and No. 1 Michigan is scheduled for 8:49 p.m. ET

The Final Four games can be streamed on Sling TV and on the March Madness Live app.

March Madness 2026 bracket update

East Region

First Round

• No. 1 Duke 71, No. 16 Siena 65
• No. 2 UConn 82, No. 15 Furman 71
• No. 3 Michigan State 92, No. 14 North Dakota State 67
• No. 4 Kansas 68, No. 13 California Baptist 60
• No. 5 St. John's 79, No. 12 Northern Iowa 53
• No. 6 Louisville 83, No. 11 South Florida 79
• No. 7 UCLA 75, No. 10 Central Florida 71
• No. 9 TCU 66, No. 8 Ohio State 64

Second round

• No. 1 Duke 81, No. 9 TCU 58
• No. 5 St. John's 67, No. 4 Kansas 65
• No. 3 Michigan State 77, Louisville 69
• No. 2 UConn 73, No. 7 UCLA 57

Sweet 16

• No. 1 Duke 80, No. 5 St. John's 75
• No. 2 UConn 67, No. 3 Michigan State 63

Elite Eight

• No. 2 UConn 73, No. 1 Duke 72

Midwest Region

First Round

• No. 1 Michigan 101, No. 16 Howard 80
• No. 2 Iowa State 108, No. 15 Tennessee State 74
• No. 3 Virginia 82, No. 14 Wright State 73
• No. 4 Alabama 90, No. 13 Hofstra 70
• No. 5 Texas Tech 91, No. 12 Howard 71
• No. 6 Tennessee 78, No. 11 Miami (Ohio) 56
• No. 7 Kentucky 89, No. 10 Santa Clara 84 (OT)
• No. 9 Saint Louis 102, No. 8 Georgia 77

Second round

• No. 1 Michigan 95, No. 9 Saint Louis 72
• No. 4 Alabama 90, No. 5 Texas Tech 65
• No. 6 Tennessee 79, No. 3 Virginia 72
• No. 2 Iowa State 82, No. 7 Kentucky 63

Sweet 16

• No. 1 Michigan 90, No. 4 Alabama 77
• No. 6 Tennessee 76, No. 2 Iowa State 62

Elite Eight

• No. 1 Michigan 95, No. 6 Tennessee 62

South Region

First Round

• No. 1 Florida 114, No. 16 Prairie View A&M 55
• No. 2 Houston 78, No. 15 Idaho 47
• No. 3 Illinois 105, No. 14 Penn 70
• No. 4 Nebraska 76, No. 13 Troy 47
• No. 5 Vanderbilt 78, No. 12 McNeese 68
• No. 11 VCU 82, No. 6 North Carolina 78
• No. 10 Texas A&M 63, No. 7 Saint Mary's 50
• No. 9 Iowa 67, No. 8 Clemson 61

Second round

• No. 9 Iowa 73, No. 1 Florida 72
• No. 4 Nebraska 76, No. 5 Vanderbilt 74
• No. 3 Illinois 76, No. 11 VCU 55
• No. 2 Houston 88, No. 10 Texas A&M 57

Sweet 16

• No. 9 Iowa 77, No. 4 Nebraska 71
• No. 3 Illinois 65, No. 2 Houston 55

Elite Eight

• No. 3 Illinois 71, No. 9 Iowa 59

West Region

First round

• No. 1 Arizona 82, No. 16 Long Island 58
• No. 2 Purdue 104, No. 15 Queens 71
• No. 3 Gonzaga 73, No. 14 Kennesaw State 64
• No. 4 Arkansas 97, No. 13 Hawai'i 78
• No. 12 High Point 83, No. 5 Wisconsin 82
• No. 11 Texas 79, No. 6 BYU 71
• No. 9 Utah State 86, No. 8 Villanova 76
• No. 7 Miami 80, No. 10 Missouri 66

Second round

• No. 1 Arizona 78, No. 9 Utah State 66
• No. 4 Arkansas 94, No. 12 High Point 88
• No. 11 Texas 74, No. 3 Gonzaga 68
• No. 2 Purdue 79, No. 7 Miami 69

Sweet 16

• No. 2 Purdue 79, No. 11 Texas 77
• No. 1 Arizona 109, No. 4 Arkansas 88

Elite Eight

• No. 1 Arizona 79, No. 2 Purdue 64

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Men's Final Four teams: March Madness bracket, schedule

Alex Karaban will have a chance at history come the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament Final Four.

The UConn men's basketball redshirt senior guard is looking to join an exclusive list of players to win three national titles during their collegiate career. Karaban was on the Huskies' back-to-back championship teams in 2023 and 2024.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness bracket hot takes: Duke blows it, UConn wins it, Arizona shouldn't care

Karaban, along with teammates Hassan Diarra and Samson Johnson, was denied an opportunity to earn a three-peat last season when Florida knocked them out of the tournament in the second round.

Diarra and Johnson have both since moved on from UConn, but Karaban, 23, has a chance to become the first player to accomplish this feat in 53 NCAA seasons.

Larry Farmer and Larry Hollyfield were the last players to become three-time NCAA Tournament champions when the John Wooden-coached UCLA Bruins defeated Memphis State in the national championship game.

Perhaps the biggest name to win three national championships during his collegiate career was Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). He led the Bruins to three straight titles between 1967 and 1969.

The title marked the end of a dynastic seven straight national titles for the Bruins. Here's a look at the list of three-time national champions in college basketball history:

Three-time national champion college basketball players

Here's a look at the three-time national champions in college basketball history:

• 1967-69 — Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
• 1967-69 — Lynn Shackelford
• 1969-71 — Curtis Rowe
• 1969-71 — Sidney Wicks
• 1969-71 — Steve Patterson
• 1970-72 — Henry Bibby
• 1971-73 — Larry Farmer
• 1971-73 — Larry Hollyfield

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alex Karaban has chance to join list of 3-time national champions

Stars are made in March Madness, and even more so in the biggest games of each NCAA Tournament.

When Michigan, Arizona, UConn and Illinois meet in the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, there will be plenty of star power on the hardwood. A championship is on the line, along with status and NBA draft stock, after all.

REQUIRED READING: Final Four predictions: Who will advance to 2026 National Championship?

All four teams have starting lineups built with transfers. First-team All-American Yaxel Lendeborg from Michigan, a sixth-year senior, is a first-year transfer from UAB and has proved he belongs since moving from the mid-major level to the Wolverines.

There's also Illinois true freshman Keaton Wagler, who has risen from a non-elite high school prospect to being a surefire lottery pick in his first collegiate season.

Here's a look at our rankings for the best players of the Final Four in 2026:

Best players of Final Four, ranked

1. Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan

The only first-team All-American on this list, Lendeborg was the top-available transfer last season and has backed up that honor and then some in his lone season at Michigan. The 6-foot-9, do-it-all forward is averaging 15.2 points with 7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this season, and has stepped it up a notch in the NCAA Tournament, scoring 27, 23 and 25, respectively, in Michigan's last three wins over Tennessee, Alabama and Saint Louis.

Lendeborg is also shooting 50% from 3-point range in March Madness, and 59.2% from the field. The experienced forward has also shown an ability to take over games in the clutch, giving the Wolverines a huge advantage in that aspect.

YAXEL LENDEBORG. ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING.#MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/GzFu2ZqKzo

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2026

2. Keaton Wagler, Illinois

Wagler came out of nowhere in 2025-26, as he was a three-star recruit in 2025, per 247Sports' Composite. The 6-foot-6 guard has shades of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with long arms, impressive finishing ability and shooting.

Wagler is averaging 17.9 points with five rebounds and 4.3 assists per game this season on 44.5% shooting and is coming off a 25-point showing against Iowa in the Elite Eight. He has done nothing but helm one of the best offenses in college basketball in recent memory, all as a true freshman.

brb gonna watch this Keaton Wagler stepback for a while pic.twitter.com/vptIQOJ1kj

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 28, 2026

The Shawnee, Kansas, native will hear his name called early in the 2026 NBA Draft.

3. Tarris Reed Jr., UConn

Tarris Reed Jr. has been a different player in the NCAA Tournament for UConn, elevating the Huskies' ceiling as a team. The 6-foot-11 center is averaging 14.7 points with 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game this season, but has upped those numbers to a ridiculous 21.8-13.5-3.0 mark in the NCAA Tournament.

Reed outplayed national player of the year candidate Cameron Boozer in the Elite Eight, as he finished with 26 points, nine rebounds, three assists, four blocks and two steals in the dominant performance.

Reed has been a revelation this season, especially after only starting one game for UConn in 2024-25. He started his career at Michigan, where he played two seasons under former coach Juwan Howard.

Tarris Reed finishes down low 💪#MarchMadness@UConnMBBpic.twitter.com/oWKpPW103H

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

4. Jaden Bradley, Arizona

Jaden Bradley was a surprise when he won Big 12 Player of the Year over the nation's leading scorer in BYU, but his impact has been greater than his per-game averages show.

The veteran senior guard is in his third season at Arizona after transferring from Alabama and has started every game over the past two seasons. He's averaging 13.3 points with 4.4 assists per game this season, averages less than two turnovers per game, and helps run one of the most efficient paint offenses in college basketball.

The 6-foot-3 guard is nothing but steady and helps find Arizona's top scorers Brayden Burries and Koa Peat open looks.

5. Brayden Burries, Arizona

Arizona's top scorer this season, true freshman Brayden Burries makes up perhaps the nation's best backcourt alongside Bradley. The 6-foot-4 guard is averaging 16.1 points with 4.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game this season, and has been wildly efficient in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 17.8 points per contest on 57.9% shooting.

Burries is a knockdown shooter, shooting 40.2% on 3-pointers for the year and a whopping 68.4% mark from distance in the Tournament. Suffice to say, don't leave him open in the Final Four.

BIG THREE FOR THE CATS ‼️ pic.twitter.com/3WspjfsPYS

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

6. Koa Peat, Arizona

The third member of Arizona's big three, Koa Peat gets it done for Arizona in the paint and on the glass. The 6-foot-8 true freshman is averaging 14.1 points with 5.5 rebounds per game this season, and is coming off back-to-back performances with 20 or more points against Purdue and Arkansas, two of the hottest teams entering March Madness.

7. Aday Mara, Michigan

Aday Mara has been a huge success story for Michigan coach Dusty May and his staff this season. The former UCLA transfer started nine total games in two seasons with the Bruins, averaging fewer than seven points per game in his two seasons there.

He has blossomed into a likely NBA draft pick with the Wolverines, averaging 11.8 points with 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, shooting 66.9% from the field. The 7-foot-3 center is also an imposing figure defensively, with 2.6 blocks per game, ranking fourth nationally in the category.

Mara is part of a frontcourt with Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. that has a ton of size and length. Mara also, importantly, acts as an offensive hub at times for the Wolverines, as he's a surprisingly good passer at his height.

ADAY MARA WITH THE FILTHY FAKE 🤢 pic.twitter.com/eAFjPk9c3b

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2026

8. Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois

The son of former NBA sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic, Andrej Stojakovic has a much different game than his dad, but he's been impactful for Illinois, nonetheless.

The 6-foot-7 wing is one of the best finishers in college basketball and uses his frame as an advantage against smaller guards. He has been on a heater in the NCAA Tournament, scoring 17, 13 and 21 points, respectively, in his last three outings against Iowa, Houston and VCU.

Stojakovic, a two-time transfer from Stanford and then Cal, is averaging 13.6 points with 4.4 rebounds this season, while only shooting 24.4% from 3-point range on 2.5 attempts per game.

9. Alex Karaban, UConn

One of the most-experienced players in NCAA Tournament history, UConn wing Alex Karaban leads all players with 17 all-time wins in March Madness. The two-time national champion and three-time Final Four participant has been reliable for the Huskies in his four seasons, making 148 career starts in 149 career games.

Karaban is averaging 13.2 points with 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game this season and is a 37.7% shooter from 3-point range. He has been a huge part of UConn's run the last four years, and will be relied on in the Final Four by Dan Hurley and Co.

10. Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan

Morez Johnson Jr. was another transfer portal success story for Michigan, which starts five transfers in its starting lineup. Johnson came off the bench at Illinois last season but has developed into a solid starting forward for the Wolverines.

The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 13.2 points with 7.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game this season on 62.5% shooting as a first-time college starter, ranking second for Michigan in scoring. He scored 21 points with 10 rebounds on 8-of-8 shooting in the Wolverines' opening-round win over No. 16 seed Howard.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Top players of Final Four, ranked: Who is the best in March Madness?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Hey, Rockets fans, we’re back with this week’s Reacts, and what we want to know is do you want the Rockets to trade with the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Giannis supposedly wants out of Milwaukee, and we’ve been covering that with news and analysis all week, but now it’s time for you to make the call. Do you want the Rockets to trade for Giannis? It means giving up either Alperen Sengun or Amen Thompson in all likelihood plus a lot of draft capital.

Cast your vote and tell us in the comments and we’ll be back soon with the results.

The Cleveland Cavaliers did just enough to get past the tanking Utah Jazz122-113, thanks to 34-point performances from both Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell.

How much can you actually take from this game? Tanking has been a part of the NBA for decades, but few teams have been as shameless about it as the Jazz.

Utah has taken the art of tanking to a new extreme. Last month, they weren’t closing games with their best players, which resulted in a $500,000 fine. Then, the league seemingly didn’t believe them when they tried to shut Lauri Markkanen down with a hip injury, and were rumored to be sending an independent doctor to verify the diagnosis before deciding not to. And, they’re one of the teams at the center of the league’s initiative to end tanking.

Despite Adam Silver’s best efforts, the Jazz have kept losing. They came into this game on a five-game losing streak and had dropped nine of their last 10.

Unsurprisingly, they were also down several key players in Monday’s matchup as they were without Markkanen (hip), Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee), Walker Kessler (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic (nose), Keyonte George (hamstring), and Isaiah Collier (hamstring). Few teams are going to be competitive if they’re missing that many rotation players. That’s especially true for ones that aren’t built to be competitive in the first place.

The Cavs knew this all as well. They also chose to rest two key players, Max Strus and Jarrett Allen, before their showdown with the red-hot Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. That makes it a tough game to get up for. It also makes it foolish to react too strongly to anything that happened on the court.

That preamble out of the way, let’s see if we can glean at least some things from this one.

The Cavaliers are now 14-2 when Donovan Mitchell scores 34 or more points and 20-9 when he scores 30 or more.

The team has gone as Mitchell has this season. That was on display again, as Mitchell’s former team couldn’t keep him from getting to the basket whenever he wanted. This resulted in Mitchell going 7-9 in the paint and 11-12 from the charity stripe.

Tyrese Proctor was the one exception from an otherwise forgettable bench performance. He made the most of his opportunity by supplying eight points on 3-6 shooting in 12 minutes of action.

This wasn’t a standout performance, but it did show how Proctor can be helpful. He fit into the overall offense by finding his spots to score, which included tipping in one of Sam Merrill’s eight three-point misses.

Speaking of which, the Cavs went just 6-32 (18.8%) from three (2nd percentile).

I’m not sure if it’s worth going into this much. Cleveland generated open looks, but they just didn’t go. That included Merrill going an uncharacteristic 0-8 from distance.

On one hand, it’s worth pointing out that the Cavs aren’t going to win many playoff games if they shoot that poorly from three. On the other hand, it’s worth acknowledging that Cleveland was still in the 67th percentile for offensive rating despite shooting that badly from deep.

Evan Mobley forcefully attacking the paint helped mitigate the team’s poor outside shooting. He did a good job of continually finding ways to get into the teeth of Utah’s defense and finish inside. This led to 34 points on 15-21 shooting, which included going 10-12 on shots at the rim.

The Cavs are at their best — especially since they’ve added James Harden — when they’re getting in the paint and then setting up the rest of their offense from there. That happened here as Cleveland doubled up Utah inside, outscoring them 82-40 in the paint. Mobley’s aggressiveness as the lone big played a large role in that happening.

Additionally, Mobley relentlessly looked to score in the fourth as he recorded a team-high 10 points in the final frame. He single-handedly put the game away by scoring on three-straight possessions late, despite playing with five fouls.

The Cavs have struggled to feature Mobley late in games, even on nights he’s had it going. Being able to find him in the clutch — and having his run essentially seal the game — was incredibly encouraging on a night Mitchell also played well offensively.

Harden has bought into being the prototypical point guard for this team. He’s willingly ceded the scoring reigns to whoever else on the team has it going. This evening, that meant deferring to boy Mobley and Mitchell.

Since coming to Cleveland, Harden has often played like he’d rather set up teammates than score himself. A performance like this — against a team he was able to manipulate seemingly at will — underscored the extent that seemed to be true. Nearly every move he made off-the-dribble was done to create a window for a pass or an open lane for a teammate to fill. The shot attempts felt almost like a way to keep defenses honest, even though a top-10 scorer in league history doesn’t really need to remind opponents that he can still do that.

Half of Harden’s 14 assists went to Mobley, with five of them coming off of pick-and-rolls.

These actions develop differently, but you’ll notice three commonalities between them.

First, the ball is always delivered high, above Mobley’s waist. This allows him to keep his momentum going after the catch.

Second, you’ll see how hard Mobley is cutting to the basket in these actions. And if he isn’t cutting hard, it’s because he’s found a window to sit in. This is a drastic change from how things looked when Harden first arrived in Cleveland. Before then, Mobley would often drift off screens. Now, he’s not doing so.

Finally, the contact on these screens from Mobley looks different depending on the situation. Instead of just slipping the screen automatically, he’s reading whether he needs to set a hard screen, just make contact, or quickly duck out. This makes it much more difficult to defend, as there’s an element of surprise that wasn’t there before.

This game was far from perfect — especially defensively — but it’s incredibly encouraging that the Cavs have once again found a way to have their three best players performing near peak level when sharing the floor.

Playoff basketball is often won by the team whose best three or four-man combinations are in sync. Right now, the Cavs are. We’ll see if that carries when the games start really mattering in a few weeks.

On Sept. 26, 2017, the FBI and federal law enforcement authorities set off a massive explosion in college basketball that led to the arrests of several coaches and the eventual suspension or firing of several others.  

The list included then-USC assistant coach Tony Bland, who was arrested that day on bribery-related charges. The fallout from it also ensnared Louisville head coach Rick Pitino (fired in 2017), Arizona head coach Sen Miller (fired in 2021) Kansas head coach Bill Self (suspended in 2022), and LSU head coach Will Wade (fired in 2022).

But those coaches and several others since have been forgiven and even had a comeback party of sorts this month as active coaches in the NCAA Tournament. Wade also just got rehired as head coach at LSU, as if nothing ever happened, serving as a reminder about what really matters in college sports once all the FBI dust settles.

“Some had short exiles and punishments, but when you win, there’s always a spot,” said David Ridpath, a sports business professor at Ohio University.

These March Madness comeback stories (see list below) also raise other big concerns on the eve of the Final Four in Indianapolis, according to observers.

One is whether this crackdown had any lasting purpose or should have happened in the first place. Another relates to former Arizona assistant coach Emanuel “Book” Richardson, who’s still paying a price for it even after serving 90 days in federal prison.

“It is a continuing, profound injustice,” one of his advocates said recently.

What was illegal then is now generally legal

The FBI investigation and the NCAA rules enforcement cases that followed aimed to crack down on alleged bribes and illegal payments to recruits or their families, which now seems quaint. NCAA rules have since changed to legalize certain payments to players for their names, images, and likenesses (NIL), starting in 2021.

A sports apparel company such as Adidas now can legally pay players directly for their NIL, unlike back then, when an Adidas consultant testified at trial in 2018 that he provided illicit payments to the families of recruits, including recruits for Kansas and Louisville, two Adidas-sponsored schools. Both Louisville and Kansas got punished for it, even though they said they didn’t have knowledge of it.

Kansas spent $10 million over six years fighting the case, which alleged Kansas was using Adidas to entice recruits with money. An Adidas employee and consultant even went to prison for it.

This likely never would have happened under the current rule structure.

“Everything that's happening (legally now with NIL) is just a microcosm of what's always been happening,” Richardson told USA TODAY Sports on March 25. “Now we can put a name to it (NIL).”

Meanwhile, not everyone has been allowed to resume their careers like Bland, Pitino and others who took part in March Madness this month. Richardson is still effectively barred from college basketball under a 10-year show-cause penalty from the NCAA, even after serving prison time and taking responsibility for the $20,000 bribe prosecutors said he took to steer players toward a certain agent and financial adviser once the players made it to the NBA.

That lingering punishment strikes some as just plain wrong

The Book Richardson case

Richardson, 53, is seeking a federal pardon even though he already served his prison sentence. A federal pardon would not erase the 10-year NCAA penalty that extends to 2030. But it would be a meaningful sign of forgiveness. The application for it was spearheaded by a group at New York University, including clinical professor David Hollander.

“It is a continuing, profound injustice Book Richardson remains under the professional restraint of a 10-year show-cause, given whatever other results you would like to observe have come from that FBI investigation,” Hollander told USA TODAY Sports on March 25. “Excessive isn't strong enough of a word, because words don't amount to a human being's life. That's what this is about. One person's entire life has been lopsidedly hammered.”

Four coaches pleaded guilty in 2019 to similar bribery charges: Richardson, Bland, former Auburn assistant Chuck Person and former Oklahoma State assistant Lamont Evans. Richardson, Person and Evans are out of college basketball with 10-year show-cause penalties. Richardson and Evans both did prison time, not Person or Bland. Bland only got a three-year show-cause penalty from the NCAA and is back in college basketball on the staff at Kansas.

Under-the-table bribes like those back then since have been disincentivized and replaced by over-the-table business transactions. In addition to allowing players to earn money for their NIL, the NCAA also now allows them to hire agents to manage their NIL earnings while still in college.  

The timing isn’t lost on Richardson, who regrets taking the money and now works in Virginia at The St. James Performance Academy.

“I did 90 days in jail, and I got out in October of 2020,” Richardson said. “(Legalized) NIL happened in 2021.”

More recently, Richardson noticed all those familiar names involved in March Madness this month.

List of March Madness coaches who got punished in scandal

These coaches coached in NCAA Tournament this month after previously being caught in the quagmire stemming from the FBI investigation of 2017:

∎ Tony Bland, now at Kansas, made his first NCAA Tournament appearance since his arrest.

∎ Rick Pitino, now the head coach at St. John’s, recently made his first Sweet 16 appearance since his firing from Louisville.

∎ Will Wade of LSU was caught on an FBI wiretap talking about an “offer" and a "deal" for Javonte Smart, a top recruit who later signed with LSU before NIL was legalized. LSU fired Wade for cause in 2022 after the NCAA accused him of serious recruiting violations. The NCAA’s enforcement arm also hit him with a 10-game suspension and two-year show-cause penalty. He bounced back as coach at McNeese State, then NC State, which he led to the NCAA Tournament this month. He’s now back at LSU, where all has been forgiven. He recently told reporters he’s “trying to follow more rules this time.” He also received a hero’s welcome in Baton Rouge at his re-introductory news conference March 30.

“You never get second chances in life, but we get one here,” Wade said March 30.

∎ Kansas coach Bill Self was suspended four games in 2022 after fighting the Adidas-related allegations for years. He lost in the second round to Pitino and St. John’s on March 22.

∎ Head coach Sean Miller brought Texas to the NCAA Tournament this month after getting fired from Arizona in 2021 and then bouncing back at Xavier. Shortly before his firing, the NCAA charged Arizona with serious recruiting allegations stemming from the FBI case. An FBI wiretap caught Book Richardson telling an aspiring agent that Miller “bought” star player Deandre Ayton. Miller denied it.

∎ Kansas assistant coach Kurtis Townsend was suspended four games along with Self in 2022 and was sitting right next to him in the game vs. St. John’s.

∎ Former Creighton assistant coach Preston Murphy was back in the NCAA Tournament this month with Alabama after previously being punished with a two-year show-cause penalty stemming from the FBI investigation. He wasn’t charged with a crime but allegedly accepted payment from a business manager seeking to entice college athletes to sign with that person’s management company.

Richardson said he’s happy for these coaches.

“If they have the opportunity to get back and flourish, I’d love that same opportunity,” Richardson said. “I think I have a lot to give.”

Rick Pitino, Bill Self and the Adidas March Madness game

Amid the backdrop of the FBI case of 2017, a second-round game on March 22 in San Diego stands out in particular.

This was a matchup between two Hall of Fame coaches, nationally televised on CBS — Self and Kansas vs. Pitino at St. John’s. Before the game, Self took a seat next to assistant coach Townsend on his right and Bland down the row to his left.

All wore the Adidas “three stripes” logo on their sleeves. Their star freshman guard, Darryn Peterson, has been paid by Adidas, too, and is now allowed to do so openly, unlike players before 2021.

On the other side of the court, Pitino’s team also was outfitted in Adidas uniforms after reaching a sponsorship deal with the company last year.

Adidas-sponsored Peterson scored 21 points, but Adidas-sponsored St. John’s won the game with a buzzer-beating layup, 67-65.

In light of all of this, what impact did this FBI case really have?

This game came just a handful of years after Adidas representatives went to prison and some of those coaches were punished in a case involving alleged Adidas inducements to recruits.

‘It’s really time to free this man’

Richardson is still feeling the impact of it at least.

“I’ve been to hell and back,” he said.  And he never snitched on anybody, which could have helped him get a lighter sentence.

“It all could have been avoided if I just told what everyone thought I knew,” Richardson said.

The NCAA and U.S. Justice Department didn’t return messages seeking comment. Meanwhile, the contrast between Richardson and other active coaches hasn’t gone unnoticed in college basketball.

“I am very happy for my friends, Will Wade and Sean Miller,” ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla said on social media recently. “Not being sarcastic. But I’ve had discussions with the NCAA about Book Richardson & it’s really time to free this man. His penalty is very, very, very unfair”

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Those caught in college basketball 2017 FBI probe enjoying March Madness

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown considered his performance in Monday night’s 112-102 loss to the Atlanta Hawks substandard at best.

“That was probably one of my worst games of the season, in my opinion,” Brown told reporters, per CLNS Media.

Brown rejoined the Celtics after sitting out two straight games with left Achilles tendinitis. He watched teammates officially secure Boston’s playoff berth against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night from the bench, then returned to action. Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum sat with right Achilles injury management on the second night of a back-to-back, giving Brown the floor.

But Brown struggled, missing each of his first four shot attempts in Atlanta.

“I missed a lot of easy shots, but it was a very physical game,” Brown said. “Playoff-like atmosphere and I didn’t think we adjusted quick enough. They came to play. The refs let a lot of stuff go and we didn’t adjust to the physicality. So, a good game to learn from.”

It was the first time all season Brown had missed consecutive games, and the rust became increasingly difficult to shake off throughout the night. Brown made only nine of 29 field goal attempts, going 8-for-14 from the free-throw line en route to a 29-point performance he wasn’t satisfied with. Even with 10 rebounds and nine assists nearly pushing him to a triple-double, Brown felt he didn’t play up to standard, and the Celtics suffered as a result of it.

In the third quarter, with 9:21 remaining, Brown missed a right-handed layup that would’ve broken a 60-60 tie for the Celtics. Nearly two minutes later, he missed a pull-up 3-pointer to cut the deficit to two points. In the fourth quarter, after the Celtics fought back to cut into a 21-point Hawks advantage, Brown missed another layup that would’ve made it a 10-point game with 4:06 left to play.

No matter where Brown turned, he couldn’t find offensive success. He shot 3-of-9 from three, missed six layups, and committed a game-leading six turnovers, logging a minus-5 rating.

Brown’s frustration over failing to deliver reminded him where to turn when things aren’t going his way.

“Mindset,” Brown said. “You know, you can’t throw in the towel. If you’re not feeling up to your best, still gotta do what you need to do. Sometimes you just gotta work your way through it — rely on your teammates. But if you’re getting good shots and good looks, you just gotta trust that, and keep playing aggressive basketball.”

Rather than a scheduled loss, the Celtics failed to capitalize on several opportunities to break ahead. The final 12 minutes were a valiant effort, ending in an underwhelming finish, not because the Hawks played exceptionally, but because Boston repeatedly fumbled its chances. Brown couldn’t come through with the momentum-shifting plays needed to bail the Celtics out in the crucial final minutes of regulation.

In the end, Brown’s 31 percent shooting output was his worst since Jan. 5 against the Chicago Bulls (25 percent).

“This game was on me,” Brown confessed. “I got to be better. Probably one of my worst performances in a while, and that cost us the game.”

With seven games left in the regular season, Brown clarified that his left Achilles tendinitis, sustained during last week’s win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, wasn’t a concern. Although some of his misses were “uncharacteristic,” as he put it, the injury didn’t affect his overall comfort and ability to perform in Atlanta.

“I felt OK. I felt fine,” Brown said. “I had a couple of plays where I took some hard falls, but overall I felt fine.”

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cavaliers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The finish line is in sight. Only seven games are remaining for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season. As we enter the home stretch, let’s use this opportunity to poll the fan base on how confident they are in the season being extended.

We have one question for this week. Where will the Cavs season end? First round, second round, conference finals, runner-ups, or NBA champs?

Obviously, there are many factors at play. Health is maybe the biggest determining factor. But seeding and opponent will influence how far this team can go, as well. For example, you probably feel better about playing the Detroit Pistons than you do the Boston Celtics.

As of typing, Cleveland is in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. It feels fairly safe to assume they’ll finish the season there, though it’s still possible they could move up or down. Homecourt advantage would be a nice thing to secure.

I’d consider the Cavs somewhat of a wild-card contender. Could they make it to the NBA Finals and potentially even win, depending on the matchup? I believe so. But if you told me the Cavs flamed out and were upset in the first or second round, I hate to say I wouldn’t be overly surprised.

I lean more towards a deep playoff run. This team is too talented to fall short again. If healthy, the Cavs are the second-best team in the East, by my estimation. Cleveland has the fourth-best odds of winning the title according to FanDuel.

But we want to hear your opinion. How far does this team go?