BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 03: Luis Campusano #12 of the San Diego Padres bats against the Boston Red Sox during the fifth inning of the home opener game at Fenway Park on April 03, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres have developed a disturbing trend after the first seven games of the 2026 season. In each of their five losses, the Padres have scored three runs or less. The three runs in a loss happened once. The other four losses were by two runs, which included the series opener against the Boston Red Sox Friday afternoon. It should come as no surprise that the San Diego offense flummoxed by Boston starter Sonny Gray for most of the day. The veteran right-hander, who joined the Red Sox following an offseason trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, allowed two runs on four hits over six innings. As bewildered as the lineup was facing Gray, it was worse against the Boston bullpen. Three relievers combined to pitch three scoreless innings without allowing a hit. There was one walk allowed, in the top of the ninth by closer Aroldis Chapman, and three combined strikeouts to hand the Padres a 5-2 loss to open their road trip.
Gavin Sheets was the lone bright spot in the San Diego lineup, finishing 2-for-3 with two singles, an RBI and a run scored. Miguel Andujar was gifted a triple when centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela misplayed a ball in center and Luis Campusano ended his hitless streak with an RBI-double off the Green Monster, which tied the game 2-2 in the top of the fifth inning. The top five in the lineup for San Diego (Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts, Jackson Merrill, Manny Machado and Ramon Laureano) combined to go 0-for-19 on the day with one walk.
Michael King did his part but got nothing to show for it – in fact, he took the loss. King allowed four runs on seven hits over 5.2 innings. The line reads worse than the outing appeared. After the Padres tied the game in the top of the fifth, King faced just three batters in the bottom half of the inning, thanks in large part to a stellar play by Jake Croenworth at second base.
He took the mound in the bottom of sixth and recorded an out but then surrendered a solo home run to Willson Contreras to give the Red Sox a 3-2 lead. King then allowed a single and recorded a strikeout before manager Craig Stammen took him out of the game in favor of Wandy Peralta who came in to face left-hander Marcelo Mayer. The move backfired as Mayer hit a two-run home run on the first pitch from Peralta that just squeaked past the glove of Tatis Jr. in right field to put Boston ahead 5-2.
Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball put it best with her headline that read “Opening week was a bit of a mess.” Throughout the week there were strange decisions from the dugout, miscommunication in the field, lapses in fundamentals and uninspired approaches as the plate. Maybe the road trip will allow the Padres to get away and start fresh.
Jase Bowen had a productive spring and was with the team until the final roster decisions were made. Ultimately, Bryce Johnson made the team as the fourth outfielder, but that has not slowed Bowen. The outfielder helped the El Paso Chihuahuas earn a win Friday night by hitting for the cycle.
The first cycle of the Minor League season is here! 🎉🎊@Padres prospect Jase Bowen clinches the milestone for the @epchihuahuas by legging out a triple in style: pic.twitter.com/uQxgDzH3la
Chase DeLauter of the Cleveland Guardians may not have gotten the memo that he is a rookie playing his first week in the MLB. He has hit five home runs in the first seven games of the 2026 season.
This is the game most college basketball fans have circled. The last two No. 1 seeds remaining, Michigan and Arizona meet in Saturday's Final Four nightcap, with some referring to it as the de facto national title game.
Illinois or UConn may have something to say about that Monday night, but this game has all the ingredients to be a March Madness classic.
Here's what you need to know about Saturday's national semifinal between the Wolverines and Wildcats, including predictions and how to watch.
Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press: Michigan 86, Arizona 83. Michigan has felt all year that if it plays its "A" game, it can beat anyone in the country. Arizona will certainly put that to the test. But this Michigan team, led by Lendeborg (coming off his best month of the season), remains on a mission. Onto the title game the Wolverines go.
Blake Toppmeyer: Arizona. The Arizona-Michigan semifinal will be the de facto national championship game. They looked like the two best teams all tournament. Slight advantage to Arizona, a team without weakness. Everyone in the Wildcats' starting five averages in double figures scoring.
John Brice: Arizona. I’ll say it: this is the national championship game. Both teams are playing their best; it’s easy to tab Michigan after its evisceration of Tennessee and the early line. Give me Tommy Lloyd’s blend of vets and freshman phenoms.
Jordan Mendoza: Arizona. In one of the best matchups in Final Four history, Arizona's depth comes up clutch with a big game in the paint to win a thriller.
Paul Myerberg: Michigan. In what feels like a de facto title game, Michigan's frontcourt of Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara gives it an edge in what should be a high-scoring semifinal
Eddie Timanus: Arizona. This meeting is probably taking place a round too early, but don’t get me started on everything the committee did wrong with this field. Since we are getting this game, let’s just hope it lives up to its billing. I had the Wildcats winning the whole thing going in, so I’ll stick to my guns.
Matt Glenesk: Michigan. Billed as the real national championship game, this matchup should be awesome. Michigan has looked as good as anyone so far this tournament (along with Illinois). Arizona had a blip in the first half vs. Purdue before opening a can on the Boilermakers. There's so much talent in this one, but I'm going with Wolverines, who haven't showed any vulnerabilities this tournament.
John Leuzzi: Arizona. This one feels like a real toss-up, given how dominant both teams have looked in the first two weekends. Arizona wins in an all-time Final Four with Jaden Bradley and Koa Peat hitting big shots at the end.
Brent Schrotenboer: Arizona. Best team from the best league wins: Arizona of the Big 12. Time for the first national champion west of Kansas since 1997.
Craig Meyer: Michigan. These have been two of the three best teams in the country for much of the season and very little separates them. The Wolverines have just a little more experience in this situation, with an older roster and a coach who has been on this stage before, which will be enough for them to eke out a tight win. While it's tempting to call this the de-facto national title game, let's pump the brakes. Just ask Houston's 1983 team how that conventional wisdom worked out.
Ehsan Kassim: Arizona. This one will be an instant classic and will come down to the wire. The Wildcats escape with a close victory over Dusty May's crew.
Arizona vs Michigan betting odds: Who is favored to win?
Arizona Final Four history: Has Arizona basketball won a national championship?
This is Arizona's fifth Final Four appearance, and first since 2001. The Wildcats won their only men's basketball national championship in 1997... in Indianapolis.
1988: lost semifinal to Oklahoma, 86-78
1994: lost semifinal to Arkansas, 91-82
1997: won semifinal over North Carolina, 66-58; won final over Kentucky, 84-79 in OT
2001: won semifinal over Michigan State, 80-61; lost final to Duke, 82-72
Michigan Final Four history: Has Michigan basketball won a national championship?
This is Michigan's ninth Final Four trip and first since 2018. The Wolverines won the 1989 national championship.
1964: lost semifinal to Duke, 91-80; won third-place game over Kansas State, 100-90
1965: won semifinal over Princeton, 93-76; lost final to UCLA, 91-80
1976: won semifinal over Rutgers, 86-70; lost final to Indiana, 86-68
1989: won semifinal over Illinois, 83-81; won final over Seton Hall, 80-79 in OT
1992: won semifinal over Cincinnati, 76-72; lost final to Duke, 71-51
1993: won semifinal over Kentucky, 81-78 in OT; lost final to North Carolina, 77-71
2013: won semifinal over Syracuse, 61-56; lost final to Louisville, 82-76
2018: won semifinal over Loyola Chicago, 69-57; lost final to Villanova, 79-62
The Arizona coach announced on Friday, April 3 he has signed a new deal to stay with the Wildcats, spurning North Carolina after he was reportedly the leading the candidate for the Tar Heels' open coaching job.
"I'm happy to announce I'm staying at Arizona. We've been able to get some things done the past couple days," Lloyd said.
Is Dusty May a candidate for UNC basketball job? What Dusty May said about North Carolina job
May has fielded questions about the North Carolina job, but has not named the Tar Heels directly in his responses.
"After last year, I decided I'll never respond to any job speculation," May said at media availability April 3. "I had already agreed to terms with Michigan, was 100% done, and I made the comment that I was flattered about a certain job opening because of my background, and that was misconstrued, so I just decided I'm never going to comment on any job that I don't have.
"I think it's well documented how happy I am at Michigan. Obviously, my private life, my personal life, my family, their happiness is very important. I love it at Michigan, but you'll never hear me comment on any other job unless Michigan lets me go, and then I'll comment on every job."
How old is Yaxel Lendeborg?
Yaxel Lendeborg is 23 years old. Lendeborg played three seasons at Arizona Western Community College before heading to UAB where he played two seasons. This is his first year at Michigan.
Elliot Cadeau has allergic reaction, carted away at Michigan Final Four send-off
The Wolverines’ departure to Indianapolis came with a scare, though.
Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau was evaluated by team medical personnel for a possible allergic reaction to something he ate as the team prepared to leave Ann Arbor for Indianapolis on Wednesday, April 1, a team spokesman told the Detroit Free Press, a part of the USA TODAY Network.
Cadeau was determined to be “fine” by doctors, though out of an abundance of caution, he was continuing to receive medical supervision and would not be leaving for the Final Four until later in the day Wednesday.
Is Elliot Cadeau deaf? Michigan PG overcame hearing, vision issues
Elliot Cadeau is half-deaf in one ear, dealt with blurred vision in one eye. That hasn't stopped Michigan point guard from turning in his best season.
One of Dusty May's son is a walk-on, the other is a student manager
Dusty May is surrounding by family on the Michigan bench. His son Charlie is a walk-on for the Wolverines, while another son, Eli, is a student manager — a role Dusty served under former Indiana icon Bob Knight.
In Michigan's Elite Eight blowout win over Tennessee, Charlie got into the game and drilled a 3-pointer, much to the delight of his Wolverines teammates.
“It’s obviously tough to give up playing the game and being on a team wearing a jersey,” Dusty May told USA TODAY Sports about Eli's role. “But I just thought as far as his long-term development, all the things our managers learn, problem-solving, they learn people skills. They learn to function. We try to give them a lot of responsibility because we know if they’re ever going to make it in coaching … they have to have the experience of doing meaningful work. Our managers have helped him become much more responsible.”
Where is Aday Mara from?
The 7-3 UCLA transfer is from Zaragoza, Spain. Mara was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Big Ten with 2.6 blocks per game.
Is LeBron James' son on Arizona roster? Does he play?
Bryce James, LeBron's son, is on the Wildcats roster. The freshman is redshirting this season. Bryce was a three-star recruit out of Sierra Canyon, where brother Bronny James also attended,
Why Tommy Lloyd focused on freshmen and not 'overpriced' transfers
In the Year of the Freshmen across college basketball, no other freshman class in America has scored more points this season than the five active freshmen on Arizona, led by Brayden Burries, Koa Peat and Ivan Kharchenkov.
Wildcats coach Tommy Lloyd instead took a different approach than many others last year, veering away from the transfer portal, where more experienced players typically seek to earn more money from their names, images and likenesses (NIL).
“We were able to get involved with some freshmen that we felt could be just big-time impact players in college basketball, no matter what year or what class they were,” Lloyd told USA TODAY Sports.
One reason Lloyd built his roster this way was because didn’t think there were going to be many “quality” transfers available in the portal.
“I thought it was going to be overpriced,” Lloyd said.
Yes, Tommy Lloyd is an aspiring DJ: DJ Tomm-EE
Tommy Lloyd’s sidequest includes spinning it on the turntables in becoming a DJ.
He may not strike you as one you’d see mixing songs or making the beat drop, but Lloyd is quite the music lover. And this hobby he’s picked up has come with a masterful teacher, “one of the best DJs of all time” in Mix Master Mike.
“My sport is the art of turntables and hip hop. His sport is basketball. We just decided to collide into those two professions, and now we're here,” Mike told USA TODAY Sports. “It's just an amazing thing.”
Lloyd insists his DJ career is “more of a joke” than his next profession, but he may be selling himself short. Mike insists he’s better than he likely thinks he is. You just don’t show your team samples of your mixes for nothing.
“It's been a little bit of a — I guess — I don't know if a childhood fantasy, but probably a manhood fantasy for me that's come true,” Lloyd said. “It's been awesome to have that relationship.”
Koa Peat 2026 NBA Draft, mock draft prediction
No. 19 overall to Miami Heat
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
The Miami Heat have drafted several prospects known for their athleticism, which means a player like Arizona forward Koa Peat will probably have some appeal to their organization. Peat is an ideal match for this franchise given his versatility as a playmaking forward. The All-Big 12 forward just needs a jumper to carve out regular minutes as a high-impact pro. Arizona plays at a significantly faster pace (4.6 extra possessions) when Peat is on the floor relative to when he is not, per CBB Analytics, which would fit very well with Miamis fastest-paced offense in the NBA.
Brayden Burries 2026 NBA Draft, mock draft prediction
No. 10 overall to Milwaukee Bucks.
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
Arizona freshman Brayden Burries had two breakout games in January, which helped solidify his draft stock. But the All-Big 12 guard has continued to display his tantalizing talent, scoring 31 points with seven rebounds and five steals against Colorado on March 7 and 20 points with 12 rebounds and five assists during a victory against No. 14 Kansas on Feb. 28. Burries has proven productivity and that he is able to defend, relocate, move the ball and make 3-pointers off the dribble.
The Mets have signed 34-year-old right-handed reliever Luke Jackson to a minor league deal, according to Will Sammon. The veteran hadn’t signed with any organization for the 2026 season and will presumably need a little time to ease back into game action in the minors.
Over the past two seasons, Jackson has spent time with the Giants, Braves, Rangers, Tigers, and Mariners. He’s had a 4.59 ERA and a 4.36 in a total of 104.0 innings across all of those stops.
Walks and home runs have always been a bit of an issue for Jackson over the course of his major league career, but his strikeout rate has varied pretty significantly in any given season. Having posted 30.1 percent and 25.1 percent strikeout rates in in 2023 and 2024, he struck out just 17.4 percent of opposing batters last year.
The Mets’ bullpen currently includes Richard Lovelady, Sean Manaea, and Luis García, all of whom have looked like candidates to either get designated for assignment or placed on the injured list in the early going. Jackson figures to be one of the arms the Mets might churn whenever they start making those sort of roster moves.
With the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference playoff race still very much undecided, the Montreal Canadiens visit the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, April 4.
The Canadiens are on a seven-game heater, while the Devils hang onto postseason hopes.
My Canadiens vs. Devils predictions and NHL picks should come as no surprise, as no one has found the back of the net quite like Cole Caufield has in 2026.
Canadiens vs Devils prediction
Canadiens vs Devils best bet: Cole Caufield anytime goal (+130)
He has a staggering 28 goals in his last 27 games, and his next tally will put him in some historic company as one of the very few Montreal Canadiens to hit the half-century mark. He's scored in four straight and fired seven shots on goal on Thursday.
It's only fitting that Mr. Saturday Night will have the opportunity to hit 50 tonight, and he'll face a middling New Jersey Devils defense. There's a great chance we'll witness Habs history at the Prudential Center tonight.
Canadiens vs Devils same-game parlay
Rookie phenom Ivan Demidov is similarly scorching-hot, but in a more generous way than Caufield. The 20-year-old has logged an assist in four straight games and leads all rookies in helpers (43).
His presence on the Canadiens' top power-play unit has increased his prospects of acquiring apples immensely. There's some serious value here at plus-odds.
While Caufield, Demidov, and company continue to light up the scoresheet, sophomore blue liner Lane Hutson has stepped up in his own zone.
He's blocked two or more shots in six consecutive games, making his defensive presence known in the absence of Alexandre Carrier (who ranks 10th in the NHL in blocked shots).
Furthermore, New Jersey ranks fourth in the league in shots on goal, so expect Hutson to wear some rubber tonight.
New Jersey has won five consecutive games against Montreal, scoring four or more goals in each. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Devils.
How to watch Canadiens vs Devils
Location
Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
Date
Saturday, April 4, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet East
Canadiens vs Devils latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Jackson, 34, pitched to a 4.06 ERA (4.49 FIP) and a 1.353 WHIP over 51 innings across 52 appearances last season while appearing for three big league teams: Texas, Detroit, and Seattle.
After pitching well with the Mariners down the stretch – 2.38 ERA over 11.1 innings with 10 strikeouts – he made two appearances during the postseason, allowing one run on three hits over three innings in mop-up duty of two lopsided losses.
The right-hander spent the majority of his career in Atlanta, pitching for the Braves from 2017-21 before a half-year stint there in 2024, after spending a year and a half with San Francisco. In all, he has 390 appearances under his belt with a career 4.22 ERA (4.01 FIP) and 1.439 WHIP over 409.1 innings.
Jackson is mainly a two-pitch reliever, using his slider nearly 50 percent of the time and his four-seamer a third of the time. A curveball is sprinkled in, with 16 percent of his usage. The fastball had a 94.2 mph average velocity last season.
His calling card is getting ground balls, and his 52.7 percent rate was good for the 89th percentile in all of baseball last season.
In addition to Steph Curry, more reinforcements could soon be on the way for the Warriors.
Al Horford, who missed the last 11 games with a strained right soleus, recently was re-evaluated and is making good progress, the team announced Saturday. Horford continues to advance the level of his on-court workouts and was incorporated into parts of team practice on Saturday.
Horford will be re-evaluated again early next week.
Additionally, Quinten Post, who didn’t play in Thursday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to right foot soreness, also re-evaluated Saturday, and the re-evaluation indicated that Post is making good progress.
The Warriors shared that Post will continue with daily rehab and light on-court workouts, and he will be re-evaluated again next week.
Horford, who signed with the Warriors this past offseason, is averaging 8.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 21.7 minutes through 43 games (12 starts).
Post, in his second season with Golden State, is averaging 7.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 17.3 minutes through 67 games (35 starts).
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Our best NHL player props for Saturday, April 4
Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.
Prop #1: Nick Suzuki Over 2.5 shots
+135 at BET99
Nick Suzuki has been tremendous this season for the Montreal Canadiens, registering 94 points overall. He’s always creating chances as well, averaging 2.26 SOG per game. Suzuki has cashed the Over in three of his last four contests, putting five pucks on net in back-to-back games earlier this week.
The Habs take on the New Jersey Devils tonight, who are 14th in the NHL in most SOG allowed. NJ plays high-octane hockey, which typically results in opponents having a fair amount of chances. Suzuki is also on the top line for Montreal, who produce a lot of offense.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Sportsnet, TVA Sports, RDS
Prop #2: Jake Guentzel Over 0.5 assists
-110 at BET99
Jake Guentzel is a massive reason the Tampa Bay Lightning are seen as a Stanley Cup contender. The 31-year-old has scored 36 goals and registered 47 assists in 2025-26 and has cashed the Over in four of his last six with four helpers in his last three games.
Across two meetings with the Boston Bruins, he’s collected four assists. Guentzel typically plays with Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point and is an elite playmaker on the power play, with 21 assists with the man advantage. Boston is 31st in penalty minutes and 26th in penalty kill percentage.
Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ESPN+
Prop #3: Connor McDavid anytime goal
+110 at BET99
Connor McDavid is killing the competition, ranking third in the NHL with 43 goals this season. After a slow start in front of the goal, he’s really picked it up over the last few months. The three-time Hart Trophy winner has scored in five of his last six appearances.
The Edmonton Oilers take on the rival Vegas Golden Knights this evening, and McDavid has done his damage against them. He’s scored two goals in three meetings with Vegas, who are allowing the 14th most goals per game in the league.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Vancouver Canucks (22-45-8) only have three more home games before the end of their 2025–26 season, with today’s taking place against the Utah Mammoth (39-30-6). With their 6–2 win against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, the Mammoth put themselves five points above the second wildcard spot in the Western Conference with 84. Vancouver is coming off the second-half of a back-to-back that saw them lose 5–2 to former captain Quinn Hughes and the Minnesota Wild.
With Thursday’s loss, Vancouver officially secured 32nd overall for the 2025–26 season, giving them the best odds to select first-overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. Having also been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention earlier on last week, the Canucks can play out the remainder of their season without the results massively impacting their place in the standings. For a young team like Vancouver, a couple of feel-good wins may help give the locker room a little boost to end the year after the season the team has had.
On the ice, Vancouver’s power play will look to continue their success after scoring in their past four games. They’ve scored nine power play goals in their past 10 games, with two of these matchups featuring multi-power play goal-efforts. With power play success comes success for Jake DeBrusk, who has four of the team’s power play goals through this span.
Today is also expected to be the game that Vancouver celebrates Evander Kane’s 1000th game during. The forward reached the milestone on March 30 against the Vegas Golden Knights, with today being the team’s first home game since then.
Players To Watch:
Tom Willander
Having scored in his team’s loss to Minnesota on Thursday night, Willander has officially taken sole-possession of fifth in scoring by a rookie defenceman throughout the NHL with 20 points in 63 games played. Regardless of his stats, however, the defenceman has been impressive throughout the season despite his experience level. While it is clear at times that he’s still learning, Willander has solidified himself as an ideal long-term presence with Vancouver.
Logan Cooley
Despite his season being riddled with injuries, including one sustained against Vancouver back in December, Cooley is still averaging 0.765 points per game. Part of this has come in part due to a recent run of success he’s faced, including back-to-back two-goal games against the Kraken and the Los Angeles Kings. The forward currently has six points in his past three games and will be looking to increase his current point streak to four games in today’s game.
Mar 16, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Utah Hockey Club forward Logan Cooley (92) handles the puck against the Vancouver Canucks in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks (22–45–8):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 15–33–48
Filip Hronek: 8–36–44
Brock Boeser: 21–22–43
Jake DeBrusk: 18–19–37
Evander Kane: 13–18–31
Goaltenders:
Kevin Lankinen: 9–26–5
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Nikita Tolopilo: 5–8–2
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Utah Mammoth (39–30–6):
Points:
Clayton Keller: 22–52–74
Nick Schmaltz: 28–39–67
Dylan Guenther: 37–28–65
Mikhail Sergachev: 10–44–54
JJ Peterka: 23–21–44
Goaltenders:
Karel Vejmelka: 34–19–3
Vitek Vaněček: 5–11–3
Game Information:
Start time: 4:00 pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 08: Anthony Edwards #5, Jaden McDaniels #3 and Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves react during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Target Center on January 08, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tyler Clouse/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There have been a lot of ups and downs throughout the season for the Minnesota Timberwolves. There have been moments where the Wolves looked like they could beat any team in the league, and there have been stretches where it felt like they would never win a game again.
In a lengthy 82-game NBA season, it can be easy to forget everything that has happened even just a few games ago. Often, the topics and narratives that once seemed paramount to the success or failure of the team fade away into obscurity as new triumphs and problems arise.
A lot has changed for the Wolves in just a few short months. They came into the season expecting some combination of Terrence Shannon Jr, Jaylen Clark, and Rob Dillingham to fill out their rotation, none of whom were able to take hold of a permanent role. Julius Randle seemed destined to make an All-Star team after a blistering hot November, and at one point early in the season, they seemed unable to beat a team with a winning record.
All of those ideas, which at one point or another seemed like crisis points, have faded into obscurity. As more games went by, they stacked up some quality wins, had many inexplicable losses, and new players joined the team both before and after the trade deadline.
With just five games remaining on the Wolves’ schedule, let’s take a look back at the best and the worst moments of the Timberwolves’ regular season.
Ant in the clutch on opening night
The Timberwolves started their season out west against the Portland Trail Blazers. The season got off to a bit of a rocky start, as before the game even began, it was announced that Mike Conley would be moved to the bench with Donte DiVincenzo taking his spot in the starting rotation.
It was an ominous sign for the 38-year-old point guard who, during training camp, was presumed to again be in the starting lineup, but struggled to find his role with the team coming off the bench. Specifically, Conley’s 3-point shot deserted him, as he sat below 30 percent shooting from beyond the arc most of the season.
DiVincenzo initially struggled with the added point guard duties, as he turned it over six times on opening night due to Portland’s full-court ball pressure. After the first month, though, DiVincenzo became more comfortable in his new role, which has made the opening night point guard switch look like the right decision.
Once the game began, the story quickly shifted to Anthony Edwards, who was sensational all game, especially down the stretch in clutch time. Edwards finished the game with 41 points, ten of which came in the final five minutes.
The Wolves trailed the entire second half, including by as many as eight points in the fourth quarter, but fought back to take the lead with less than four minutes left after a 3-pointer by Edwards. The two teams traded leads until Ant gave the Wolves the lead back for good, knocking down another shot from deep on a stepback over Jerami Grant.
A few possessions later, with the Wolves up by two points, Ant hit another step-back jumper, this time in the midrange, to put Minnesota up by two possessions, effectively sealing the win.
So many times, the season prior, Edwards would have settled for a much worse shot in that situation. He would have dribbled the air out of the ball, at no point tried to drive to the rim, and launched an incredibly difficult deep 3-pointer.
Instead, Ant drove a little bit closer to the basket, created a ton of space from his defender, and knocked down a midrange shot. All offseason, after getting eliminated by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, Edwards focused on improving his midrange shot and immediately put it to use in the first game of the season.
The win felt like more than just a single victory. It felt as though Ant was on the verge of taking another leap as a superstar. That feeling ended up being mostly correct as Edwards has had the best scoring season of his career, increasing both his volume and efficiency numbers.
Overtime Thriller on Christmas
The Timberwolves came into their Christmas Day matchup with the Denver Nuggets with a 20-10 record. Two of those ten losses had already come against the Nuggets, with the Wolves losing two back-to-backs against the Nuggets at Target Center, one without Edwards.
With the game tipping off at 9:30 PM CT, and much of the Christmas Day festivities over, the Wolves looked to grab a win against a playoff rival. What ensued was another classic matchup between the Wolves and Nuggets.
The first half was back and forth with both teams getting out to moderate leads, but with Rudy Gobert getting in third-quarter foul trouble, Minnesota fell behind by as many as 16 points in the third quarter.
For almost the entirety of the second half, it appeared the Wolves were trending toward a decisive loss, but with less than five minutes left, they made a comeback. The Timberwolves went on a 16-2 run to cut the Nuggets’ lead all the way down to one.
A Jamal Murray 3-pointer and a Spencer Jones putback layup to put Denver back up by six with under a minute to play could have been the dagger, but the Wolves kept fighting. Edwards got fouled on a 3-pointer and made all three free throws to cut the lead back to three before stealing a Murray entry pass to Nikola Jokić to give them a chance to send the game to overtime.
Ant did just that, as after a beautifully drawn up play from Chris Finch, Edwards got the ball in the corner and, all in one motion, turned around and knocked down the game-tying shot.
The Wolves kept it rolling in overtime. They came out and scored the first nine points of the extra period, highlighted by another Edwards 3-pointer.
That is when the wheels fell off for Minnesota. Denver responded by going on an 11-2 run to tie the game. With less than a minute left, Murray hit another dagger 3-pointer, giving him 35 points on the night as the Nuggets went on to win 142-138.
The nine-point comeback from the Nuggets tied the largest overtime comeback since play-by-play started getting tracked, a record that would stand for only a few short months.
New Year’s Eve Disaster in Atlanta
After the Christmas Day loss, the Wolves followed up that performance with a lifeless loss at home to the tanking Brooklyn Nets. A few days later, on New Year’s Eve, the Wolves put together another dispiriting effort as they seemed preoccupied with which Miami party they would be going to that night, as they got blown out 123-102 by the Atlanta Hawks.
“Do we care?” was the question Gobert asked of himself and the team after the game. “Does something happen when we like we played the first quarter tonight? Or is it just cool? Make a lot of money, we play basketball, do what we do, and go home and be happy. I think that’s the fine line between a team that’s playing for a championship and a team that’s full of talent but doesn’t accomplish shit.”
When asked about how he felt the team was playing at that time, Gobert responded, “Not like a team that wants to play for a championship. That’s for sure.” DiVicenzo had similar feelings, saying, “How many meetings, how many film sessions, how many times has Finchy had to talk to us? It’s just frustrating because you go out in Chicago, you play well, you respond, and then you come in here and lay an egg.”
There was a feeling from the outside looking in that something in the locker room wasn’t quite fitting together. There may not have been a specific incident that caused friction within the team, but something just seemed off from an interpersonal standpoint.
The Wolves did respond by winning six of their next seven games, but the inconsistency Gobert and DiVincenzo alluded to in their comments became a pervasive issue throughout the season.
Late-game Comeback Against the Spurs
One of the wins that came after the New Year’s Eve debacle came against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
The game quickly got out of hand for the Timberwolves as they gave up the first 16 points of the game. With the Target Center crowd begging them to put the ball in the basket so they could sit down, the Wolves finally scored their first points more than four and a half minutes into the game.
Minnesota trailed almost the entire game, including by as many as 19 points midway through the third quarter, but like they did about two weeks prior against Denver, they clawed back. Down by ten, they put together a 15-5 run to get the game tied on a Randle and-1 layup.
Then, with just over two minutes left, Edwards gave the Wolves their first lead of the game with a beautiful turnaround midrange jumper.
The two teams traded leads into the final minutes of the game. With the Wolves down by a single point, Edwards hit a running layup around a Randle screen that took Wembanyama out of the play to give Minnesota the lead back with 16.8 seconds left.
The game felt like another example of the Wolves, especially Edwards, leveling up in the late moments against great teams. It was another data point toward the idea that the Wolves could beat any team in the league on their best night.
The only question was whether they could sustain that level of play for more than just a single night.
Just when it seemed as though the season was going in the right direction for the Wolves, the bottom fell out. They lost hard-fought games against the Houston Rockets (again without Edwards) and to the Spurs before following them up with two sour performances in losses to the tanking Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls. The Wolves’ losing streak reached five games in a 26-point loss to the Golden State Warriors.
During that time, Minnesotans were going through an incredibly hard time. Federal officers, including the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), had invaded Minneapolis and the surrounding Twin Cities, leading to widespread protests across Minnesota.
The morning the Wolves and Warriors were set to play the first of two games against each other at Target Center, Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, was shot and killed at the hands of federal officers just weeks after Renee Nicole Good, a local mother of three, was also killed in a similar incident.
The game between the Wolves and Warriors was postponed 24 hours “to prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community.” When the game did take place the next day, it was clear the Timberwolves were not in the right headspace to play basketball.
“What I felt was that their group was suffering,” Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr said after the game. “I thought the vibe in the stands, it was one of the most bizarre, sad games I’ve ever been a part of; you could feel the somber atmosphere.”
Despite the incredibly poor performance, there wasn’t much to take away from what happened on the court that night because of everything else that was going on at the time. The Timberwolves responded by winning their next four games, continuing a pattern of playing their best basketball just when people start to count them out.
This is the first part of a two-part season recap series. Check back on Monday for part two
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 3: Taurean Prince #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball during the game against the Chicago Bulls on April 3, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks got routed by the Boston Celtics 133-101 in a contest that was never really a contest at all. The Celtics got off to a hot start in the paint and from three and never looked back, clinching the season series 3-1. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Dairy Bird hit some shots that breathed some life into an otherwise dead game. He also kept the ball moving, racking up five assists off mostly extra swing passes. Three turnovers are never ideal for his role, though.
Kuz was one of Milwaukee’s more aggressive and effective scorers. Going 2/5 from deep isn’t bad for a guy who’s been slumping from out there lately. Still, he wasn’t efficient and ultimately didn’t make much of a difference.
Doc talked pregame about how he’s continuing to emphasize crashing the glass with Nance. Last night, the big man grabbed a career-high 10 boards. Love that he got up nine threes too. Why not let it fly?
Ugh. To be fair to Myles, you can’t expect much from a play finisher like him in a game where there are zero on-ball playmakers in the lineup. But he somehow sank well below the tempered expectations offensively. To make matters worse, Boston ran through the Bucks in the paint, and Mr. Turner is supposed to be a rim protector.
Ous gets a bit of a pass here because he went down with an injury in the third quarter, but before that, he was on track for a disaster game. Slow processing and questionable decision-making were the story of his night. The on-ball stuff is very much still a work in progress for Dieng.
The rookie competed as hard as anybody, even earning himself some stitches after shouldering a hard foul from Jaylen Brown that sent him flying into the first row. He also looked solid on defense and hit his jumpers.
Sims is never going to do much scoring in a game with no playmakers (similar to Turner). That said, he still found ways to contribute, running the offense from the top of the key on his way to posting a career-high six assists and the only positive plus/minus on the team.
Harris very quietly returned from injury and made little fanfare on the floor.
Grade: D+
Doc Rivers
It’s tough to imagine any coach doing much more with what Doc has to work with right now, especially against the Celtics. Like, anyone expecting a win here or even a close loss was kidding themselves, so all you can look at is the process, which was fine last night. Getting an offense going with zero creators is so tough at the NBA level, but the Bucks overall had a passable night on that end, hitting 21 threes. It was the defense that really killed the team and tanked Doc’s grade.
Grade: C
Limited Minutes: Andre Jackson Jr., Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Alex Antetokounmpo
Inactive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr., Bobby Portis, Ryan Rollins, Gary Trent Jr.
Bonus Bucks Bits
Doc Rivers on unexpected wrinkles/skills we may see from players down the stretch:
“I mean, Rylo (Ryan Rollins), we just wanna try to keep healthy, for the most part. But anytime he makes a play without the shot is big for us, that’s great. Pete (Nance), rebounding, still being confident shooting. We had to remind him in the Cleveland game to shoot the ball again and then to start shooting it and making it. So, a lot of the guys, the other guys, we’re just learning, we’re still trying to figure out.”
Doc on the biggest joys of what’s been an overall tough season:
“This has not been a fun year for anybody. But watching some of our young guys develop, it has been fun. Watching Ryan and watching AJ, Jericho Sims, I mean, you think about guys, when you look at our roster, we’re playing a lot of guys with minimum contracts and trying to win games. And that’s hard to do. It really is. There’s two sayings, with our young guys, they’re minimum, not for a reason, they’re minimum because no one knows ‘em, we’ve developed them, and I’m proud of that.”
Thanasis *almost* (okay, not really almost) completed an alley-oop to Alex in the fourth quarter. How sick would that have been?
AJ Green named 27 types of fish in 30 seconds to beat a fan in a giveaway game run during a timeout.
Here’s the address of the Giannis-sized elephant in the room.
Up Next
The Bucks will take on the (skeleton crew) Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday at home in an epic tank-off. Catch that one at 2:30 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin. Be warned, though: unless you’re a genuine sicko, you will probably recognize zero players on Memphis’ roster. Some teaser names: Lucas Williamson, Adama Bal, and Toby Okani. Insert the Snoop Dogg “who?” GIF here.
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 06: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns (84) waits for the puck to drop during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche on March 6, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The biggest date remaining on the regular season schedule has arrived for the Colorado Avalanche, who have long been the most dominant team in the NHL all year long.
The Dallas Stars, however, won’t stop at nothing to overtake them.
Today, both teams will face each other one last time at American Airlines Center to close out their regular season series, with the winner potentially laying claim to a first place finish in the West.
Colorado Avalanche (49-15-10)
The Opponent: Dallas Stars (45-19-12)
Time: 1:00 P.M. MDT/3:00 P.M. EDT
Watch: ABC, ESPN (US National Broadcast), SNP, SNW, SN+ (Canadian National Broadcast)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche wrapped up their final extended home stand on Wednesday night with an underwhelming 8-6 loss to the last-place Vancouver Canucks. The loss was the second during Colorado’s three game home stand, and while the 4-2 loss to Winnipeg a week ago was disappointing, this most recent defeat was exceptionally glaring: a host of defensive miscues and poor puck management opened the door for Vancouver to run up the score early and often. Mackenzie Blackwood, who gave up six goals on nineteen shots, was pulled with 4:39 remaining in second period in favor of Scott Wedgewood. The Avs then rallied from a 6-2 deficit to tie the game late in the third on Sam Malinski’s second goal of the evening, but Vancouver would reclaim the lead twenty-three seconds later, and iced the game with an empty net tally after Wedgewood was pulled for the extra skater.
Coach Jared Bednar, in what was indisputably his shortest press conference of the season, didn’t hold back. “The reality of it is, is if you want to win in this League, you have to play [the way we played in the third period] for sixty minutes, and we weren’t even close. [It] wasn’t a great first and it got worse in the second and […] if you want to hand out badges for good effort and stuff like that, I think we’re beyond that this time of year, you know? Effort for twenty minutes and doing the right things for twenty minutes isn’t good enough.” He went a step further, saying that there were no positives to be found in their effort.
“There’s no excuse,” he continued, “If we’re making excuses for that performance, it’s going to be a short [playoff] run.”
The loss prevented the Avalanche from increasing their points lead over Dallas, and as a result, today’s game still carries weight for both clubs. For the Avs, it’s the start of a back-to-back weekend that sees them returning home for an Easter evening matchup against the St. Louis Blues. With four massive points hanging in the balance for the Avs this weekend, here’s where today’s game matters from their perspective:
The Avs come into Dallas as the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and League standings with a total of 108 points. They have eight (8) games remaining on their schedule—two in hand on Dallas—and have forty-six (46) regulation wins on the season. A regulation win for the Avs wouldn’t completely drive the final nail into the coffin for Dallas to catch them, but it would put their chances on life support. A regulation win for the Avs, coupled with a victory on home ice tomorrow, should put first place out of Dallas’ reach.
This is all predicated on the Avs taking care of their own affairs. They control their own destiny, and while they have the tiebreaker advantages over Dallas right now (points and regulation wins), things can flip on a dime, and the last thing they need is giving Dallas any extra motivation with the end of the season in sight.
While this is certainly a huge weekend for the Avs, today’s game also sets a monumental milestone for Brent Burns, as he is slated to skate in his thousandth consecutive game. The forty year old defenseman, who made his NHL debut for the Minnesota Wild after being selected with the twentieth overall pick in the 2003 NHL Draft, played his first seven seasons with Minnesota before being traded to San Jose prior to the 2011-2012 season. He spent would spend the next eleven seasons in San Jose, where many of his career milestones would take place. The 2014-2015 season saw the first of eleven consecutive seasons of Burns skating in every every regular season game. He made his Stanley Cup Final debut in 2016, set a career high in goals (27) in a Norris trophy-winning campaign in 2017, and set career highs in assists (67) and points (83) in 2019.
Burns was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes prior to the start of the 2022-2023 season, where he spent three seasons before signing with the Avs prior to the start of this season. After surpassing former NHL defenseman Keith Yandle’s mark of 989 consecutive games on March 14, Burns became the all-time leader in consecutive games played among defensemen. Coming into today’s game, he trails only Phil Kessel, who holds the all-time record of 1064 consecutive games among all NHL skaters.
Nathan MacKinnon is the first player in the NHL to reach 50 goals, having broken the mark this past Wednesday. Despite being the NHL’s goal scoring leader, he remains three points behind both Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (121) and Tampa’s Nikita Kucherov (126). Martin Nečas (35) and Brock Nelson (33) rank second and third in team goal scoring, respectively. Cale Makar, who left Wednesday’s game with injury, did not accompany the team to Dallas, and will be re-evaluated next week. Nicolas Roy also did not travel with the team to Dallas, and his status will be re-evaluated next week as well.
While Bednar did not indicate who would start in today’s game, look for Wedgewood to get the nod today.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Gabriel Landeskog – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Artturi Lehkonen – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin Parker Kelly – Nazem Kadri – Logan O’Connor Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Joel Kiviranta
Defense: Devon Toews – Sam Malinski Josh Manson – Brent Burns Brett Kulak – Nick Blankenburg
Between the Pipes: Scott Wedgewood Mackenzie Blackwood
Dallas Stars
The run that Dallas has been on has made them a darling of hockey circles everywhere. In any other season, Dallas’s 102 points would tie them with Carolina in a race for first place in the League, and with both teams splitting their two game season series, it would come down to the thinnest of margins to decide who would emerge ahead of the other. Add in Eastern Conference mainstay Tampa Bay Lightning and the come-out-of-nowhere Buffalo Sabres, both of whom boast 100 point seasons of their own, and there would be no shortages of storylines heading into the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with Dallas featured prominently among them.
A ten game winning streak? Done. A gold medal winning goaltender? Check. A top-rated power play threat? Yep. A stellar record at home and away? You bet. If you’re the Dallas Stars, you rightly believe that success is yours for the taking as the Stanley Cup Playoffs grow closer.
In any other season, but not this season.
For all their success to this point, Dallas is, and still remains, second best. Coming into today’s regular season finale against Colorado, Dallas is still looking up at their division rival. That ten game winning streak? Colorado’s done that twice. Home and away records? Colorado remains the only team in the NHL that has yet to lose more than ten games on home ice (24-8-5) compared to everyone else (Dallas is 23-10-4 at home). As good as Dallas has been on the road (22-9-8), Colorado’s 25-7-5 record is still better than everyone else.
Let’s not stop there: A +49 goal differential for Dallas? Colorado’s +90 is tops in the League. Colorado’s allowed the fewest number of goals (193) compared to Dallas (209), and Scott Wedgewood’s 2.19 goals against average and .916 save percentage leads all active goaltenders. By comparison, goaltender Casey DeSmith’s 2.38 goals against average ranks third among active goaltenders, while Jake Oettinger’s 2.61 ranks fifteenth. DeSmith’s .909 save percentage ranks fourteenth among active goaltenders, while Oettinger’s .900 ranks twenty-third.
There are a couple of bright spots for Dallas. Dallas can hang their ten-gallon hats on a second-ranked power play percentage (29.1%), while Colorado’s 17.9% ranks twenty-fifth. Oettinger also ranks third in wins among goaltenders (31), four more than Wedgewood (27), and ten more than Mackenzie Blackwood (21).
Dallas also leads the regular season series 2-0-1, their most recent victory being a 2-1 shootout decision back on March 18 at Ball Arena. To this point in the season, every game against Colorado has ended in a shootout. In their last meeting at America Airlines Center on March 06, Dallas captain Jamie Benn botched an opportunity to ice the game with Wedgewood on the bench for an extra skater, but his shot attempt banked off the side of the net. Valeri Nichushkin would score the game-tying goal moments later, and provided the shootout heroics alongside Martin Nečas to best Oettinger en route to a 5-4 decision for Colorado. That game would also see the departure of Roope Hintz to injury after getting tangled up with Nathan MacKinnon in the second period.
Since then, Dallas has regained the services of former Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen. He returned to action on March 28 in a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rantanen, who sustained injury during his play for Team Finland during the Olympics in Italy, had not made a regular season appearance for Dallas since a 5-4 victory over St. Louis on February 04, prior to the Olympic break.
In order to have a shot at first place in the West, Dallas is banking on a repeat performance from Oettinger, who blanked the Winnipeg Jets by a score of 3-0 this past Thursday. The victory was only Dallas’ third in their past ten games. A regulation win over Colorado would pull Dallas within four points of first place, and with four games remaining in the regular season, today’s head-to-head matchup is Dallas’ last, best chance to prevent Colorado from widening the gap between them. Even with a win over Colorado, Dallas would still have to play nearly flawless hockey down the stretch and hope they get some help from Colorado’s remaining opponents.
Wyatt Johnston leads all Dallas skaters in goals (41) and power play goals (25). Jason Robertson ranks second in goals (40), and leads the team in points (89). Miro Heiskanen leads all Dallas skaters in assists (53), while Rantanen is a close second (52). Rantanen also leads all Dallas skaters in penalty minutes (89).
Today marks the second of a five game home stand for Dallas, their final prolonged stretch of games on home ice. Oettinger will likely start in goal to close out the season series against Colorado.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Jason Robertson – Wyatt Johnston – Mikko Rantanen Jamie Benn – Matt Duchene – Colin Blackwell Oskar Bäck – Justin Hryckowian – Mavrik Bourque Adam Erne – Arttu Hyry
Defense: Esa Lindell – Miro Heiskanen Thomas Harley – Nils Lundkvist Lian Bischel – Ilya Lyubushkin Kyle Capobianco
Apr 3, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Brandon Marsh (16) celebrates his three run home run with second baseman Bryson Stott (5) and third baseman Alec Bohm (28) in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Friday’s 10-1 blowout of the Rockies was the perfect salve for a lineup that was struggling. Granted, they were not facing a pitching staff that would be considered one of the better ones in the game, but it’s not as though they were facing monsters on the mound in Philadelphia. Several Phillies left town for the West Coast not playing well at all, but were able to get a few good swings in against Colorado.
However, when things aren’t going well offensively, the first thing one might consider making some changes to the lineup. I don’t actually mean having players benched. It’s far too early to even think about anything like that. No, I’m talking about actual who bats where discussions. The easiest one to spark discussion is where Bryce Harper hits as so many people have an opinion on where to hit him. Another topic might be who leads off, Trea Turner or Kyle Schwarber (or Justin Crawford?????).
The question of the day is easy: at what point should the team start mixing it up? Granted, a weekend in Colorado might be a “good for what ails ya’” type of weekend, but anyone who has watched the Phillies knows they’re as likely to play poorly in the coming days following a blowout as they are to continue their hitting. When should the team make a change if things continue going poorly more often than not?
TAMPA, FL - MARCH 21: John Gil #93 of the Atlanta Braves is congratulated after scoring a run during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
If you missed most of Spring Training (which I totally understand), you may have missed appearance in Spring Training. He got a decent look in North Port, sticking around until March 11th. That was enough time to be noticed and to hit home runs on consecutive days. This one was a laser shot, coming off the bat at 109.7 MPH. The other may have been wind assisted. But with a 98.7 MPH exit velocity and 24 degree launch angle, it was no joke either. He must have had a great offseason.
Power isn’t a big part of his game, but he actually showed some growth there towards the end of the season. Gil’s slugging percentage was just .271 in April, .383 in May, .244 in June, and .342 in July. Then it was like a light clicked for him at the end of July. Gil got injured on July 10th, and didn’t return until July 24th in the FCL. He made his way back to Augusta on the 26th of July and over his final 30 games of the season he slugged .577 with 10 doubles, one triple, and six of his homers. Those numbers are especially promising when you consider that in his first 71 games he managed 15 doubles, no triples, and one homer.
Gil put up a 1.000 OPS and a 186 wRC+ in Augusta from July 26th through September 7th. Something definitely clicked for him in complex ball. He seems to have a small but noticeable change in the batter box. Have a look at this plate appearance from Thursday night.
It’s quick but John seems to be pointed away from the plate earlier in the year. Now he’s pretty much waiting right on top of the plate. He’s appears less intimidated now. He may have good reason not to be. He can really turn on the ball.
So when will John Gil leave Single-A ball for good? Single-A players typically have only a faint idea of the strike zone, and so do the pitchers. Gil pretty good in this respect, striking out 14.5 percent of the time last year. Though, I wouldn’t be in a big hurry to move Gil to the Double-A Southern League. The Southern League has a tendency to sap power. I would rather be John be rewarded with dingers. But he kinda has the makings of a prospect that has found his bearing in professional baseball and ready to tear up the levels.
While many are calling Arizona vs. Michigan the real national championship game, the UConn and Illinois won't care in Saturday's first semifinal of the Final Four.
Expect to see a sea of orange at Lucas Oil Stadium (did you see the showing at Friday's practice?). Champaign's proximity (two hours) and the program's first Final Four trip since 2005 have the Illini faithful energized.
Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star: Illinois 67, UConn 64. These two programs met in the 2024 Elite Eight with UConn winning by 25 points including a 30-0 run from the Huskies. This national semifinal meeting is also a rematch of the Fighting Illini's eighth game of the season. Illinois lost that Nov. 28 game, 74-61 at Madison Square Garden despite 25 points by Kylan Boswell. Freshman phenom Keaton Wagler has been a steady offensive presence, dropping 25 in the Elite 8 win over Iowa. However, Andrej Stojakovic has been the X-factor off the bench. He's averaging 15 points in the NCAA tournament. UConn is back in the Final Four for a third time in four seasons, winning back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. Huskies senior center Tarris Reed Jr. has been a monster during the Big Dance, averaging 21.8 points and 13.5 rebounds.
Blake Toppmeyer:Illinois. Credit UConn for incredible comeback, but don't overlook Illinois. The Illini looked dominant coming out of the South, and they have enough offense to turn back a clutch UConn team.
John Brice:UConn. How could anyone pick against Dan Hurley’s squad at this point? Hurley’s now 18-1 in his past three March Madness appearances. The Huskies will play for a third crown in four seasons.
Paul Myerberg: UConn. The backcourt play and just enough beef up front to repeat November's 13-point win against the Illini in MSG. And after the miracle comeback against Duke, the Huskies feel like a team of destiny.
Jordan Mendoza: UConn. The Huskies ride the high of the Elite Eight comeback and the 3-point shot returns to advanced to the national championship again.
Eddie Timanus: UConn. I would have to be a complete idiot to pick against UConn at this phase of the Big Dance. We seen ‘team of destiny’ shots in the Elite Eight before, haven’t we?
Matt Glenesk: Illinois. I originally picked UConn, but have changed my mind. There's something about Illinois' offensive firepower and wave of big bodies they can throw at opponents that has me convinced of an All-Big Ten national championship.
John Leuzzi: UConn. When these two met in late November at Madison Square Garden, UConn won by 13. While the margin of victory may not be like that this time around, the Huskies do get their second win of the season against the Illini. Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban continue to have big games, while Braylon Mullins delivers a big-time shot in front of the home crowd. UConn’s defense is looking like a top 5 unit again.
Brent Schrotenboer: UConn. That ending against Duke makes it look like destiny is calling again, at least for one more game.
Craig Meyer: UConn. The Illini haven't just won on their way to their first Final Four in 21 years, but they've been dominant, winning each of their four tournament games by at least 10 points. They've only played one team better than a No. 9 seed, though, and the more battle-tested Huskies will be able to lean on Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban to pull out a close win. One thing to keep in mind with Illinois: no team has ever lost its first conference tournament game, like the Illini did against Wisconsin in the Big Ten tournament, and gone on to win the national championship.
Ehsan Kassim: Illinois. UConn has required surviving two scares to reach this point. Illinois on the other hand has been dominant in the South Region. Give me the Illini.
Moneyline: Illinois (-135); UConn (+110)
Spread: Illinois (-1.5)
Over/under total: 139.5
Illinois Final Four bold prediction
Ehsan Kassim: The Illini are going to win the whole thing this year.
Austin Curtright: Illinois loses by double digits to UConn.
UConn Final Four bold prediction
John Leuzzi: Solo Ball has a breakout moment and reminds the country why he was one of the top one of 3-point shooters in the country last season.
Jordan Mendoza: The Huskies lose their first Final Four game in the Dan Hurley era.
Austin Curtright: UConn's 3-pointers start to fall. UConn have only made double-digit 3-pointers in a game once since Feb. 18, but will do it twice in two games at the Final Four.
Illinois road to Final Four
First round: beat No. 14 Penn, 105-70
Second round: beat No. 11 VCU, 76-55
Sweet 16: beat No. 2 Houston, 65-55
Elite Eight: beat No. 9 Iowa, 71-59
UConn road to Final Four
First round: beat No. 15 Furman, 82-71
Second round: beat No. 7 UCLA, 73-57
Sweet 16: beat No. 3 Michigan State, 67-63
Elite Eight: beat No. 1 Duke, 73-72
Illinois basketball stat leaders
SCORING
Keaton Wagler, 17.9 ppg
Andrej Stojakovic, 13.6 ppg
David Mirkovic, 13.5 ppg
Kylan Boswell, 12.5 ppg
Tomislav Ivisic, 10. 2 ppg
REBOUNDING
David Mirkovic, 8.1 rpg
Tomislav Ivisic, 5.6 rpg
Keaton Wagler, 5.0 rpg
ASSISTS
Keaton Wagler, 4.3 apg
Kylan Boswell, 3.1 apg
David Mirkovic, 2.6 apg
UConn basketball stat leaders
SCORING
Tarris Reed Jr.: 14.7 ppg
Alex Karaban, 13.2 ppg
Solo Ball, 12.9 ppg
Braylon Mullins, 11.9 ppg
Silas Demary Jr., 10.4 ppg
REBOUNDING
Tarris Reed Jr., 8.8 rpg
Alex Karaban, 5.2 rpg
Silas Demary Jr., 4.5 rpg
ASSISTS
Silas Demary Jr., 5.9 apg
Malachi Smith, 3.0 apg
Illinois basketball Final Four history; Has Illinois ever won a national championship?
This is the Illini's sixth trip to the Final Four and first since 2005. The school has never won an NCAA national championship in men's basketball.
1949: lost semifinal to Kentucky, 76-47
1951: lost semifinal to Kentucky, 76-74
1952: lost semifinal to St. John's, 61-59
1989: lost semifinal to Michigan, 83-81
2005: won semifinal vs. Louisville, 72-57; lost in final to North Carolina, 75-70
UConn basketball Final Four history: How many national championships have UConn won?
This is UConn's eighth trip to the Final Four, all since 1999. The Huskies have won six national titles in their seven previous trips.
1999: won semifinal vs. Ohio State, 64-58; won final vs. Duke, 77-74
2004: won semifinal vs. Duke, 79-78; won final vs. Georgia Tech, 82-73
2009: lost semifinal vs. Michigan State, 82-73
2011: won semifinal vs. Kentucky, 56-55; won final vs. Butler, 53-41
2014: won semifinal vs. Florida, 63-53; won final vs. Kentucky, 60-54
2023: won semifinal vs. Miami, 72-59; won final vs. San Diego State, 76-59
2024: won semifinal vs. Alabama, 86-72; won final vs. Purdue, 75-60
Is Andrej Stojakovic related to Peja Stojakovic?
Yes, Peja is his dad. Peja Stojakovic played 13 seasons in the NBA, primarily for the Sacramento Kings, and was a three-time All-Star.
Andrej played at Cal and Stanford before transferring to Illinois.
How many Europeans are on Illinois' team? Why does Illinois have so many Europeans on its roster?
David Mirkovic is from Montenegro
Andrej Stojakovic lists Thessaloniki, Greece as his hometown
Tomislav Ivisic is from Croatia
Zvonimir Ivisic is from Croatia
Mihailo Petrovic is from Serbia
Toni Bilic is from Croatia
"Geoff Alexander, Orlando Antigua deserve most all of the credit in terms of building the relationships in Europe," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. "It's taken years. NIL has obviously helped enhance our abilities to attract some of the best players in Europe. But they're a great fit for us. It's not for everybody. I enjoy coaching 'em. They fit our university. We're a diverse university with a lot of international students, so it's a perfect fit for them.
"Basketball-wise it's a great fit for me, and I like coaching them. The way we're playing with positional size and shooting, it's just — it's a great marriage and a great fit. So we'll continue it. I would think others will continue to migrate over there and keep trying to recruit those guys."
UConn freshman Braylon Mullins' game-winner vs Duke gives him a homecoming
No. 1 Duke was leading the Huskies by two when Silas Demary Jr. deflected a pass by Cayden Boozer with six seconds left.
Braylon Mullins scooped up the ball around halfcourt and dished to Alex Karaban, who gave it right back. Mullins then drained the 35-footer with 0.4 seconds left to beat Duke and send UConn to its third Final Four in four years.
“That moment is over. It's an incredible moment. You'll have that moment the rest of your life. But we came here for rings, not watches,” Hurley said.
Mullins, the 2025 Indiana Mr. Basketball who played at Greenfield-Central, will be playing in front of plenty of friends and family this weekend. Greenfield is 30 minutes east of Indianapolis.
“It's unbelievable to be in the position I am,” Mullins said. “I think it just makes everything a little sweeter knowing that I’m playing in front of family and friends. I can't wait to see everybody in open practice tomorrow and see everybody at the game.”
Illinois' Jake Davis gets to play at home for Final Four, too
The Illini forward is from McCordsville, Indiana, a suburb northeast of Indianapolis, and played at Indy's Cathedral High School. He began his college career at Mercer before transferring to Illinois after the 2024 season. At Cathedral, Davis was known as "the guy who takes charges."
Illinois forward Ben Humrichous is also from Indiana, from nearby Tipton, about an hour north. He began his college career at Indiana's Huntington University (NAIA) and then transferred to Evansville.
Brad Underwood says Illinois will 'turn Indy orange', 'kick everybody's ass there'
On Sunday, Brad Underwood addressed a crowd of fans on campus:
"We had a huge group in Houston. I know we're going to turn it out in Indy. That's the story. We're going to turn Indy orange.. and blue. And kick everybody's ass there."
Keaton Wagler 2026 NBA Draft mock draft prediction
Atlanta Hawks, pick No. 7.
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
After trading away Trae Young, the Hawks could find their point guard of the future in Illinois standout Keaton Wagler using a first-round pick they received from the Pelicans. The 19-year-old guard scored 46 points while shooting 9-of-11 on 3-pointers against No. 12 Purdue on Jan. 24. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, shooting 41.0 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman this year. The Big Ten Rookie of the Year is a cerebral basketball player who is also averaging 4.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game this season.
