Category: Basketball

HOUSTON (AP) — Mike Trout homered to launch what he hopes will be a bounce-back year, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a season-opening 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Thursday.

Trout also walked three times and played center field for the first time since April 2024. The three-time MVP played 130 games last season, his most since 2019 because of various injuries.

Making his franchise-record 14th opening day start, the 34-year-old Trout broke a scoreless tie in the seventh inning when he sent a 96 mph fastball from reliever AJ Blubaugh (0-1) 403 feet onto the train tracks in left-center. It was his fifth opening day homer, also a club record.

The Angels snapped an eight-game road losing streak in season openers, starting 1-0 on the road for the first time since 2013.

Oswald Peraza hit an RBI single in the eighth and Nolan Schanuel homered in the ninth.

José Soriano (1-0) allowed two hits and four walks in six innings while striking out seven. Four relievers completed the three-hitter, with Jordan Romano working the ninth to earn the save in his Angels debut.

Hunter Brown started for Houston and allowed four hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out nine.

The Astros went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position while stranding nine runners.

Houston designated hitter Yordan Alvarez may have been robbed of a home run in the first inning because the retractable roof at Daikin Park was closed. Alvarez hit a towering shot toward the right field foul pole, but it ricocheted off a horizontal rafter and landed in foul territory.

It was ruled a foul ball. The Astros challenged, and the call was upheld after a review. Alvarez later struck out swinging.

Up next

The teams resume the four-game series on Friday, with lefty Yusei Kikuchi starting for Los Angeles opposite right-hander Mike Burrows.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

The NBA tanking picture will come into clearer view each day between now and the end of the regular season on April 12. In the meantime, we will provide detailed daily updates on the landscape, lotto odds, remaining schedules and the stakes for every day's slate of games. We also break down the league’s playoff races each day.

1. Indiana Pacers

Record: 16-57 | Streak: L-1

• Current odds for No. 1 pick: 14%

• Remaining schedule: LAC, MIA, @CHI, @CHA, @CLE, MIN, @BKN, PHI, DET

What’s at stake: Clinching one of the three-worst records in the NBA to ensure the highest odds at the No. 1 pick. Due to the Ivica Zubac trade with the Clippers, if the Pacers’ pick lands between the 5-9 spots on lotto night, it will go to L.A.

2. Brooklyn Nets

Record: 17-56 | Streak: L-9

• Current odds for No. 1 pick: 14%

• Remaining schedule: @LAL, SAC, CHA, ATL, WAS, MIL, IND, @MIL, @TOR

What’s at stake: Clinching one of the three-worst records in the NBA to ensure the highest odds at the No. 1 pick.

3. Washington Wizards

Record: 17-55 | Streak: W-1

• Current odds for No. 1 pick: 14%

• Remaining schedule: @GS, @POR, @LAL, PHI, @MIA, @BKN, CHI, CHI, @CLE

What’s at stake: Clinching one of the three-worst records in the NBA to ensure the highest odds at the No. 1 pick. If the Wizards’ pick falls out of the top-8, it will go to the New York Knicks.

4. Sacramento Kings

Record: 19-55 | Streak: L-2

• Current odds for No. 1 pick: 12.5%

• Remaining schedule: @ATL, @BKN, @TOR, NOP, LAC, @GSW, GSW, @POR

What’s at stake: Clinching one of the three-worst records in the NBA to ensure the highest odds at the No. 1 pick.

5. Utah Jazz

Record: 21-52 | Streak: L-3

• Current odds for No. 1 pick: 10.5%

• Remaining schedule: @DEN, @PHX, CLE, DEN, @HOU, @OKC, @NOP, MEM, @LAL

What’s at stake: Clinching one of the three-worst records in the NBA to ensure the highest odds at the No. 1 pick. If the Jazz’s pick falls outside of the top-8, it will go to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

6. Dallas Mavericks

Record: 23-50 | Streak: L-5

• Current odds for No. 1 pick: 9%

• Remaining schedule: @POR, MIN, MIL, ORL, LAL, @LAC, @PHX, SAS, @CHI

What’s at stake: Clinching one of the three-worst records in the NBA to ensure the best odds at the No. 1 pick. The Mavs don’t control their future first-rounders from 2027-2030.

7. Memphis Grizzlies

Record: 24-48 | Streak: L-4

• Current odds for No. 1 pick: 7.5%

• Remaining schedule: HOU, CHI, PHX, NYK, TPR, @MIL, CHI, @DEN, @UTH, @HOU

What’s at stake: Clinching one of the three-worst records in the NBA to ensure the best odds at the No. 1 pick.

8. New Orleans Pelicans

Record: 25-49 | Streak: L-3

• Current odds for No. 1 pick: 6%

• Remaining schedule: @TOR, HOU, @POR, @SAC, ORL, UTH, @BOS, @MIN

What’s at stake: The Pelicans have no incentive to lose; they owe their unprotected first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks.

T-9. Milwaukee Bucks

Record: 29-43 | Streak: L-2

• Current odds for No. 1 pick: 3.8%

• Remaining schedule: SAS, LAC, DAL, @HOU, BOS, MEM, @BKN, @DET, BKN, @PHI

What’s at stake: Moving “above” the Pelicans for better lottery odds.

T-9. Chicago Bulls

Record: 29-43 | Streak: L-1

• Current odds for No. 1 pick: 3.7%

• Remaining schedule: LAC, MIA, @CHI, @CHA, @CLE, MIN, @BKN, PHI, DET

11. Golden State Warriors

Record: 35-38 | Streak: W-2

• Current odds for No. 1 pick: 2%

• Remaining schedule: WAS, @DEN, SAS, CLE, HOU, SAC, LAL, @SAC, @LAC

What’s at stake: The Warriors are currently in the play-in tournament.

12. Portland Trail Blazers

Record: 37-37 | Streak: W-2

• Current odds for No. 1 pick: 1.5%

• Remaining schedule: DAL, WAS, @LAC, NOP, @DEN, @SAS, LAC, SAC

What’s at stake: The Trail Blazers are currently in the play-in tournament.

T-13. Miami Heat

Record: 39-34 | Streak: W-1

• Current odds for No. 1 pick: 0.8%

• Remaining schedule: @CLE, @IND, PHI, BOS, WAS, @TOR, @TOR, @WAS, ATL

What’s at stake: The Heat are currently in the play-in tournament.

T-13. Charlotte Hornets

Record: 38-34 | Streak: W-5

• Current odds for No. 1 pick: 0.7%

• Remaining schedule: PHI, BOS, @BKN, PHX, IND, @MIN, @BOS, DET, @NYK

What’s at stake: The Hornets are currently in the play-in tournament.

Thursday’s games of consequence

Friday’s games of consequence

---

For those of you who do not know who Jaden Shackelford is, you probably have not spent much time tracking the G League or keeping tabs on the Valley Suns. And there is a good chance SEC hoops has not been part of your regular viewing diet. But Shackelford has been putting in work. In four seasons down in the G League, two with the Valley Suns, he’s seen steady production, steady growth, and numbers that keep stacking.

After three years with the Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball team, he went undrafted in 2022, which says more about how crowded the pipeline can be than it does about his ability. That Alabama team in 2021 went 26–7 and made a run to the Sweet 16 before running into the UCLA Bruins, and Shackelford was the leading scorer as a sophomore. Not a small detail when you consider the talent around him. Names like Herb Jones and Joshua Primo were on that roster, along with Keon Ellis and Alex Reese, and Shackelford still carried the scoring load.

Since then, he has bounced between opportunities with the Oklahoma City Thunder system and the Suns organization, carving out a role in the G League as a reliable offensive weapon. The 6’3” guard out of Hesperia, California, has had his best season yet down in Tempe. He logged 35.1 minutes per game, putting up 22.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, all while posting 43/38/80 splits. He is a score-first guard. That is his identity, that is his lane, and he leans into it.

And on Wednesday night, in the regular season finale against the Mexico City Capitanes, the only G League team without an NBA affiliate, he put that skill set on full display.

On Collin Gillespie bobblehead night, Jaden Shackelford turned the building into his own personal stage. Earlier in the week, he logged the first triple-double of his G League career. Then on Wednesday, he hit, and everything opened up. Inside Mullett Arena, the crowd got a show.

Jaden Shackelford WAS IN HIS BAG 💰 He finished the night as the @gleaguesuns new franchise all-time leading scorer with a new career-high 54 PTS from 16 FGM and shot 50% from deep‼️ pic.twitter.com/rbaUz71jaz

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) March 26, 2026

In the 114–94 win over the Mexico City Capitanes, Shackelford went for 54 points, 16-of-26 from the field, 5-of-10 from deep, 12-of-14 from the line, with 8 rebounds and 3 assists layered on top. Efficient, aggressive, in rhythm, the kind of night where every touch feels like it is headed in.

And with that, he became the Valley Suns all time leading scorer.

THE VALLEY SUNS ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER 🙌

Congratulations Jaden Shackelford on becoming the franchise's all-time leading scorer tonight with 54 points on the board!#TheRiseStartsHerepic.twitter.com/iXgYJBhNJB

— Valley Suns (@GLeagueSuns) March 26, 2026

He has not cracked the NBA level yet, but a 54-point night has a way of turning heads. It forces people to look twice, to check the numbers, to ask the question of what comes next. It was a fitting way to close the second full season for the Valley Suns. For a team that finished 11–25, second-worst in the Western Conference in the G League and will not see the postseason, it was a bright spot.

I’m really feeling the grind of the end of this season. It’s already hard enough as it feels like biding time waiting for news on when Cade Cunningham will return to the lineup from the collapsed lung. Then you look at the schedule, and you see the New Orleans Pelicans are on it. That is not a huge motivator for me to want to sit down and invest three hours into a regular season game with likely zero impact on standings and seeding. To be clear, the Detroit Pistons could completely embarrass themselves and give an obviously winnable game away. You could even make the case that the Pelicans are on quite an extended respectability streak. They are 10-6 in their last 16 games, including wins against the Raptors and two wins against the Clippers. That’s not nothing! For the Pistons, Marcus Sasser is back in action, and Caris LeVert is once again out. LeVert was being forced into ball-handling far above his station, and hopefully Sasser can at least fill that role in a more responsible manner. More importantly, Duncan Robinson is also out tonight. Also known as Detroit’s one reliable 3-point shooter. Kevin Huerter is starting in his place. Lastly, remember, the Pistons are an NBA-best 10-2 on the end of a back-to-back this season.

Game Vitals

When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena
Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -5

Projected Lineups

Detroit Pistons (52-20)

Daniss Jenkins, Ausar Thompson, Kevin Huerter, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

New Orleans Pelicans (25-48)

Dejounte Murray, Saddiq Bey, Herbert Jones, Zion Williamson, DeAndre Jordan

One of the top assistant coaches in men’s college basketball will now get the chance to lead a program of his own.

Connecticut assistant Luke Murray has been hired as the new head coach at Boston College, the university announced on Thursday, March 26.

Murray is the son of actor Bill Murray, who has regularly been spotted sitting behind the bench at games for much of his son’s coaching career.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness Sweet 16 games ranked as men's NCAA Tournament nears Final Four

The 40-year-old Murray is in his fifth season with the Huskies, a run that included national championships in 2023 and 2024. Murray has been widely praised for his abilities as an offensive tactician. In 2023, UConn finished third nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom, and finished first the following season while successfully defending its national title.

"Today marks a turning point in Boston College Men's Basketball," Boston College athletic director Blake James said in a statement. "In Luke Murray, we have found a leader who does not just understand the modern landscape of college basketball - he has helped define it. His role in building a national championship caliber program, his sophisticated offensive vision, and his relentless pursuit of excellence make him the perfect fit to lead our student-athletes. We are thrilled to welcome Luke, his wife, Kara, and their family to the BC community."

The Huskies will continue their push for a third championship in the past four seasons with a matchup against Michigan State in the Sweet 16 on Friday, March 27. Murray will remain with UConn through the NCAA tournament.

Murray had previously worked alongside UConn coach Dan Hurley at Rhode Island from 2013-15 and at Wagner from 2010-11. He was also an assistant at Louisville from 2018-21 and Xavier from 2015-18, serving under Chris Mack at both stops.

He’ll take over a Boston College program that has largely struggled since Al Skinner was fired after the 2009-10 season. Over the past 15 seasons, the Eagles have gone 184-290 overall and 73-200 in ACC play while regularly playing in front of some of the smallest home crowds at the power-conference level. During that 15-year stretch, they’ve finished with a winning record twice and have never won more than 20 games.

Murray will replace Earl Grant, who went 72-92 in five seasons, including an 11-20 mark last season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Boston College hires UConn assistant Luke Murray, son of Bill Murray, as head coach

PHOENIX (AP) — Lydia Ko opened with four straight birdies and never stopping rolling Thursday until she closed out the best round of her LPGA Tour career with two more birdies for a 12-under 60 on a day of extreme low scoring in the Ford Championship.

Defending champion Hyo Joo Kim had a 61, making it the first time since the 2003 Kellogg-Keebler Classic two players were double digits under par in the opening round.

“I don't think I've ever actually started a round with four birdies, so it was nice to take advantage of the good start and continue that on my back nine,” Ko said. “I think like as every golfer, when things go well you also think about the things that could go terribly wrong. I feel like I stayed patient and was rolling it really well.”

A moderate start to her 13th season came to life on the Cattail course at Whirlwind Golf Club when the 28-year-old Ko got into a rhythm after a rare putter change and started piling up the birdies.

She said the idea of 59 — Annika Sorenstam has the only sub-60 round in LPGA history, 25 years ago on a different course in Phoenix — entered her thinking when she birdied her 14th and 15th holes of the round after starting on No. 10.

But she didn't hit a 7-foot birdie putt firmly enough on the par-5 seventh. Ko finished with two more birdies for her career low round.

“That would have been nice to hole that one,” Ko said. “But who knows? Maybe if I holed that one I might not have holed the other two. You can't think about ‘what if?’ Birdied some other ones that I didn't expect, so kind of just evens out in that sense.”

It was the ninth round of 60 or lower on the LPGA, the most recent by Lucy Li at Pinnacle Country Cub in Arkansas in 2024.

Kim also started on No. 10 and shot 28 on the front nine, finishing birdie-eagle-birdie, including a hole-out from the fairway on the par-4 eighth hole.

Nelly Korda, who opened the year with a 54-hole win in Florida and was runner-up last week in California, holed out from the 18th fairway for eagle in the middle of her round and shot 63, one of her career best. She was three shots behind.

They all played in the morning and no one caught them in the afternoon, when temperatures were pushing 100 degrees (38 Celsius). Frida Kinhult of Sweden had a 64, the low score of the afternoon. Jeeno Thitikul, the No. 1 player in women's golf, opened with a 69.

The big surprise for Ko was not so much her score but the equipment she uses. The Kiwi rarely tinkers with her putter but decided to switch to a different model earlier this week.

“It’s been a while since I have tried a different model,” Ko said of her Scotty Cameron 12 she used at Whirlwind. “It just rolled good. Went in the bag on Tuesday. ... This has only been one round but it’s a good start. You know, really couldn’t have been any better.”

Ko was among six players from the morning wave who shot 65 or better. The course must not have seemed all that easy to Lexi Thompson, who plays a limited schedule and made her 2026 debut with a 75 that left her 15 shots behind.

___

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

The Knicks (48*-25) face the Hornets (38-34) tonight at the Spectrum Center in North Carolina. A win would help New York keep pace in the tight Eastern Conference playoff race. The Hornets are hot, however, ranking the top third for offense and three-point accuracy. Expect a shootout in Charlotte.

Tip-off is 7 pm EST on MSG Network. This is your game thread. This is At the Hive. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be cool, but not cold; chill, but not chilly. And go Knicks!

* Should be one more, but NBA Cups are for dribbling, not drinking.

The Sweet 16 continues tonight, and the much-anticipated East Region joins the party with Duke vs. St. John's and Michigan State vs. UConn.

So far of the four teams in the Elite Eight, three are from the Big Ten, and two more have a chance tonight with Michigan (vs. Alabama) and Michigan State.

The big news today is the return of point guard Caleb Foster for Duke, though he's not starting. Will Iowa State get its injured star, Joshua Jefferson, back for tonight's game against Tennessee?

A story of unbreakable resolve: Inside Ben McCollum's 'insane' Iowa ride to Elite 8

More: Rick Barnes isn't on any UNC wish list. He doesn't need to be with NIL

After upsetting the defending champs in Round 2, Iowa knocked off its neighbors Nebraska to reach their first Elite Eight in 39 years.

Texas looked to have another upset on its mind, but a last-second putback by Trey Kaufman-Renn sends No. 2 Purdue to the Elite Eight.

And Illinois overcame Houston's home-cooking, to win 65-55.

Arizona looked every bit a No. 1 seed in its demolition of Arkansas.

We having fun yet? And there's four more games tonight!

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

'I had nothing to lose.' Jordan Pope played 33 minutes on broken foot in Sweet 16

We will provide live updates, analysis from our team of reporters on-site in Chicago and Washington D.C. on Friday:

HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATES.

Michigan vs Alabama live score

Michigan 75, Alabama 64, 8:00 2H

A familiar connection for the Wolverines 🔗

Cadeau 👉 Mara#MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/JBifmCEm09

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 28, 2026

Follow along with our game live blog.

Duke vs St John's score

Duke 80, St John's 75, final

Cam Boozer fighting for the bucket 💪#MarchMadness@DukeMBBpic.twitter.com/6tF5eb6kEH

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 28, 2026

Sweet 16 scores, schedule: What time do March Madness games start?

All times Eastern.

FRIDAY, MARCH 27

• No. 1 Duke 80, No. 5 St. John's 75
• 7:35 p.m.: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama (Midwest), TBS/truTV (Sling TV)
• 9:55 p.m.: No. 2 UConn vs. No. 3 Michigan State (East), CBS (Fubo)
• 10:20 p.m.: No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 6 Tennessee (Midwest), TBS/truTV (Sling TV)

THURSDAY, MARCH 26

• No. 2 Purdue 79, No. 11 Texas 77
• No. 9 Iowa 77, No. 4 Nebraska 71
• No. 1 Arizona 109, No. 4 Arkansas 88
• No. 3 Illinois 65, No. 2 Houston 55

Who is in Elite 8? Elite 8 game times, updated schedule

• No. 1 Duke (East)
• No. 1 Arizona (West)
• No. 2 Purdue (West)
• No. 3 Illinois (South)
• No. 9 Iowa (South)

This section will be updated.

Saturday, March 28

• 6:09 p.m.: No. 9 Iowa vs. No. 2 Illinois (TBS/truTV)
• 8:49 p.m.: No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 1 Arizona (TBS/truTV)

Sunday, March 29

• 2:15 p.m.: Tennessee/Iowa State winner vs. Michigan/Alabama winner (CBS)
• 5:05 p.m.: No. 1 Duke vs. UConn/Michigan State winner (CBS)

Purdue vs Texas highlights

Purdue 79, Texas 77, final score

Nebraska vs Iowa highlights

Iowa 77, Nebraska 71, final score

Houston vs Illinois highlights

Illinois 65, Houston 55, final score

Arkansas vs Arizona highlights

Arizona 109, Arkansas 88, final score

Sweet 16 predictions: How will advance to Elite 8?

∎ USA TODAY Sports staff made their picks. Check them out here.

∎ How'd we do in our original predictions? We grade our selections.

Who will advance to Final Four?

Some of us have revised our Final Four predictions after Florida's loss to Iowa busted our brackets.

Sweet 16 injury updates

The 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament is down to 16 teams and the injury report remains an important part of sifting through the remaining games in the bracket. Nearly one-third of the teams to qualify for the Sweet 16 are dealing with a significant player hobbled by injury, including No. 1 overall seed Duke.

∎ Here's a look at the Sweet 16's most important injuries (and replacements) that could shape March Madness.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sweet 16 scores, live updates, schedule, how to watch March Madness

Alvaro Folgueiras' shot busted brackets across the nation. But for the Iowa Hawkeyes forward from Spain, his only worry after upsetting No. 1 Florida was seeing his mom.

Moments after No. 9 Iowa defeated No. 1 seed Florida 74-72 thanks to Folgueirias' ice-cold corner 3 in the final seconds of the game, he ran over to his mother and shared a long, emotional embrace.

"Well, we didn't say much," he said after the game. "She told me 'I love you' 100 times. I said 'I love you' 100 times back. It's super special having my mom here. She's everything for me. Where the world would be without the moms. She's super tough. She's been through a lot of things in life."

REQUIRED READING: Florida basketball stunned by Iowa in March Madness Round 2 upset

IOWA TAKES THE LEAD LATE! pic.twitter.com/SkTT5OP2w9

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 23, 2026

The first-year transfer from Robert Morris has played a crucial role for the Hawkeyes in the NCAA Tournament, despite coming off the bench. The 6-foot-10 wing has 14 points in Iowa's March Madness wins over No. 8 Clemson and Florida, despite scoring fewer than 10 points in each of his final five games entering the bracket.

He scored seven points with three rebounds in Iowa's win over Nebraska during the regular season, and he'll look to continue his stretch at the NCAA Tournament. Here's what to know of Folgueiras ahead of the Sweet 16 matchup:

REQUIRED READING: Don't cry for Cinderella. Nebraska, John Calipari, Duke can save March Madness

Alvaro Folgueiras hugs mom after Florida win

Folgueiras' mom hadn't seen him play a college game since his freshman season at Robert Morris, when he didn't have a substantial role.

He hit a game-winning 3-pointer in the first college game she had watched him play in over two years, and it led to a special moment between the duo after the game, which went viral after it was captured on the CBS broadcast.

Iowa's Alvaro Folgueiras who hit the game-winner to knock off Florida, shared a moment with his mom after the victory ❤️ pic.twitter.com/IYtDfYyUiF

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 23, 2026

Folgueiras hadn't seen his mom since August, and he talked to her for a brief 20 minutes before the game in the hotel, which he said gave him a little extra motivation for the game. It definitely worked.

"She saw me with the national team this summer, but in college basketball, she came to one game when I was a freshman, and I didn't play much.

"Coming back after two years and seeing where I am right now and how much I worked to be where I am right now, for her it's a great feeling. Because she's sent a 16-year-old kid to America without knowing any English, with us only, without anything but dreams and hunger. And this one is for her and my dad. He's watching up there."

Folgueiras' heartfelt moment with his mom — after nailing the biggest shot of his life — is what March Madness is all about.

"Sometimes when I struggle through basketball, and basketball is life, I think of my mom as an example of resilience, and that really inspires me and gives me confidence," Folgueiras said. "Because she's not just a fighter, she's a super special person. I'm so lucky to have her as a mom."

REQUIRED READING: Nebraska's Sweet 16 rise seeded by Hoiberg twins' basement battles, 5-year-old fistfight

How Alvaro Folgueiras honors his dad

Folgueiras points up at the sky after every 3-pointer he makes in honor of his dad, who died when he was 9 years old. He pointed at the sky after hitting his eventual game-winner against Florida, although he waited for the Gators' timeout after running back on defense.

Folgueiras expressed what his family means to him after the game, and mentioned his mom being a rock throughout his childhood without his dad.

"He left us with my mom and my brother in my house," he said. "It was kind of hard. We didn't really feel it as much because my mom always made sure that we didn't need anything, absolutely nothing. So, I cannot say that I grew up in an environment where I needed some things. No, that's not the truth.

"Sometimes I can say that because I feel his absence. I was just going in the court and playing to get away of my house to be with something else. But I can say that I had a happy childhood. Something that we all said, and everyone has these kinds of things on their life.

"It's that we are not victims. I never let things like that make me a victim. Not to me and not to my brother, not to my mom. We are like that because my mom was showing out every single day. Yeah."

Where is Alvaro Folgueiras from?

Folgueiras is from Malaga, Spain. He moved to the United States when he was 16 years old to seek out a basketball career. He attended high school at DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Alvaro Folgueiras stats

Here are Folgueiras' year-by-year per-game averages in college:

• 2023-24 (Robert Morris): 5.3 points with 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game
• 2024-25 (Robert Morris): 14.1 points with 9.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game
• 2025-26 (Iowa): 8.5 points with 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why does Alvaro Folgueiras point to sky after 3-pointers? Iowa F honoring dad

Earlier this week, we asked Cleveland Cavaliers fans if they would be in favor of trading Evan Mobley for Giannis Antetokounmpo after it was reported last Friday that Mobley was the type of player the Milwaukee Bucks would want in return for a possible Giannis deal.

The comment section for the survey prompt was pretty contentious. It isn’t surprising that the survey results were split pretty evenly, with the majority just barely deciding that they would trade Mobley for Giannis.

It’s easy to see why the vote was so split.

Even though Antetokounmpo is the better player, there are real concerns about trading for him. For starters, he’s going to be 32 next postseason and has had issues with finishing seasons the last few years due to health. Additionally, there’s uncertainty about his contract with next season effectively being the final year of his deal. And, there’s no guarantee Giannis’s game would fit perfectly alongside Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.

However, it’s also tough to pass up on someone who is still playing at an MVP-caliber level when he is on the court. Even if you’re a strong believer in Mobley’s upside, it’s unlikely that he ever reaches Antetokounmpo’s current skill level.

Whether or not the Cavs entertain this possibility will likely depend on how the postseason goes. If they flame out early in the playoffs again, it’s easy to envision a scenario in which they aggressively look to upgrade this current group. After all, they did just trade Darius Garland for a 36-year old. Conversely, if things go well in the playoffs, you can easily see them trying to run things back with this core.

As it stands, the Cavs still have a good chance of making noise in the postseason. FanDuel Sportsbook currently gives the Cavs the second-best odds to win the Eastern Conference at +280 behind only the Boston Celtics (+180). The Cavs are tied with the Denver Nuggets for the fourth-best odds to win the title at +1000.

Victor Wembanyama is the league’s top shot-blocker, and it’s not close between him and the next guys, Jay Huff (1.9) and Chet Holmgren (1.9). Wembanyama possesses physical gifts that the gods of Olympus would envy, and he is far from his final form. Yet he has a new standard to chase: Wilt Chamberlain in his final season. 

The NBA didn’t start counting blocks and steals until 1973-74, the first season Chamberlain had retired, but now, Basketball Reference has added his block numbers for his last year. At age 36, Goliath played in all 82 games, averaging 5.4 rejections. With these numbers added, it now claims the second-highest average in NBA history (5.4) behind Mark Eaton. 

Keep in mind that Chamberlain’s prowess was so legendary that you can find old news clippings of him after blocking shots in the teens or up to the 20s. Specifically, once when he blocked 16 shots, the LA Times scribe Mal Florence described his dominance as “sort of frightening- a real life Gulliver venting his rage on the little folks who played the game.”

He changed his game later in his career with the Los Angeles Lakers to be more of a defender and rebounder. Eaton was never much of a scorer, yet he was a towering figure at 7’4 and about 275 pounds; his weakness was mostly being effective as a low man.   

Naturally, Wemby is much closer to Chamberlain than Eaton. If he wants to set a gold standard so he never loses motivation, he will always have Chamberlain’s records to chase. Yet it begs the question of how close could Wemby get to the old Dipper’s ‘73 block numbers and Eaton’s all-time record? 

With all due respect to Chamberlain and Eaton, Wembanyama can top them.

First, think about how his defensive timing has made him sharper at guarding two players at once, and how he is the premier inside presence in the NBA. Notably, his 3.0 blocks per game are the lowest of his career after his rookie (3.6) and second year (3.8), but this is more about becoming a smarter defender, ensuring he doesn’t give up rebounding position, and he’s avoided like a cornerback who doesn’t get much action on his side of the field. 

Thank goodness Chamberlain tapes exist, but the public doesn’t have access to nearly as many as they should, like how they would if they wanted to watch the careers of LeBron James, Stephen Curry or even what we have of Wemby now. However, modern times present an endless highlight reel that lives online, and it’s inescapable. One thing to consider was that many games were not recorded back in the day, so who knows how many of Chamberlain‘s victims were spared from embarrassment?

Aside from the intimidation factor of Wembanyama’s blocks, perhaps the easily accessible tapes/highlights are a reason he isn’t getting challenged more because opponents don’t want the evidence to linger for eternity. He’s adjusted with his snake-eyes technique to fool ball handlers by coming in as a helper, but that’s probably on the scouting report now, so he’ll have to take matters into his own hands further.

Still, there are nights when Wembanyama has brought a little extra to the matchup, like the 16 times this season he’s finished between five and nine blocks. He should do it more often because 1. it would boost his MVP case, and 2. the San Antonio Spurs are almost unbeatable with a 15-1 record on those nights. 

He’s developed the habit over the last month of taking a step back on offense while his teammates get theirs since he knows he can go beast mode at any time. Hypothetically, if he cut down on his scoring like Chamberlain, he’d have more juice in his legs and could surpass Eaton’s highest block total/average in NBA history comfortably. He may not even need to do that in his prime; one noticeable improvement he’s made since his rookie year is becoming laterally faster, making him better on the perimeter. 

To Wembanyama’s credit, he does a good job of keeping blocks in bounds and recovering them to get transition started. If he raised his block numbers it would make the Spurs faster on offense (currently fifth in tension frequency), and that’s something the fans would appreciate. Basketball’s beauty is mostly seen in the open court, and who doesn’t want to see more of the team’s high-level athletes on the runway?

Catching Chamberlain and Eaton is impossible this season, but he takes a significant leap going into each new one. So it would be a huge shocker if he hasn’t surpassed their marks in five years.

The race for NBA Most Valuable Player is down to the final 10 or so games of the season.

And it’s all but certain that the winner of the award will once again be an internationally-born player, which would mark eight consecutive seasons. The league's 65-game eligibility rule for postseason awards came into focus once more after Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham’s collapsed lung injury forced him to miss extended time.

The National Basketball Players Association came out in defense of Cunningham and blasted the rule as a mechanism that was keeping elite players from consideration of these individual honors, which can have real impacts on future earnings; supermax deals are often tied to performance triggers.

Either way, here's the latest iteration of the USA TODAY Sports NBA MVP rankings:

5. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Even though Jayson Tatum made his return, his production is nowhere near previous levels as the Celtics continue to ease him back. That has maintained the pressure on Brown to carry Boston, and he has done just that. His 31 points in a 10-point victory March 25 over the defending-champion Thunder are a perfect indicator of the impact Brown has on his team. Over his last five, he’s averaging 32.6 points per game.

4. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

Still averaging a triple-double (27.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, 10.8 assists per game), Jokić is having a monster year, though he can miss no more than one game the rest of the way to preserve his eligibility for individual awards. More importantly, the Nuggets have won seven of their last nine games and are hitting a stride as they push for seeding considerations in the Western Conference. Jokić is the catalyst that is sparking Denver’s recent stretch of success.

3. Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers

His scoring prowess is unmatched in the NBA right now. His 60-point explosion March 19 against the Heat will draw the most attention, but he has been averaging 40.6 points per game over his last eight. More importantly, the Lakers have been stellar as of late and have toppled some top teams in the process. Defense continues to be the big knock on Dončić, but he has settled completely in Los Angeles as his takeover of the franchise continues.

2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Since the start of February, no team has been hotter than the Spurs. Not surprisingly, it’s Wembanyama who has been carrying San Antonio. He may be the most impactful player in recent history — on both ends of the floor — and, the scary thing for the rest of the league, is that he’s only improving. This has been the most efficient and effective stretch of Wembanyama’s career, and he’s also playing with more confidence and swagger. Look no further than his poster dunk March 25 over Grizzlies forward GG Jackson. Wembanyama has been tremendous, but the gap to make up may simply be too large.

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

It appeared, a few weeks ago, that Gilgeous-Alexander had this award all but won. Though the margin may not be as robust, that still seems likely. Some fans may not favor the way Gilgeous-Alexander plays, but his consistency is tough to overcome. Even as Jalen Williams has returned for the Thunder, it’s clear this is Gilgeous-Alexander's operation and his 31.5 points per game rank second only to Dončić’s total. Gilgeous-Alexander would join Nikola Jokić (2021-22) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (2019-20) as the only players to repeat as MVP in the last decade.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NBA MVP race narrows as Cade Cunningham slips out

CHICAGO, IL. — Yaxel Lendeborg will have a little extra motivation against Alabama in the Sweet 16.

Lendeborg played for the University of Alabama-Birmingham for two years in 2023-24 and 2024-25 before entering the NCAA Transfer Portal at the conclusion of last season. When he entered, he had hoped to stay in-state to play for Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide.

Eventually, he settled on Michigan.

REQUIRED READING: Don't cry for Cinderella. Nebraska, John Calipari, Duke can save March Madness

"When I entered the transfer portal out of UAB, I was hoping to get recruited by Alabama. And when I didn't, it kind of hurt me a little bit. Not in a way that I can say 'I hate them.' It just bothered me a little."

Unfortunately for Lendeborg (or fortunately, depending on whether you root for Michigan or Alabama), the call from Alabama never came, so he eventually picked Dusty May and the Wolverines. Now the two programs will square off on Friday, March 26, in the Sweet 16 from the United Center.

UAB's Bartow Arena is about 57 miles from Alabama's Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Lendeborg added that he is excited for Alabama and considers it a second home.

"There's going to be juice for sure," Lendeborg said of playing Alabama. "I know I'm going to try my best to be the best player on the floor tomorrow for sure. All it is extra motivation for sure, just not in the sense where I'm like, 'this is what you guys missed on,' but like you guys could have called at least, or something like that."

Oats refuted that the Crimson Tide "never" recruited Lendeborg, but he did admit that the team was not as aggressive in its pitch.

"We did make a call," Oats said. "It never got very deep. I think there were some programs that were in a little deeper with a lot more money at the time. It's one of those, you kind of call, see where the situation is at. Probably wasn't something we were going to be able to do, so we didn't spend a lot of time on it.

"... It wasn't a lack of thinking he wasn't a very good player. He was the best player in the portal."

Lendeborg averaged 17.7 points per game for the Blazers during the 2024-25 season, to go along with 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.7 steals per game. He's averaged 14.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 steals for the Wolverines in 2025-26.

May said he will not get in the way of Lendeborg's "revenge" game against Alabama.

"I think we've had several subplots this year and he seems to be performing well up to this point," May said. "So whatever irritates him, I'm going to ride with that and support him.

"Nate and I being friends, we talked through that process. And don't tell Yax, but they did try to recruit him."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Did Alabama recruit Yaxel Lendeborg in transfer portal? What he said ahead of Sweet 16

Tom Brady revealed in an interview released on Thursday that he considered coming out of retirement, but the National Football League wasn't particularly receptive to the idea.

Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion and minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, was asked in a recent interview with CNBC if he's looked into the rules regarding a minority owner returning to NFL play.

“I actually have inquired, and they (the NFL) don’t like that idea very much, so I’m going to leave it at that,” Brady said. “We explored a lot of different things, and I’m very happily retired. Let me say that, too.”

It wouldn't have been Brady's first time coming out of retirement. The three-time league MVP briefly retired during the 2022 offseason after two seasons with the Buccaneers. He had a change of heart 40 days later and went on to play for one more year before retiring “for good” in February 2023.

Brady recently turned heads in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, where he played alongside Jalen Hurts, Devonta Smith, Stefon Diggs and Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty. He also reunited on the field with his teammate of 11 seasons and four-time time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl