Nov 29, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) drives for the basket against Brooklyn Nets forward Noah Clowney (21) in the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Bucks face a Brooklyn Nets team coming off an unfortunate win over the Wizards, which means they will try their darndest to lose. OK, expected. But having seen the Bucks’ injury report… they just might be playing the same game! Have we got ourselves an old-fashioned tankoff? Shoot, this is the most excitement I’ve felt in months! The season series currently sits at one game apiece, with the fourth game (another riveting tank-off?) coming on the 10th.
Where We’re At
Well, the Bucks actually have a .500 winning percentage over their last four games. Woohoo! (*mumbles under breath* to the tanktastic Mavs and Grizzlies). Nah, but in all seriousness, the losses have been secondary to the storylines we are following as far as player development goes, and zeroing in on Cormac Ryan’s game has been a welcome reprieve from the larger Bucks mess. More on that later.
As for the Nets, well, they were never going to make the “mistake” they made last year by winning too much. They don’t own their pick next year, and so this year was always going to be a tankfest. That said, hilariously, they are also .500 over their last four, losing two tank-offs to the Kings and Wizards. If an average NBA fan knows much about the players Brooklyn (or Milwaukee, for that matter) rolls out today, hats off to them.
Injury Report
OK, so the following players are out for the Bucks: Giannis (knee), Kyle Kuzma (Achilles), Kevin Porter Jr. (knee), Bobby Portis (wrist), Ryan Rollins (hip), Gary Trent Jr. (hip), and Myles Turner (ankle).
The Nets have responded in turn, ruling out the following blokes: Nic Claxton, Noah Clowney, Egor Demin, Terance Mann, Michael Porter Jr., Day’Ron Sharpe, Ziaire Williams, and Danny Wolf. Ben Saraf is probable.
Player to Watch
Cormac Ryan (or should I say Cor-max Ryan… sorry, ignore me) has had great games in two of his last three, scoring 25 against the Rockets and 21 against the Grizzlies. Over those two games, he’s shot 16/22 from the field and 7/11 from deep. I’m watching (Wazowski, always watching) for if he can tack on another great game tonight. The level of the opponent should give him every chance.
How To Watch
6:30 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - May 22: Stephen A. Smith Michael Malone and Chris Paul #3 of the San Antonio Spurs speak before the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on May 22, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s really easy in this day and age to have an immediate thought about UNC’s decision to reportedly hire Michael Malone. The immediate reaction by the fan base was one of shock and an immediate comparison to Bill Belichick.
In short—ON MY GOD WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU DO THIS AGAIN?
But just like I preached on Sunday that patience was key in waiting for the decision to be made, time was needed to let the decision wash over fans, other reaction to pour in, and a true analysis of the decision was made. Once all of that started rolling in, there seemed to be some stepping back from the ledge.
Like many, I wasn’t that happy with the initial decision. With all of the names that had been published as being the subject of the search, it felt a lot like just settling for who was there. Then I sat down and started to think about it a little, and I started to realize that there is some logic to the move.
The big one to me was that if your were hinging your hopes on Billy Donovan, why not take a coach that’s a decade younger and has a track record of success at the highest level as opposed to one who’s been OK, but didn’t have a ring and was in the NBA because college wore him out? I thought about the easy reaction of “he’s just like Bill Belichick who used Tom Brady to get his wins by using Nikola Jokić to get his in Denver.” The problem with this line of thinking is that basketball requires more of a buy-in from a player to a coach. Add in the fact that Brady came to the NFL with a fire to prove he wasn’t a Power Five bust, meanwhile by all accounts Jokić doesn’t view basketball as his life and he still was able to develop him to the point where Denver won a title. There’s a development aspect there you don’t normally see with superstars. Plus, Michael Jordan needed Phil Jackson to get him rings, so he had to at least be able to coach.
Once I hit that point, I saw the two interviews that have made the rounds that showed how he was already becoming connected to Carolina, and I started to understand that unlike Belichick who had the tenuous first words of “Beat Duke,” Malone has had real, adult connection to UNC that means he’s at least a little more familiar with Chapel Hill and the environment here than another coach would have been.
If for any reason you would like to learn more about Mike Malone, he was in the @carolina_pod studio this fall and talked about his coaching career, basketball background, connection with UNC and more.https://t.co/w702ksZqcx
Finally, word from former players started to leak out. Tyler Hansbrough, Seth Trimble, and Danny Green all not only supporting the move but doing so enthusiastically. Is there some of this that’s trying to save a move as the portal opens today? Maybe, but we also know how loudly players would be if they weren’t happy with the move and the tone of their enthusiasm at least gives me some pause about this.
So I’ve landed here: I’m not doing backflips over the hire because I would have rather have gotten Dusty May or Tommy Lloyd, but it became clear that UNC was being used as a leveraging play for coach after coach—and it appears it would have continued with Donovan. It’s a risk, but at this point a lot of the other names were a risk. I’m intrigued, and I’m willing to see how the next month goes in terms of building a staff and the portal.
What about you? Are you where you were when this was announced or are you in a different place now? Let us know in the comments below.
Every day this week, the NBC Sports NBA writing crew is breaking down the league's individual postseason awards and giving you their thoughts and predictions. After looking at MVP on Monday, it's Coach of the Year today, a tight race between Boston's Joe Mazzulla and Detroit's J.B. Bickerstaff on most ballots. Here's who we've got.
Coach of the Year
Kurt Helin, NBC Sports Lead NBA Writer: Joe Mazzulla
Remember when we all thought this was going to be a "gap year" in Boston? I had the Celtics pegged as a play-in team (I also didn't expect a Jayson Tatum return, or Jaylen Brown to step up the way he did). This was a team that didn't just lose its star for most of the season, but had traded away a lot of veteran depth like Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis.
This is where Mazzulla's coaching, the culture he built and the expectations he built into the organization stood out. Neemias Queta thrived in Mazzulla's system and was a quality starting center. Payton Pritchard stepped up in a larger role. Derrick White looked like an All-NBA player. Across the board, Mazzulla inspired role players to be more, put them in positions to succeed, and they did. While J.B. Bickerstaff did something similar in Detroit, the edge for this season — it is Coach of the Year after all — goes to Mazzulla.
Jay Coucher, NBC Sports Lead Betting Analyst: Joe Mazzulla
Flip a coin between Mazzulla and J.B. Bickerstaff, with Mitch Johnson a solid third, and Jordan Ott and Charles Lee deserving of consideration. Mazzulla gets the slight edge over Bickerstaff for somehow turning Boston into a top-four offense and defense in what was supposed to be a gap year.
Raphielle Johnson, NBC Sports Fantasy basketball lead analyst: J.B. Bickerstaff
There are many worthy candidates for this award. Mitch Johnson has done phenomenal work with the Spurs, and Mark Daigneault's ability to keep the Thunder atop the league despite their injuries is commendable. Joe Mazzulla has done great work with the Celtics, ending any talk of a "gap year," and Charles Lee's Hornets have been much-improved.
But I'll take Bickerstaff here. While many expected the Pistons to use last season's experience as a building block, few expected them to run away with the top spot in the East as they have.
Eric Samulski, MLB/NBA Writer, NBC Sports: Joe Mazzulla
This is almost as much of a lock for me as Victor Wembanyama for Defensive Player of the Year. Nobody expected the Celtics to be this good without Jayson Tatum. Let alone after also losing Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet, and AL Horford. Yes, the Celtics have other good players remaining, but Joe Mazzulla's system is so well-entrenched, and the team is so well-coached that it didn't quite matter who was in the lineup; this team just produced.
Apr 6, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) reaches for a loose ball ahead of Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) during the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
I did not like this game! I suppose there are two silver linings: First (I say this knocking on wood), it would appear that Victor Wembanyama’s injury (a bone bruise in his ribs) is unlikely to be a serious problem in the sense that he should be fine for the playoffs. Second, it gave me the opportunity to find out that the League’s absurdly complex 65-game rule is actually a 63+2 rule in which players are allowed to receive credit for up to two games in which they play 15-19 minutes (all other games require 20+ minutes to count towards the total). As such, Wemby gets credit for this game, and is now just one game away from satisfying the requirement. I normally don’t care too much about regular season awards, but in this particular case I actually think that it would cause the NBA serious reputational harm if the individual universally regarded as the best defensive player did not win DPoY because he fell one game short of an arbitrary threshold.
As impossible as it is to set the injury issue aside when discussing how I feel about this game, I can be more calm and objective when it comes to discussing the box score. Fortunately, the Sliver and Black put together a really solid performance overall, and it shows up in some of the box score highlights:
Fun fact: Philly and San Antonio had the exact same number of field goal attempts (89) and three-point attempts (32) in this game. In the 16,845 regular season games since the start of 2012-2013, this is just the 34th time that two teams have tied in both these areas.
Fortunately, the Spurs were far more effective in shooting from the field overall, logging a FG% margin of +11.24 percentage points enroute to making 10 more baskets. San Antonio’s edge in 3P% (+3.13 percentage points) was literally as small as it could be while still being positive, but still translated to a +1 advantage in made threes. As a result of all this, the Spurs outscored Philadelphia by 21 points from the field.
Despite this huge disparity, the 76ers kept the game interesting for much of the time. One way they managed this was by earning a +8 advantage on the offensive glass, which helped give them an upper hand in overall offensive opportunity. Because the Spurs fouled more (+2) and at worse times, this mostly showed up as an edge in free throw attempts (+7).
In addition to greater volume from the charity stripe, Philly also had a notably better FT% (+10.03 percentage points). As a result, the 76ers made eight more free throws.
It’s slightly atypical for the losing team to earn such a big margin at the free throw line while making far fewer shots from the field, though not as much as you might think. In fact, this contest marked the 812th occasion in the last 13 regular seasons where the winning team had a FGM of +10 or better and a FTM margin of -8 or worse (that’s about 4.82% of all games). The worst FTM differential achieved by a regular season winner with a FGM of at least +10 since the start of 2012-2013 was -26. That actually happened twice, and both games were home wins by the Phoenix Suns (Dallas @ Phoenix on 2/10/26 and Lakers @ Phoenix on 11/22/22).
What are Team Graded Box Scores?
Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).
Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.
DENVER, CO - MARCH 14: Head Coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets yells from the sidelines during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Ball Arena on March 14, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Word got out Monday afternoon that UNC has hired Mike Malone, most recently head coach of the Denver Nuggets and winner of the 2023 NBA championship, as its next coach.
Reactions are mixed.
Many UNC fans were baffled, but that’s not surprising. Like most fans, they aren’t steeped in the business side of basketball. That’s fine—unless they start offering uninformed opinions.
Among more informed people, the verdict is still split. Start with the positive: Malone is a basketball lifer. His father, Brendan, was an NBA coach, and the game is clearly in his blood.
Former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski called it a good hire. So did Dan Dakich, who noted that former NBA players such as Juwan Howard (whom he called an idiot), Chris Mullin, and Chris Ewing all struggled in college.
Malone, however, was never an NBA player; he has been a coach since he graduated from college.
Former Tar Heel Kenny Smith, who was involved in the search, was impressed. Several informed observers said the same about people who worked with Malone in the NBA.
Bomani Jones was skeptical, questioning whether Malone could adapt to the college game. “What’s the big deal about waiting a week for Billy Donovan?” he asked.
One clear upside: no buyout. After committing to paying off Hubert Davis’s full contract and Bill Belichick’s big contract, that alone was appealing.
The transfer portal may have played a role, too. One report said incoming athletic director Steve Newmark grew concerned about the timing there.
The bigger question is whether Malone can adjust to college basketball. He is widely described as hard-working and detail-oriented—strong coaching traits. Still, he is moving from grown men with families and mortgages to 18- to 22-year-olds who cannot legally drink. The sport is the same, but the psychology is not.
Malone is also known for his intensity, which can be an asset. One source called it an upgrade over Hubert Davis. Others are less sure.College coaching demands far more teaching than the NBA, and the best teachers push players without belittling them. A long list of intense college coaches—Virginia’s Dave Leitao, Bob Knight, and Lou Campanelli among them—have run into trouble when intensity crossed into toxicity.
Then there is Malone’s NBA record. He won a championship, but the numbers are telling. As Cody Nagel noted on X:
With Nikola Jokić: 449–293 (.605)
Without Nikola Jokić: 61–101 (.377)
That’s both fair and unfair. NBA coaches have limited roster control, and Malone inherited a dysfunctional Sacramento team before Denver. Still, a talent like Jokić should produce wins.
What ultimately went wrong in Denver? Two main issues. First, a clash with the GM, who wanted a younger roster while Malone preferred veterans—a common front-office tension. Second, and more serious: reports say Malone lost the locker room. Players allegedly felt he favored Jokić and other stars, and his intense style and outbursts reportedly grew tiresome.
That is a genuine concern at the college level. Just this week, toxic cultures surfaced in women’s programs at Virginia (where Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton was forced out) and Tennessee (where the entire team entered the portal amid complaints about Kim Caldwell).
In the NBA, a player like Aaron Gordon is locked in through 2028–29. In Chapel Hill, players can enter the portal any Tuesday.
Yesterday we suggested that if UNC couldn’t land a proven coach quickly, it should hire former assistant Marcus Paige and surround him with experienced staff to help him grow. Malone, with his vast pro experience, doesn’t face the same learning curve—but he would still be smart to hire someone who knows college basketball intimately. A coach like Jerome Tang, recently let go by Kansas State, could help him navigate recruiting, NIL, boosters, and the nuances of the college game.
Victor Wembanyama left the court in the first half, returned and got over the 15-minute threshold, then did not play in the second half with what the Spurs called a rib contusion suffered against the Philadelphia 76ers.
After the game, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said he had no information or update on Wembanyama's status going forward. The injury occurred with 10:47 left in the second quarter when Paul George went to steal a pass meant for Wembanyama as he ran in transition. Wembanyama sat on the court for a minute, then checked himself out of the game and went to the locker room. He returned to play a few more minutes in the first half but did not come out for the second half, with the team announcing he would not return.
Because Wemby played more than 15 minutes, this game counts as his second "near miss" game, so it counts toward his 65-game total needed to qualify for postseason awards (Wembanyama is considered a heavy favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year and is pushing the Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for MVP). Wembanyama needs to play 20+ minutes in one of the Spurs' remaining three games to reach the league-mandated 65-game threshold. While Wemby is officially listed as having played in just 63 games, he played in the NBA Cup championship game, and that counts toward the total even though it does not show up in his official stats.
Wembanyama's early exit ended a fun head-to-head matchup with Philadelphia's Joel Embiid. Wemby finished with 17 points in his limited minutes, while Embiid went on to have 34 points and 12 rebounds. The Spurs still got the win behind a triple-double from Stephon Castle.
The 2024-25 season did not treat Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen kindly. The 27-year-old goaltender finished this past campaign with a 24-24-5 record, an .887 save percentage, and a 3.20 goals-against average.
With how last season went for Luukkonen, some had questions about his future with the Sabres. While this was the case, there is no question that he has silenced his critics with his play this season.
Luukkonen has been one of the Sabres' big reasons for their major turnaround this season. In 33 games this season with Buffalo, he has a 20-9-3 record, a .911 save percentage, and a 2.55 goals-against average. With this, he has not only had a bounce-back season with the Sabres but has been among the NHL's top goaltenders.
Luukkonen is only continuing to impress as the season rolls on, too. In his most recent start against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, he stopped 23 out of 25 shots in Buffalo's big 4-2 win.
Overall, it is hard not to be happy with Luukkonen's play this season. He has been taking his game to a new level for the Sabres, and it will be fascinating to see how he finishes off the campaign from here.
After the game, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson told reporters that he did not know the status or severity of Wembanyama’s injury.
“I think it would be a positive that he felt he could play the last four-to-five minutes of the half,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson told reporters after the game. “That’s a positive from my perspective, but I have nothing (on his future status).”
Presumably, Wembanyama will undergo testing and imaging Tuesday, April 7, at which point the Spurs will be able to diagnose the issue, though Johnson didn’t have an answer for the timeline on that, either. Monday night’s game against the Sixers was the first game of a four-game homestand, which facilitates the process.
“At halftime, I was told he wasn’t coming back, and honest to God, I haven’t heard anything else at this point,” Johnson added.
Wembanyama appeared to suffer the injury in the second quarter, after he collided near mid-court with 76ers forward Paul George. Wembanyama went down and immediately favored his side. He would go into the locker room briefly, but returned to finish the half.
Later in the second quarter, with 2:56 left to play in the half, Wembanyama made a layup and bumped into Spurs forward Keldon Johnson as he landed. Wembanyama immediately grimaced and labored through the free throw.
What does Victor Wembanyama’s injury mean for his MVP and DPoY eligibility?
In short: Wembanyama needs to appear in at least one of San Antonio’s remaining three games, and he needs to play at least 20 minutes to meet the 65-game threshold required for individual awards eligibility.
Technically, and even though he played just 15:40 against the 76ers, Wembanyama officially played his 63rd game of the season. The 65-game rule stipulates that a player needs to play at least 20 minutes in each game to be eligible, but the NBA has two “near-miss” exceptions for when a player records between 15 and 20 minutes in a game. Monday night will go down as Wembanyama’s second exception, after he played just 17:18 in a December 18 victory over the Washington Wizards.
In addition, and even though the stats from the NBA Cup Championship do not count to his season totals, Wembanyama’s participation in the final does count toward the 65-game rule.
All of which puts him at 64 games for this season and necessitates that final 20-minute performance.
What does Victor Wembanyama’s injury mean for the Spurs?
Without knowing the severity of the injury, this is tough to project. Wembanyama, however, is one of the Top 5 players in the world, so any time missed is a blow.
His dominance on defense completely changes the way opponents can attack San Antonio. His length and versatility on offense make him a singular, three-level scorer.
All that said, the Spurs are a deep and talented team, one that is well positioned to weather a short-term absence; San Antonio went 11-5 in games this season that Wembanyama missed.
Backup Luke Kornet would presumably start in Wembanyama’s place, and even more responsibility would be placed on guards Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox.
For one last time this season, the Montreal Canadiens will take on the defending champions, the Florida Panthers, on Tuesday night at the Bell Centre. This will be the third meeting between the two sides, and the Habs will be going for the season sweep after winning the first two matchups. In fact, Montreal has now won seven consecutive games against the Florida outfit, with the visitors only having won three of the last 10 tilts.
While the hosts have a fantastic 8-2-0 record in their last 10 games, the visitors have a 4-6-0 record over the same span and have lost their last two games against the Pittsburgh Penguins, being outscored 14-6 in the process. It should be noted that Florida is playing without many of its regulars right now: captain Aleksander Barkov, who has missed the entire season; Brad Marchand; Evan Rodrigues; Sam Reinhart; Anton Lundell; Aaron Ekblad; and Jonah Gadjovich. Most of whom are likely to be out for the rest of the season.
Both teams had a day off yesterday and have yet to confirm who will be tending the net, but I would expect Jakub Dobes to be back in the net after Jacob Fowler lost 3-0 to the New Jersey Devils in his last outing. The Czech netminder has won his only game against the Cats, shutting them out 4-0 in his NHL debut back in December 2024. As for Fowler, he has never faced them since Samuel Montembeault was on duty for both games against his former team this season.
Meanwhile, Sergei Bobrovsky has a 16-10-1 record against the Canadiens with a 2.57 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage, while backup Daniil Tarasov is 0-1-1 with a 2.72 GAA and a .897 SV. The backup was in net for the Cats’ last game, so the smart money is on Bobrovsky being back between the pipes, eager to bounce back after being yanked in a 9-4 loss against Pittsburgh.
Up front, fans and media alike are still on the “Cole Caufield 50-goal watch”, and the sniper has put up 14 points in 16 duels against the Cats, including eight goals, but only one of those was scored against Bobrovsky. Brendan Gallagher remains the Canadiens’ most productive player against Florida with 24 points in 42 games, but captain Nick Suzuki is fast catching up with 23 points in just 21 games. That bodes well for Suzuki, who currently has 95 points and just needs one to tie Pierre Turgeon as the Canadiens’ captain who has put up the most points in a single season with 96 in 1995-96. With five games to go, chances are Suzuki would also like to reach the century mark, and a depleted Panthers side might just be exactly what the doctor ordered. Finally, Josh Anderson is tied with Caufield as the Habs’ third most productive player against the visitors, but he needed 25 games to register his 14 points.
As for the visitors, uber pest Matthew Tkachuk is their most productive player against Montreal with 28 points in just 26 games, followed by Sam Bennett, who has 24 points in 30 games and Seth Jones, who has 15 points in 28 tilts. Reinhart, Ekblad and Marchand would all have been up there, but as mentioned earlier, they are all out of commission.
Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM, and you can catch the game on RDS, TSN2, and SCRIPPS. Eric Furlatt and Justin Kea are set to officiate, while Trent Knorr and Jeremy Faucher will be the linemen. The Canadiens are currently third in the Atlantic Division, two points behind the Buffalo Sabres and the Tampa Bay Lightning, who now both have 102 points thanks to the Sabres’ 4-2 win over the Bolts on Monday night. As for the Carolina Hurricanes, they lead the Eastern Conference with 104 points, and are still mathematically catchable.
The Vancouver Canucks (22-46-8) hit the ice on Tuesday as they battle the Vegas Golden Knights (35-26-16). The Canucks will be looking for an elusive home win, as they have just eight in 39 games at Rogers Arena this season. As for the Golden Knights, they have been on a roll of late as they enter Tuesday with three-straight victories.
For Vancouver, the power play will be a focus. The Canucks have scored with the man advantage in the last five games and seven of the past eight. At this stage of the season, it is a positive to see the power play clicking, as it means Vancouver's top players are finding the back of the net.
As for second periods, they remain a topic of discussion surrounding the team. The Canucks have allowed a goal in the second period in each of the past 22 games and lead the NHL with 111 allowed in the middle frame. While Vancouver won't set the record for goals allowed in the second period, they are well on their way to the most against in the 21st Century.
Mar 30, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) checks Vancouver Canucks defenseman Marcus Pettersson (29) during the third period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Players To Watch:
Marco Rossi:
Marco Rossi has been a bright spot over the past few weeks. He is contributing to the power play and is showing he can be an impactful second-line center. If the Canucks have eyes on a win on Tuesday, they will need a big performance from Rossi both with the man advantage and at even strength.
Mark Stone:
Mark Stone continues to be Vegas' heartbeat. The Olympian is up to 67 points in 55 games, which includes 24 goals. With points in each of his last three games, odds are Stone will once again find his way onto the scoresheet.
Vancouver Canucks (22–46–8):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 15–33–48
Filip Hronek: 8–38–46
Brock Boeser: 21–23–44
Jake DeBrusk: 19–19–38
Linus Karlsson: 15-18-33
Goaltenders:
Kevin Lankinen: 9–26–5
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Nikita Tolopilo: 5–9–2
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Vegas Golden Knights (35–26–16):
Points:
Jack Eichel: 25-57-82
Mitch Marner: 23-54-77
Mark Stone: 24-43-67
Pavel Dorofeyev: 35-26-61
Ivan Barbashev: 22-36-58
Goaltenders:
Akira Schmid: 16-10-6
Adin Hill: 10-9-5
Carter Hart: 7-3-3
Carl Lindbom: 2-4-2
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 21: Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils runs downt the court against the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 21, 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
College basketball season is over, and the Michigan Wolverines are national champions. Now the 2026 NBA Draft is on the clock.
This has long been considered a strong class due to the three star freshmen expected to go with the first three picks. The draft lottery on May 10 will determine in what order Duke’s Cameron Boozer, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa come off the board. The rise of fellow freshmen like North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson, Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, Arkansas guard Darius Acuff, and Houston guard Kingston Flemings makes this class even stronger in the first half of the lottery.
The Final Four had so many great NBA prospects on display. This mock draft features a whopping nine players who competed in Indianapolis for the national semifinals. Wagler will have a chance to go as high as No. 5 overall, and Brayden Mullins’ incredible Elite Eight buzzer-beater to stun Duke now has him in his highest mock draft position all season.
Here’s our latest projection of the 2026 NBA Draft. The order is determined by the NBA’s current lottery position standings.
Pick
Team
Player
Position
School
Age
1
Washington Wizards
Cameron Boozer
Forward
Duke
Freshman
2
Indiana Pacers
Darryn Peterson
Guard
Kansas
Freshman
3
Brooklyn Nets
AJ Dybantsa
Wing
BYU
Freshman
4
Utah Jazz
Caleb Wilson
Forward
North Carolina
Freshman
5
Sacramento Kings
Darius Acuff
Guard
Arkansas
Freshman
6
Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)
Keaton Wagler
Guard
Illinois
Freshman
7
Memphis Grizzlies
Kingston Flemings
Guard
Houston
Freshman
8
Dallas Mavericks
Mikel Brown Jr.
Guard
Louisville
Freshman
9
Chicago Bulls
Aday Mara
Center
Michigan
Junior
10
Milwaukee Bucks
Brayden Burries
Guard
Arizona
Freshman
11
Golden State Warriors
Yaxel Lendeborg
Forward
Michigan
Senior
12
Portland Trail Blazers
Nate Ament
Wing
Tennessee
Freshman
13
Miami Heat
Karim Lopez
Forward
NZ Breakers
Born 2007
14
Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic)
Jayden Quaintance
Center/Forward
Kentucky
Sophomore
15
Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)
Hannes Steinbach
Forward/Center
Washington
Freshman
16
Charlotte Hornets
Morez Johnson
Center/Forward
Michigan
Sophomore
17
Toronto Raptors
Labaron Philon
Guard
Alabama
Sophomore
18
Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers)
Braylon Mullins
Guard
UConn
Freshman
19
Charlotte Hornets (via Suns)
Bennett Stirtz
Guard
Iowa
Senior
20
San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)
Patrick Ngongba
Center
Duke
Sophomore
21
Detroit Pistons (via Wolves)
Thomas Haugh
Forward
Florida
Junior
22
Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs)
Cameron Carr
Wing
Baylor
Junior
23
Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets)
Motiejus Krivas
Center
Arizona
Junior
24
Los Angeles Lakers
Dailyn Swain
Forward
Texas
Junior
25
New York Knicks
Tyler Tanner
Guard
Vanderbilt
Sophomore
26
Denver Nuggets
Allen Graves
Forward
Santa Clara
Freshman
27
Boston Celtics
Tounde Yessoufou
Guard
Baylor
Freshman
28
Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons)
Joshua Jefferson
Forward
Iowa State
Senior
29
Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs)
Koa Peat
Forward
Arizona
Freshman
30
Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder)
Tarris Reed
Center
UConn
Senior
Some do some quick takes here:
Boozer is my No. 1 prospect because he was obviously the best player in the country this year, he’s the youngest of the big three, he has the strongest feel for the game, and the best offensive versatility. I don’t understand the skepticism about his upside as he goes to the next level. All he does is impact winning to the highest degree. I really like his fit in Washington with a mobile defensive center in Alex Sarr.
I love the fit with Mikel Brown Jr. going to Dallas. The Point Flagg experiment was cool, but let’s get him focused on playing elite level defensive again.
Bennett Stirtz is my favorite prospect after the lottery this year. He’s an elite shot-maker with the strong feel who should thrive once he exits Iowa head coach Ben McCollum’s super slow offense.
The toughest evaluation this year is Jayden Quaintance. He looked like a stud as a 17-year-old freshman at Arizona State a year ago, but recovering from a torn ACL wiped away almost his entire season at Kentucky this year. Quaintance has great physical tools, but his offensive impact is questionable. I thought he’d be a lock for a top-10 pick coming into the year, and now it’s extremely difficult to project where he could go.
Got a question or comment about this mock? Leave a comment and I’ll respond
Let’s start by making a few things clear. This is not about wins and losses. This is not even just about the Phoenix Suns. This is about the NBA.
This is about a billion-dollar product that a lot of us pay a lot of money to watch. This is about a league which claims to “encourage[e] communication, dialogue[,] and transparency with NBA fans…” while showing little to no effort to meet such a goal. But it is becoming clear to me that this may not be an issue if Adam Silver actually put competent leadership in place.
Let’s also be clear that these failures of NBA executives are not a new development. Not at all. The NBA’s leadership void has persisted for years – and evidence suggests the problem is only becoming exacerbated.
Let’s start with Kathy Behrens
Behrens is the Executive Vice President of Social Responsibility and Player Programs for the NBA. According to her bio, she “oversees a group that manages all of the NBA’s programs that coordinate league and player social responsibility efforts, support player growth and development, and enhance the marketing opportunities for current and former players.”
For instance, after Draymond Green punched Jusuf Nurkic on December 13, 2023, the NBA suspended him indefinitely, and Behrens played a role in regular “check-in calls” with Green before he was allowed to return from suspension.
Sounds like Behrens is a real difference-maker in a positive way, right?
That might be the case if you are able to ignore the fact that Kathy Behrens enabled Green’s violent behavior before finally seeing what the rest of the world had seen for years.
Let’s go back to October 5, 2022, when Draymond Green attacked his teammate, Jordan Poole, during a Golden State Warriors team practice. Frankly, my legal background made it an intriguing situation, so I reached out to Behrens via email, asking why the NBA had not issued any discipline to Green. While, for reasons I will not get into here, my email (curiously) never reached Behrens, she eventually provided me with some insight via a Twitter DM.
With respect to Green, Behrens told me that “the [Warriors] disciplined him and [the NBA] determined that was sufficient.”
Public reports regarding the incident, however, suggested that Green faced potential discipline, but that it would be handled internally. So, I asked Behrens if she could clarify the “sufficient” discipline that the Warriors had levied.
In response, Behrens stated, “The warriors suspended him and it was made public…” and that the NBA believes that “was the right outcome.”
The problem with Behrens’ statement, however, is that public reports stated that Green “was fined but not suspended.”
I pointed this out to Behrens, and she changed her response to me: “Draymond was kept out of practice for a number of days and then fined by the team.”
I followed up and asked Behrens how Green’s actions and the NBA’s response fit within the league’s social responsibility principles – what did that result in?
So, let’s recap:
Draymond Green attacks his teammate in 2022.
The NBA’s Executive Vice President of Social Responsibility and Player Programs, admittedly, does nothing about it – in fact, does not even know what discipline was levied by the Warriors.
When I ask whether Green’s conduct falls within the purview of her job, Behrens blocks me.
One year later, Green attacks Nukic in the middle of a game and THEN the NBA – and Behrens – decide something needs to be done.
What took Behrens so long to take action against Green?
Why did Behrens not even know what discipline – if any – was levied the first time around?
Why would Behrens block someone for asking about the NBA’s role in social responsibility?
All signs point to complete ineptitude in her role. Nothing more, nothing less.
Let’s move on to officiating – and the man responsible for NBA officials – Albert Sanders, Jr.
Sanders is the NBA’s Executive Vice President, Head of Referee Operations. You can learn more about him in this lovely puff piece written by Dan Woike.
According to Woike, Sanders took his job with the NBA “[b]ecause the rules matter.” Which is ironic, considering the fact that Sanders’ officials consistently fail to enforce the rules.
Now, before diving deep into the failures of Sanders and his officials, let’s provide some context for these referees. NBA referees are touted as being the best of the best. That, presumably, is why they are paid between $250,000 and $550,000 per year. They are paid very well to perform in a high-profile job in – as referenced above – a billion-dollar industry.
This, of course, makes their constant failures – and the lack of any discipline or transparency from Sanders – particularly frustrating.
Now, I could post video after video of NBA officials missing calls, but that does not seem productive. Even the most egregious misses, in theory, can be explained by the game speed, angles, etc. So, for purposes of this article, we’ll give officials the benefit of the doubt for on-floor calls.
Let’s focus on more objective standards.
First, the pool reports that are done by NBA officials after certain games and numerous instances where NBA referees have provided explanations/answers to pool questions that are inconsistent with the NBA Rulebook.
Why focus on that? Because these are irrefutable instances where NBA referees demonstrate a complete lack of understanding when it comes to the NBA Rulebook – a circumstance that, for individuals being paid as much as they are and who are as imperative to the game as they are, should be unacceptable to Albert Sanders, Jr.
In the NBA Rulebook, can profanity lead to a technical foul? Yes, it can.
But “Cursing at or blaspheming an official shall not be considered the only cause for imposing technical fouls.” (emphasis added.)
So, Foster states that Kidd was ejected for using profanity at an NBA official on two occasions, but the NBA Rulebook provides that such conduct is not even sufficient grounds for one technical foul, let alone an ejection. Objectively, Scott Foster’s response to the pool reporter’s question is inconsistent with the NBA Rulebook.
While Scott Foster may have been besties with Tim Donaghy and, therefore, of questionable ethical makeup in the first place, he has been an NBA referee for more than 30 years, and his inability to grasp the rules is inexcusable.
In any other workplace, such incompetence would not be tolerated. In the NBA, it seems as though it is almost celebrated.
Exhibit 2
You all may recall this one. On December 14, 2025, LeBron James manhandled a referee in a game against the Phoenix Suns and what came of it? Zero. Nothing. Zilch. Nada.
And why was that, you may ask?
Well, according to Tyler Ford (I know, I know…), “During instant replay review, we have the ability to review all unsportsmanlike acts. There was no unsportsmanlike act observed for making contact with a referee.”
Pool report with lead official Tyler Ford on Phoenix Suns 116-114 loss to Los Angeles Lakers Dec. 14 at Mortgage Matchup Center. #Suns#LakeShowpic.twitter.com/wIxfZQrphq
Once again, an NBA official makes a statement that is entirely inconsistent with the NBA Rulebook, which states:
Let’s break this language down, shall we?
According to the dictionary (yes, it needs to be this elementary for NBA officials), “shall” means, “expressing an instruction or command.” In other words, if someone “shall” do something, they are required to do something.
Applying the foregoing to the NBA Rulebook means that an NBA referee must issue a technical foul if a player makes contact with a referee because, by definition, contacting a referee is an “unsportsmanlike act.” The Rulebook does not provide a subjective aspect where the official can decide whether or not an “unsportsmanlike act” exists.
But, apparently, Tyler Ford believes that this subjective element exists. In reality, however, LeBron should have been assessed a technical foul for contacting a game official. Tyler Ford’s explanation indicates that either (1) he expressly ignores the NBA Rulebook and calls games on his own prerogative (which is not entirely out of the question), or (2) he does not know the NBA Rulebook.
Either way, Ford’s nonsensical explanation is another demonstration of Albert Sanders, Jr.’s failures as an NBA executive.
Exhibit 3
OK…this one is not from a pool report, but it is equally objective.
How many times have we seen a referee allow a challenge by an opposing team after a member of the Phoenix Suns has already been given the ball at the free throw line?
Well, guess what? The NBA Rulebook says that cannot happen.
Not to belabor the point – because it is explained in the tweet – but, under the NBA Rulebook, to initiate a Challenge, the team challenging the call “must call a legal timeout immediately after the call….”
Going back to our trusty dictionary, “must” means “to be obliged or bound to by an imperative requirement.” In other words, “must” – much like “shall” – indicates a “requirement.”
Lucky for us, the NBA Rulebook actually defines the term “immediately.”
In the clip referenced above, Ray Acosta passes the ball to Devin Booker, looks to the bench, then blows his whistle and awards the challenge – a decision that Crew Chief, Tyler Ford (yeah, that guy, again), should not have allowed. But, of course, Ford has already demonstrated his inability to grasp the rules.
At the point where Acosta releases the ball to give to Devin Booker, there is no longer the ability to challenge the call. Objectively, that is what the NBA Rulebook says.
So, again, why this error? Incompetence.
And it all starts at the top with Albert Sanders, Jr.
While we are at it, it bears noting that this has happened to the Phoenix Suns at least three times this season – and at least twice to Devin Booker.
So, if the NBA is becoming less watchable for you, these are two individuals who can carry a large load of the blame.
Lastly, I will note that I reached out to Behrens, Sanders, and even Sanders’ boss, Byron Spruell, about these issues. Perhaps not surprisingly, I received no response. Which begs the question: why is the NBA so scared of transparency? Why would Behrens, Sanders, and Spruell not want to demonstrate that the NBA operates with integrity?
Their silence provides all the answers I need.
But, hey…maybe I’m wrong about everything. Maybe every piece of analysis in this article is wrong.
If so, Kathy, Albert, and Byron know how to find me.
EAST MEADOW, NY -- Top forward prospect Victor Eklund could be a call-up option for the New York Islanders before the season comes to a close, per general manager Mathieu Darche.
"We're looking at everything for sure," Darche said as his team tries to recover from a four-game slide to get back into a playoff spot with four games to go. "Eklund has done really well in Bridgeport. Obviously, he's put up points. There are other aspects of the game. Obviously, there's a first adjustment. What makes the adjustment maybe a bit easier for him is that he played against men this year in the SHL."
Through his first four AHL games, the Islanders' second of three first-round picks at the 2025 NHL Draft (No. 16) has recorded six assists.
But, as Darche said, it's more about points, and well, he's been really strong in all three zones. He has a tremendous grasp of where he needs to be positioned, too, and he's got a drive, a motor that will make him a fan favorite.
Eklund, who signed his three-year entry-level deal last August, is eligible to be recalled without the Islanders having to make any kind of roster moves.
The first season of his ELC will slide if he plays fewer than 10 NHL games, including the postseason, if the Islanders qualify.
Even if recalled, the 19-year-old will be eligible for the AHL Playoffs.
If not this season, Eklund will be a player to watch at training camp, as he'll certainly be fighting for a roster spot ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Detroit Red Wings - 40-29-8 - 88 Points - 4-6-0 in the last 10 - Lost 2 - 6th in the Atlantic
Columbus Blue Jackets - 38-27-12 - 88 Points - 3-6-1 in the last 10 - Lost 3 - 5th in the Metro
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
Columbus fell 2-1 to Winnipeg in its most recent contest on Saturday. It begins its final road trip of the regular season on Tuesday at Detroit and includes games at Buffalo (Thursday) and Montreal (Saturday).
The Blue Jackets play all four of their games this week against the Atlantic Division. The club has earned points in 18 of its last 22 games against the division dating back to Apr. 8, 2025 (13-4-5).
CBJ rank second in the NHL in scoring the first goal of the game (46) and fourth in goals scored in the opening period (79).
The Jackets have also earned points in 25 of their past 33 contests overall since Jan. 11 (20-8-5, 45 pts.). The club ranks third in the league in goals-against per game (2.61) and fifth-T in points pct. (.632) over that stretch.
The team has earned points in 10 of its last 14 road games, ranking fifth in the league in points pct. since Jan. 11 (9-4-1, .679).
Columbus leads the NHL with a franchise-record 57 goals scored by defensemen in 2025-26 (57-133-190, 77 GP).
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Adam Fantilli has set single-season career highs in assists and points with 21-34-55 in 77 contests.
Jet Greaves has earned points in 15 of his last 19 starts (12-4-3, 2.34 GAA, .913 SV% in 20 GP), ranking fifth among goaltenders in GAA and seventh in SV% since Jan. 11 (min. 6 GP).
Kirill Marchenko has posted assists in three of the past four games (1-4-5) and is the fifth player in Blue Jackets history with 25-plus goals in consecutive seasons (31 in 2024-25; 26 in 2025-26).
Mason Marchment has collected assists in each of his past three outings (1-4-5) and has 2-5-7 in his last six games. He ranks second on the team in goals since making his CBJ debut on Dec. 20, 2025 (14-14-28 in 34 GP).
Zach Werenski, with 21-57-78 in 70 games in 2025-26, sits two assists shy of tying the franchise's record for assists in a single season set by Artemi Panarin (79 GP in 2018-19) and matched by the defenseman in 2024-25 (81 GP). He's also two points away from becoming the third American-born defenseman in NHL history with consecutive 80-point campaigns (Brian Leetch, 1990-91 - 1991-92 with NYR; Phil Housley, 1991-92 - 1992-93 with WPG).
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 19.5% - 21st in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 76.3% - 27th in the NHL
Goals For - 236 - 18th in the NHL
Goals Against - 234 - 22nd in the NHL
Red WingsStats
Power Play - 22.0% - 13th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 77.3% - 25th in the NHL
Goals For - 223 - 22nd in the NHL
Goals Against - 231 - 12th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheRed Wings
Columbus is 49-52-1-15 all-time, and 21-28-0-8 all-time in Detroit.
Columbus has earned points in four-straight meetings of the series vs. Detroit (3-0-1) and five of the last six (3-1-2).
CBJ have earned points in three consecutive road games (1-0-2) and five of the past six at Little Caesars Arena (3-1-2).
After going 19-39-11 vs. Detroit from 2000-12, the Blue Jackets are 30-13-5 since the 2012-13 campaign.
The road team has recorded points in 10 of the last 12 games of the series dating back to Apr. 9, 2022 (7-2-3).
The teams have combined for seven or more goals in 13 of the past 16 contests, including the last seven-straight.
The winning team has scored four or more goals in 16 consecutive games since May 7, 2021, and in 18 of the last 20 in the overall series dating back to Mar. 2, 2021.
Five of the past six games at Detroit have been decided by a single goal with three decided in overtime (CBJ; 1-2).
CBJ has scored a power play goal in five of the past six meetings overall (6-of-13; 46.2 pct.)
Who To Watch For TheRed Wings
Alex DeBrincat leads the team with 39 goals and 81 points.
Lucas Raymond leads Detroit with 48 assists.
Goalie John Gibson is 28-20-3 with a SV% of .904.
CBJ Player Notes vsRed Wings
Boone Jenner has 29 points in 35 games vs. the Red Wings.
Zach Werenski has 25 points in 27 games.
Charlie Coyle has 14 points in his career against Detroit.
Injured Reserve & Other Injuries
Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 39 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
Damon Severson - Missed 5 Games - Upper Body - OUT FOR THE SEASON
Dmitri Voronkov - Missed 4 Games - Upper Body - Week-to-week
Mathieu Olivier - Missed 3 Games - Upper Body - OUT FOR THE SEASON
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 198
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
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INDIANAPOLIS — You wouldn’t think Michigan would be all smiles at halftime.
Yes, it had a four point lead over Connecticut in the national championship game, but it was an unattractive four-point lead. It was arguably the worst first-half performance of the season. Not only did the Wolverines fail to make a single 3-pointer in the first half – the only time that’s happened this season – but there were no makes outside of the paint.
An awful first 20 minutes, but the Wolverines weren’t just staying positive, they were beaming in happiness.
Why?
"It can’t get any worse," Michigan guard Nimari Bennett told USA TODAY Sports.
True, but it’s not like the second half was any better. Michigan struggled offensively for all 40 minutes. The 69 points were Michigan's third lowest of the season. It was the worst 3-point shooting night of the season.
Actually, it was the worst shooting performance of the season, period.
UConn needed to make Michigan look ugly to win. It did that – and it still lost.
So, how did the Wolverines do it?
Because of one thing hiding in plain sight; while Michigan was lighting up the scoreboard with its prolific offense all tournament long, it made everyone forget one thing: they are just as good on defense.
The Wolverines made sure to remind everybody on Monday, resulting in a national championship as those halftime smiles carried over to after the buzzer sounded and Lucas Oil Stadium rained maize and blue confetti.
It’s not like Michigan’s defensive prowess wasn't there for all to see. Three players – Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara – were Big Ten all-defensive players, with Mara the conference defensive player of the year.
That’s why teams’ defensive shooting percentage of 38.4% and average of 6.1 blocks per game were each the second best mark in the country, and it was on full display in the NCAA Tournament.
The reason why Michigan won its first five tournament games by an average of 21.6 points per game wasn’t just because it was scoring at least 90 points, but because it harassed opposing offenses every night.
No team shot above 45% against the Wolverines, and the collective opponent shooting percentage from those games? A whopping 37.9%. The defense got better in the tournament.
"The statistics, it speaks for itself," Bennett said. "I feel like we're the best defensive team in the country."
Bennett and company did prove it. UConn shot a season-worst 31% from the field. A team that was top 10 in assists with more than 18 per game had just nine, the only time it was held to single digits.
Despite making nine three pointers, UConn missed 24 attempts. Shots were constantly getting contested by the the Wolverines' quickness to the ball. Even with the looks UConn wanted, not many of them were wide open.
It didn't get any easier near the basket. Six shots inside the paint got swatted away, making it tough for the Huskies to prevail even with their own defensive toughness.
"It's hard to have a level of disappointment where literally it just came down to we just didn't make enough shots in the basket," UConn coach Dan Hurley said. "To be able to keep that team under 40% from the field – 38% – this team has destroyed everyone they've faced in this tournament."
In the NCAA Tournament, teams are 1-50 all-time when:
- scoring under 70 points - shooting under 40.0% from the field - shooting under 15.0% from three on 15+ attempts - getting outrebounded
For all of its defensive success, Michigan still had to find a way to score, and it did so in an uncharacteristic way.
If there was one thing Michigan wasn’t good at, it was free throws. The Wolverines entered the night 109th in the country with a 74.3% mark from the charity stripe. They drew fouls, resulting in 28 free throw attempts.
How many makes? How about 25 for an 89.3% clip.
All of it proving to be just enough to get the biggest win of the season.
"We started off really, really bad offensively, our defense was the reason why we won most of those games, today is the same thing," Lendeborg said. "We had to dig deep."
While it wasn’t pretty by any means, how Michigan won showed there is nothing to doubt about this title. Since the statement it made at the Player’s Era tournament, Michigan had been a relentless machine on both sides of the ball, churning blowout after blowout, no matter who was on the other side.
Even when it isn’t able to do that, instead of falling apart like most teams could, the Wolverines opted to hone in on one of its many strengths and ride it toward a win.
"They're legit. They definitely deserved to win the national championship. They're clearly the best team in the country this year," Hurley said.
UConn wanted a slugfest, and it’s exactly what it got. Michigan coach Dusty May actually admitted the Huskies "had a masterful game plan to beat us." All of it pointed to a third national title in four years to cement Hurley’s dynasty.
Little did UConn and the rest of the country realize Michigan had been throwing it down all season, and it didn’t need another offensive surge to do that. The defense carried Michigan just as much to this point, and in the end, it proved defense wins championships.
"Obviously, it's a big stage, but we deserve to be here," Bennett said. "We deserve this moment."
