Here's how to follow all the action in the Elite Eight.
Why Draymond believes Spurs' Castle deserves Rookie of the Year
Why Draymond believes Spurs' Castle deserves Rookie of the Year originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Warriors icon Draymond Green has made his choice for the 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year.
In Friday’s edition of his “Draymond Green Show” podcast with co-host and ex-Golden State guard Baron Davis, the four-time champion explained why he believes San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle is worthy of the honor.
“I think he should,” Green told Davis about Castle deserving Rookie of the Year. “After we played them, I was saying, ‘I think that kid is going to be real.’ When I look at the rookie class, he’s been the most consistent player all year. I think everybody else has been up and down, he’s been extremely consistent.”
“Stephon Castle has had games that jump off the page. But I mean the whole body of work, there’s no rookie averaging 20 points; you haven’t seen that. His consistency all year is what makes him the Rookie of the Year.”
They say consistency is key.
Castle’s averages are solid across the board; over 71 games, he’s averaged 14.2 points, 3.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 26 minutes. He quietly has had 21 games of 20-plus points and two of 30-plus.
Just one day before Green’s podcast episode was released, Castle also became the first rookie to reach 1,000 points scored this season, after scoring 22 points in San Antonio’s 124-116 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Not too many rookies have caught Green’s eye. But Green believes Castle – who was selected No. 4 overall by the Spurs in the 2024 NBA Draft – will be an All-Star in the near future.
“You give this Rookie of the Year to Stephon Castle, you’re going to look back in two years like, ‘Well, he’s an All-Star. Guess we got it right,’” Green said. “So he’s got that potential, he will reach that potential. That’s the guy. He should be Rookie of the Year, 1,000 percent.”
Green has a basketball eye unlike any other. His bet surely is a safe one.
Duke and Alabama square off in Elite 8
Alabama Crimson Tide (28-8, 14-6 SEC) vs. Duke Blue Devils (34-3, 22-1 ACC) Newark, New Jersey; Saturday, 8:49 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blue Devils -6.5; over/under is 175.5 BOTTOM LINE: No. Duke squares off against No.
UCLA Bruins square off against the LSU Tigers in Elite 8
The Bruins' record in Big Ten play is 18-2, and their record is 15-0 in non-conference play. UCLA ranks fifth in college basketball with 38.7 rebounds led by Lauren Betts averaging 9.7. The Tigers' record in SEC action is 13-5.
Texas and Tennessee square off in the Sweet 16
Jewel Spear leads the team averaging 2.5 makes while shooting 38.5% from 3-point range. Texas scores 79.3 points, 9.1 more per game than the 70.2 Tennessee allows. Tennessee scores 31.7 more points per game (87.5) than Texas allows (55.8).
USC and Kansas State play in the Sweet 16
Kansas State Wildcats (28-7, 14-6 Big 12) vs. USC Trojans (30-3, 18-2 Big Ten) Spokane, Washington; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Trojans -2.5; over/under is 140.5 BOTTOM LINE: No. USC takes on No.
March Madness 2025: An unprecedented all-SEC Final Four is still alive as league backs up enormous hype
This year’s SEC has reason to crow after sending four teams to the Elite Eight, which puts it among the strongest conferences in college basketball history.
Auburn basketball feeds off crowd in Sweet 16 win over Michigan: A big reason why we won’
Auburn basketball fans were the vast majority of the crowd at State Farm Arena — and they let Michigan know it every time the Tigers made a play.
Houston’s Milos Uzan beats buzzer, Purdue on inbound play to send Cougars to Elite Eight
Houston men's basketball dialed up a last-second inbound play that gave Milos Uzan an easy basket vs. Purdue - and sent the Cougars to the Elite Eight
March Madness: Auburn rediscovering midseason form as world-beating bully
When this Tigers team is on, there’s not much that can switch them off.
Auburn’s Johni Broome looked lethal from tip vs Michgan. Now, Tigers are on to Elite Eight
Auburn star Johni Broome powered the Tigers to a win over Michigan in the Sweet 16, putting up 22 points and 16 rebounds.
Milos Uzan’s late bucket on inbound play sends Houston into Elite Eight with 62-60 win over Purdue
Milos Uzan soared for an uncontested layup on a beautifully executed inbound play with 0.9 seconds left, and No. 1 seed Houston survived a late collapse to beat fourth-seeded Purdue 62-60 on Friday night in the Sweet 16.
Houston moves on to Elite 8 after last-second shot against Purdue
Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz and former Big 12 player of the year Marcus Morris Sr. react to the Cougars 62-60 win over the Boilermakers in the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Top-seeded Auburn rallies in 2nd half, beats Michigan 78-65 in Sweet 16 of March Madness
Freshman Tahaad Pettiford and senior Denver Jones turned in dazzling performances when it mattered most, rallying top-seeded Auburn to a 78-65 victory over Michigan in the Sweet 16.
Top-seeded Auburn rallies in 2nd half to beat Michigan
The Tigers (31-5) wiped out a nine-point deficit in the second half, outscoring No. seed Michigan 39-17 over the final 12 1/2 minutes to advance to the Elite Eight for only the third time in school history. They also became the fourth Southeastern Conference team to reach a regional final, with the SEC joining the Atlantic Coast Conference (2016) and Big East (2009) as the only leagues to do that.