SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 9 : Jacob Tobey and Sean Elliott smiles during the game between the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas on October 9, 2024. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs have return home from a short three-game road trip. On Monday night, the Spurs host the Philadelphia 76ers in a game that is promoting Native American Heritage.
Spurs shooting guard Lindy Waters III representing Kiowa and Cherokee-American tribes and Jacob Tobey, Mashpee Wampanoag of Massachusetts, have teamed up with the Spurs to bring awareness through “Sacred Like Me.”
The evening is filled with special events including a land acknowledgement ceremony, grants, and in-game performances.
Spurs play-by-play announcer Jacob Tobey will perform the national anthem.
Tobey, now in his second year with the Spurs, has embraced San Antonio as his home. In addition to his full-time job, the Suffolk University alum enjoys performing as part of the local music scene.
He can often be seen throughout San Antonio with his guitar playing hit songs and fan favorites. Last march, he was asked to perform in Austin on the night off between games when the Spurs hosted two Rodeo Road Trip games in the state capital. The Spurs Jackals who made the trip to Austin cheered him on as part of the audience on that Friday evening.
He has some San Antonio shows in April. On the 11th, he’ll be performing at Elsewhere Too, a venue he’s returned to regularly. Later that week on the 16th he’ll be at Smash’d, another hot spot promoting Tobey’s passion.
I asked him how hard it was to book shows with the Spurs entering the playoffs. He admitted he had to plan strategically now that the postseason was imminent.
Tobey shared that finding the balance for writing and performing can be difficult with the demands of his dream career as play-by-play announcer, but venues work with him as the demand for his music grows within the scene. He plans on recording his original music during the offseason for an upcoming release.
If you are not a local patron, fear not, Tobey often livestreams a portion of his performances through his Instagram page.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 02: Onyeka Okongwu #17 of the Atlanta Hawks falls while playing against Kevin McCullar Jr. #9 of the New York Knicks during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden on January 02, 2026 in New York City. 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 Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tonight, the Atlanta Hawks (45-33) host the Knicks (50*-28) at State Farm Arena. New York sits third in the Eastern Conference, having won two straight to improve to 7-3 in their last 10. The Knicks need to stay sharp in their last road game of the season, especially with the Cleveland Cavaliers on their heels. Atlanta, meanwhile, might be the league’s hottest team, riding a four-game win streak and sitting fifth in the East.
The season series is split 1-1. The teams last met on January 2 in New York, where the Hawks pulled off a 111-99 victory. Onyeka Okongwu and Nickeil Alexander-Walker both scored 23 points for the winners. On the home team’s side, Jalen Brunson racked up 24 points while Ariel Hukporti snared 16 boards.
Things are looking up in Atlanta now that they’ve parted ways with Trae. The Birds have won 18 of their last 20 games and are playing with confidence down the stretch. They score 118.6 points per game while allowing 115.9, mixing a mid-tier offense (14th in the league with a ninth-ranked defense. Quin Snyder’s boys play fast (fifth for pace) and move the ball, dishing a league-best 30.3 dimes per game. From the perimeter they shoot 37%, and they rate sixth for points per game, partially because their defense is sound (9.5 steals per game).
Jalen Johnson leads the team in scoring with 22.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, while Alexander-Walker has flourished in Georgia, averaging 20.6 points per game, taking eight three-pointers a game, and making 39% of them. At center, Onyeka Okongwu has averaged 15.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 71 games this season. Dyson Daniels, The Great Barrier Thief , puts up 11.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and two steals per game, and veteran CJ McCollum is averaging 18.7 points while shooting 37% from beyond the arc.
As of this writing, the only name on the injury report for either team is Jock Landale of the Hawks, out with an ankle issue.
Prediction
ESPN.com seems to think the Knicks will win, giving them a 57% edge. Color us a little less certain. The Knicks took the first meeting of the season, but it was a close 128-125, with the Hawks winning the second half by ten. New York needed a combined 70 points from KAT and Cap to squeeze the Peaches. In their second matchup, the orange and blue managed just 17 points in the second quarter and couldn’t break 52 points in a frustrating second half.
Since those two contests, the Hawks have found consistency and Snyder has this team humming as they fly toward the playoffs. Although the ’Bockers are blessed with more talent, they don’t always blend their assets in a victorious manner. Atlanta, however, has a weird alchemy and momentum that reminds me a little of the 2020-21 Knicks. Fitting, then, that those Knicks lost in the first round to the Hawks; and for as good as the current team out of Georgia is, I’m not convinced they’re ready to break past the first round. But all that starts in about two weeks. For tonight, look for the Knicks to fight hard for three quarters, then falter down the stretch, losing by three.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (50*-28) at Atlanta Hawks (45-33) Date: Monday, April 6, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM ET Place: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA TV: MSG Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
* Should be one more, but the NBA Cup is too sexy for Milan, New York and Japan.
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 30: Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks celebrates during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 30, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s been a little over a month since Jonathan Kuminga made his Atlanta Hawks debut, and while the team has been red-hot since the All-Star break, it’s been a bit of a mixed bag for the former Warrior as he acclimates to his new surroundings.
In 13 games for Atlanta (25 possible appearances*), Kuminga has put up respectable ‘per game’ averages of 11.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 21 minutes a night on a 59.7% True Shooting clip. Yet, given his sizable $24.3 million team option for next season, it’s far from a guarantee that he’ll be back in Atlanta in 2026-27, and I’m quite fascinated to see the level of production the team gets from him going forwards, particularly as the competition level rises in the postseason.
*Kuminga has been dealing with a balky left knee since he injured it against Dallas on January 22nd, and has played in four consecutive games for the Hawks just once since being acquired at the deadline.
After a frustrating, enigmatic four-and-a-half-year stint in Golden State largely defined by Kuminga’s dismal relationship with head coach, Steve Kerr, the former seventh overall pick was in need of a fresh start in Atlanta, aiming to make good on the sky-high potential that made him a top-10 draft pick.
Kuminga took a few weeks to recover from a bone bruise in his left knee after being traded to Atlanta, but once he was cleared for action, it looked like he’d been shot out of a cannon in his first three games in a Hawks uniform, going for 27, 17, and 20 points against Washington (twice) and Portland, shooting a combined 21-for-31 from the field (5-for-9 from three) over that stretch.
However, after missing the following three games with inflammation in his left knee, he’s struggled to make a consistent impact and has failed to reach the double-digit mark in five out of his last ten appearances.
One trend that’s beginning to emerge in Kuminga’s performances with the Hawks is that he’s generally struggled against Play-In/Playoff-caliber opponents relative to his performances against lottery-bound teams. As you can see in the table below, his numbers – particularly his scoring efficiency – drop across the board against higher caliber competition.
So where does this leave us? Which version of Kuminga can we trust? It’s a difficult question given the miniscule sample size (278 minutes) of him in a Hawks uniform, yet it’s a question Atlanta’s front office is certainly trying to answer as they prepare to decide on his team option for next season.
So without further ado, let’s go through a few critiques of Kuminga’s performance in Atlanta since the All-Star break.
Thrives In Transition
I’ll start with an obvious positive: Jonathan Kuminga is an elite athlete, even by NBA standards, and these athletic gifts lend themselves nicely to an Atlanta team that likes to spread its wings on offense, ranking fifth in pace and fourth in transition frequency on the season. Kuminga thrives in early shot clock situations where he can attack the defense with a head of steam – opportunities that came around less frequently when he was in Golden State earlier this season.
Check out this play from Wednesday’s win over Orlando. ‘JK’ is in attack mode just three seconds into the possession before Franz Wagner can get into his defensive stance, and he capitalizes for an easy two points plus the foul.
Against Boston, the Hawks force a turnover and are off to the races with a 3-on-2 advantage in transition. Kuminga receives the ball around half-court and a few seconds later he’s at the rim, dropping in a lay-up.
Against Portland, he muscles the 7’2”, 280-pound (!) Donovan Clingan out of the way, before finishing off the possession with a pretty reverse lay-in.
Per cleaningtheglass (CTG), the Hawks rank second in transition efficiency this season, scoring 1.34 points per play. With Kuminga shooting an impressive 20-for-32 (62.5%) in the first nine seconds of the shot clock, Atlanta’s transition efficiency improves to 1.39* point-per-play when he is in the game – underscoring his value in these early shot clock situations.
*92nd percentile relative to other five-man lineups this season (min. 100 possessions played)
The problem is that even for teams like the Hawks who like to run, the majority of the game is played in the halfcourt, where Kuminga has been quite inconsistent thus far.
Halfcourt Offense Is a Work In Progress
Tasked with providing a scoring punch off the pine for a defensive-minded Atlanta Hawks bench unit, it would have been rather pollyannaish to expect Kuminga to instantly mesh with his new teammates. That said, watching back a few of his misses on film, it’s clear that he needs to do a better job picking when to attack in the halfcourt.
From their recent game in Boston, Kuminga receives the ball on the wing and keeps his head down on his drive to the basket. There’s more than enough time on the shot-clock for Atlanta to get a cleaner look, and he has opportunities to pass to Zaccharie Risacher, Mo Gueye or the cutting Corey Kispert, but instead Kuminga opts to take it right at three Celtics defenders resulting in an empty possession for Atlanta.
Against Brooklyn on March 12th, Kuminga goes one-on-one against rookie forward, Danny Wolf, and either doesn’t recognize or doesn’t care that Jalen Johnson’s defender is coming over to help. Instead of kicking it out to the open Johnson, Kuminga tries to finish through contact, leading to a blocked shot and an easy transition bucket for Brooklyn.
Earlier in the quarter of the same Brooklyn game, Kuminga dominates the entire possession, taking 11 dribbles before failing to convert at the rim. Similar to the play above, he misses a wide-open Alexander-Walker in the corner before going up to shoot.
The clips above do a good job demonstrating why Kuminga is shooting just 24-for-41 (58.5%) at the rim for the Hawks – well below his career rim field goal percentage of 71%. He needs to slow down, process the defensive coverage, and do his best not to force things.
Still, that’s not to say Kuminga is a complete lost cause in these halfcourt situations. There have been signs of improvement lately.
This was a gorgeous and-one finish on Amari Williams from last week’s game against Boston.
Against Orlando, he puts his strength on display once again, taking it right at Da Silva before finishing at the rim.
Here, he recognizes he’s in a crowd, and instead of forcing up a tough mid-range attempt, kicks it out to Alexander-Walker for a triple from the top of the key. Yes!
Even when he doesn’t convert, the pressure Kuminga puts on the basket can be a positive for Atlanta – especially when he takes an opposing rebounder out of the equation, like on this possession against Detroit.
Additionally, Kuminga is a big help when it comes to generating free-throws for a Hawks team that ranks 25th in free-throw attempt rate on the season, drawing shooting fouls on 17.6% of his field goal attempts in Atlanta, a mark that ranks in the 94th percentile amongst forwards per cleaningtheglass.
Something I’d like to see the Hawks do more of is putting Kuminga in ‘obvious attack’ situations where he can use the same gifts in the halfcourt that make him such a lethal transition scorer.
In the play below, CJ McCollum has his drive walled off by Ausar Thompson and kicks it out to Kuminga on the opposite wing. The left side is completely cleared out for ‘JK’ – just check out how much space he has when he catches the ball – and Javonte Green (my guy!) has no chance sticking with Kuminga’s drive.
I’ve really enjoyed the possessions where Atlanta uses him as a roll-man, like on this play against Memphis. McCollum makes a great pass to the rolling Kuminga and it’s an easy slam for ‘JK’ – with GG Jackson torn between helping on Kuminga and sticking to Corey Kispert in the corner.
Per cleaningtheglass, Atlanta is scoring 0.96 points-per-play in the halfcourt with Kuminga on the floor – slightly below their halfcourt efficiency on the season and a mark that ranks in just the 42nd percentile relative to other five-man lineups with at least 100 possessions played this season. I’m curious to see whether this number rises as Kuminga and his teammates develop a better understanding of each other’s games.
Impact On The Defensive Glass Has Been Elite
We’ve spent a lot of time talking about Kuminga’s scoring ability, but another area where he’s made a noticeable impact for Atlanta is on the glass. I discussed the Hawks substantial turnaround on the boards since the All-Star break in my last piece, and when he’s played, Kuminga has been a big part of this improvement – particularly on the defensive end.
Per pbpstats, Kuminga is personally snagging 18.3% of available defensive boards when he is on the floor for Atlanta – well above his career defensive rebounding percentage (DREB%) of 13% – and it’s encouraging to see that this has translated to the team-level as well, as Atlanta’s 77.9% defensive rebounding percentage with Kuminga on the floor ranks in the 99th percentile (!) relative to other five-man lineups this season per cleaningtheglass.
While it would be nice to see the Hawks turn more of these defensive rebounds into transition opportunities*, given that the defensive glass was a legitimate problem to start the season, Kuminga’s impact in this area deserves a ton of praise.
*per CTG, the Hawks are turning just 28.3% of their defensive boards into transition possessions with Kuminga on the floor – 44th percentile relative to other five-man lineups this season.
Is His Defensive Impact Sustainable?
Lastly, we need to talk about Kuminga’s impact on the defensive end – beyond the boards, of course. Per cleaningtheglass, the Hawks are posting an elite, 104.5 defensive rating with Kuminga on the floor, a mark that ranks in the 98th percentile relative to other five-man lineups this season.
While limiting their opponent’s second chance opportunities has certainly been a factor here, the Hawks are also forcing turnovers on 17% of their defensive possessions* and holding their opponents to an unfathomable 57.8% rim field goal percentage** with Kuminga on the floor – both of which are elite marks.
**99th percentile relative to other five-man lineups per CTG (for reference, San Antonio Spurs’ opponents are shooting 60.4% at the rim when Victor Wembanyama is in the game – albeit in a much larger sample size)
Kuminga has been a more active defender since joining the Hawks, posting more steals per 100 possessions in Atlanta (1.9) than he did in any season with the Warriors.
Against his former team, he picks off Poziemski’s skip pass to the corner, sparking an offensive possession that results in a Risacher triple.
Kuminga is also a legitimate deterrent around the hoop – as on display in these two plays from Atlanta’s win over Boston on March 30th.
Below, he does a good job sticking with Pritchard’s drive before forcing a miss.
Here, he and Okongwu cause Jaylen Brown to adjust mid-air on his drive to the hoop, resulting in another Boston miss.
Now, it has to be said that these defensive numbers are almost certainly inflated by the competition-level Kuminga has faced – with Atlanta playing lottery-bound opponents in six out of the 13 games he’s appeared in – but even so, you only play the teams on your schedule, and it’s been good to see Kuminga and the Hawks taking care of business on the defensive end.
Kuminga’s next opportunity to impress comes at home tonight against the New York Knicks (7-3 in their last ten games), who currently occupy the 3-seed in the Eastern Conference.
Each game provides another data point and I’ll be keeping an eye on his scoring efficiency against a Playoff-caliber opponent, as well as how the team performs on the glass when he is on the floor – with New York ranking sixth in offensive rebounding rate and third in defensive rebounding rate on the season
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 05: Rafael Devers #16 of the San Francisco Giants slams his helmet to the ground after striking out against the New York Mets in the bottom of the first inning at Oracle Park on April 05, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While the Dodgers have won seven of their first nine games to sit atop the National League West, the rest of the division is off to a tough start to 2026, with none of the other four teams having a winning record.
Los Angeles has outscored its opponents by 20 runs through nine games this season, while every other team in the division has a negative run differential. The San Francisco Giants have the worst run differential in the majors, having been outscored by 25 runs through 10 games and scoring a league-worst 2.6 runs per contest. Arizona, even at .500, has been outscored by 17 runs, third-worst differential in MLB thus far.
The lack of success by the rest of the west has been bad largely due to bad offense, with teams ranked 24th, 25th, 27th, and 30th in the majors in runs scored per game through Sunday.
Division news & notes
D-backs outfielder Jordan Lawlar was hit by a pitch on Thursday that broke his right wrist, landing him on the injured list.
The San Diego Padres are averaging just 3.56 runs per game, including scoring three or fewer runs in seven of their first eight games. But it could have been worse for the Friars, who won their final two games in Boston over the weekend to salvage the week.
Arguably the game's most downtrodden franchise the past three decades, the Pirates have roared from the gates in 2026, winning six of their first nine games and soaring 12 spots in USA TODAY Sports' MLB power rankings.
And in sweeping the Baltimore Orioles in their home-opening series, the Pirates got deftly-pitched games from Mitch Keller and Braxton Ashcraft, 4 ⅓ scoreless relief innings in a 10-inning walk-off and a three-run homer from free agent slugger Ryan O'Hearn, his third of the year.
Imagine that: A sweep of a good team, and Paul Skenes had nothing to do with it.
Seven-foot big men do not grow on trees. Luckily for Dusty May and Michigan basketball, they do sometimes enter the NCAA transfer portal.
Such was the case with Aday Mara, who became the 2026 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in one year with the Wolverines after playing sparingly with UCLA in his first two collegiate seasons.
With star Yaxel Lendeborg dealing with an injury in the Final Four against No. 1 Arizona, it was Mara who stepped up with a career-best performance to help the Wolverines reach the national championship game.
Mara will likely be a key piece for Michigan as the Wolverines aim to win their first national championship since 1989. Heading into the national championship in March Madness, here's what you need to know about the Michigan big man:
Aday Mara 2026 NCAA Tournament stats
After a strong regular season where he posted career highs across the board, Mara has come alive for Michigan in the Men's NCAA Tournament, including a career-high 26 points in a dominant win over No. 1 Arizona in the Final Four.
Here's a look at Reed's stats during March Madness:
vs. No. 16 Howard: 19 points (8-of-10 shooting), seven rebounds, six assists and three blocks in 21 minutes
vs. No. 9 Saint Louis: 16 points (7-of-12 shooting), five rebounds, four blocks, five assists and a steal in 26 minutes
vs. No. 4 Alabama: 8 points (4-of-8 shooting), five rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 27 minutes
vs. No. 6 Tennessee: 11 points (4-of-6 shooting), four rebounds, two blocks and a steal in 18 minutes
vs. No. 1 Arizona: 26 points (11-of-16 shooting), nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 30 minutes
NCAA Tournament averages: 16.0 points (65.4% shooting), 6.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.6 blocks and 0.4 steals per game in 24.4 minutes
Aday Mara stats
Here’s a look at Mara's stats from his college career with UCLA and Michigan:
2025-26 (Michigan): 12.2 points per game, 2.5 assists per game, 6.8 rebounds per game, 2.6 blocks per game, 62.1% on field goals, 30% on 3-pointers, 59.6% on free throws (39 games, 38 starts)
2024-25 (UCLA): 6.4 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game, 1.0 assists per game, 1.6 blocks per game, 59% on field goals, 57.7% on free throws (33 games, 1 start)
2023-24 (UCLA): 3.5 points per game, 1.9 rebounds per game, 0.5 steals per game, 0.7 blocks per game, 44.2% on field goals, 70% on free throws (28 games, 8 starts)
Mara is a potential option to go in Round 1 of the 2026 NBA Draft following a breakout season with Michigan during the 2025-26 college basketball season.
Mara is 20 years old. He'll turn 21 on April 7, the day after the national championship game.
Aday Mara recruit ranking
Stars: 5
National rating: No. 15
Position ranking: No. 3 C
State ranking: No. 1 player from Spain
Mara was a five-star recruit who was rated as the No. 3 center and the No. 15 overall prospect in the 2023 class, according to 247Sports' rankings Mara was unranked by the 247Composite rankings.
Why did Aday Mara transfer from UCLA to Michigan?
Following two seasons at UCLA, Mara opted to transfer to Michigan from UCLA for a chance to play in a better environment. The discussion about more playing time or starting did not occur for Mara with May before he committed to the Wolverines.
"I went from a bad environment [at UCLA], where almost nobody wanted to practice, because as I said, it was a bad environment, to a great one. It was the opposite," Mara told USA TODAY Sports before the Elite Eight in Chicago.
Where is Aday Mara's hometown?
Mara is from Zaragoza, Spain. He played basketball professionally for Casademont Zaragoza in Spain before joining UConn in 2023.
Mara's father, Javier Mara, played basketball professionally in Spain, while his mother, Gely Gomez, was on Spain's women's national volleyball team.
UConn star Tarris Reed Jr. will end his college career on Monday, April 6, against the team with whom it first began.
The senior center started his career at Michigan, where he played two seasons before transferring to Connecticut in 2024. His breakout this season as a full-time starter has been well-documented and is a huge reason for the Huskies' NCAA Tournament run.
The 6-foot-11, 265-pound interior presence is averaging 14.8 points with 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game this season on 61.7% shooting, although his game has stepped up a notch in March Madness. Reed is averaging 20.8 points with 13 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament and has a strong case for being the best overall player in the 68-team field so far.
Despite Reed leaving the program, Michigan still boasts one of the best frontcourts in college basketball, led by a trio of first-year transfers in Aday Mara, Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr.
Why did Reed leave Michigan? Here's what to know of his transfer after the 2023-24 season:
Why did Tarris Reed transfer from Michigan to UConn?
Reed entered the transfer portal shortly after the 2023-24 season, which was the last campaign under former coach Juwan Howard at Michigan.
It wasn't a surprise to see Reed's name in the transfer portal, especially after Michigan went 8-24 in his first full season as a collegiate starter and considering the coach who recruited him to Ann Arbor, Michigan, was fired.
"I saw Coach Juwan got fired. Definitely, I feel like it was like a no-brainer in terms of the portal," Reed said April 5 before the national championship. "I hung around Michigan for a couple of weeks, and then they announced (Dusty May) was supposed to be the coach. I talked to him multiple times. I like Coach May, and he was just being super up front with who he was bringing in, who's looking at recruiting-wise.
"So, feel like just him being honest with me, and I'm being honest with him, it was the right way. So, it was no bad blood."
UConn was also coming off back-to-back national championships, and needed a center to replace Donovan Clingan, who went No. 7 overall to Portland in the 2024 NBA Draft. Reed was an obvious fit for UConn, as he was rated a top-100 transfer portal recruit and was a former top-35 ranked prospect out of high school.
“I chose UConn for its winning culture, commitment to player development and coaching style,” Reed told On3 upon committing in 2024. “Coach Hurley’s tough coaching style is known for pushing players into uncomfortable situations, making the uncomfortable seem comfortable. UConn provides the ideal setting and coaching for me to maximize my potential both on and off the court.”
Reed had a small role as a true freshman at Michigan in 2022-23 playing behind Hunter Dickinson. He averaged 3.4 points with 3.9 rebounds per game before becoming the full-time starter as a sophomore, raising his per-game totals to nine points with 7.2 rebounds a game.
Reed started one game last season at UConn, although he averaged 19.9 points per game. His game rose to a new level in 2025-26, which Michigan State coach Tom Izzo noticed while preparing for MSU's loss to UConn in the Sweet 16.
“His game has taken a monstrous jump,” Izzo said of the former Michigan State rival. “And with that size, that’s gonna be something. … Reed has gotten better and better and better. And he’s been a monster.”
Tarris Reed on playing Michigan, his former school
Reed expects the national championship game against Michigan, his former team, to be heated, as any national title match would be.
"I know a couple guys on the team," Reed said, "but I feel like at the end of the day it's the game for the national championship game, so I feel like they're going to be coming at my neck, we're going to be coming at their neck, so it's going to be a great, fun bloodbath and just a competitive game."
Only three players remain at Michigan from Reed's time there — Nimari Burnett, Will Tschetter and walk-on Harrison Hochberg. Burnett and Reed became close friends as Wolverines teammates and said they caught up at a Final Four fan event.
"Seeing that big smile on his face that he always carries, and having a chance to play against him knowing the story that we had two years ago is amazing," Burnett told reporters on April 5.
Tarris Reed stats
Here are Reed's year-by-year, per-game averages in college basketball:
2022-23 (Michigan): 3.4 points with 3.9 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game on 51.7% shooting
2023-24 (Michigan): 9.0 points with 7.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game on 51.9% shooting
2024-25 (UConn): 9.6 points with 7.3 rebounds with 1.0 assists per game on 67% shooting
2025-26 (UConn): 14.8 points with 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game on 61.7% shooting
In this corner, we have a potent Michigan squad that dominated the loaded Big Ten during the regular season and has seemingly flipped the switch to activate juggernaut mode in the NCAA tournament. The Wolverines hope to hoist a second championship banner and overcome a history of championship game disappointments.
Then there’s UConn, the most successful March Madness operation of the 2020’s thus far. The Huskies have already called upon some tourney magic to reach this point and are now seeking a third title in four years and seventh overall.
Here’s all you need to know about how, when, and whom to watch.
No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 2 Connecticut
Time/TV: 8:49 p.m. ET, TNT
If you’re a casual observer hoping to see a competitive event, there’s a strong possibility you’ll be disappointed given what we’ve witnessed over the last couple of weeks from the Wolverines. Their well-oiled offensive machine has made them the first team in tournament history to crack 90 points in their first five games. Michigan’s biggest concern is the health of standout forward Yaxel Lendeborg, but even if his minutes are limited by his bad left knee he will make the most of his time on the court. Meanwhile, Elliot Cadeau has been able to control the action on the floor even with a majority of his own shots not falling, and Aday Mara has dominated the paint on both ends. Those performances in turn have allowed Morez Johnson Jr. to orchestrate some spectacular finishes at the rim and helped emerging star Trey McKenney find open looks from the arc.
The Wolverines can be beaten – they’re not undefeated after all –, and UConn is capable of it if a lot of things go right. First and foremost, the Huskies have to hit three-pointers. Braylon Mullins seems to have worked through his mini slump, but now Solo Ball and Alex Karaban must do the same. Another thing the Huskies must do is win the turnover battle. Their relentless ball pressure is effective against many opponents, but Michigan’s experienced handlers will be ready for it. Finally, Tarris Reed and Co. will at least have to hold their own for the Huskies on the glass and not allow Michigan to generate second-chance points.
When Connecticut basketball announced its return to the Big East ahead of the 2019-2020 season, it was a moment that signified the return of one of the original members and powerhouses of the conference.
It came at a time when relative newcomer Dan Hurley was working on bringing the winning culture and toughness of the Jim Calhoun era back, and was trying to find the right players to execute his vision and playbook.
Since then, in spite of his lone losing record at UConn in his first season, Hurley has not just restored those two things. He's returned the program to its national prominence. ... And has done it at an exceptional level.
Hurley has the Huskies sitting in the Men's NCAA Tournament title game for the third time in the last four seasons on April 6 vs. No. 1 Michigan. It's a level of work by Hurley that had former Auburn coach Bruce Pearl saying he's doing "stuff that John Wooden did" on TNT after UConn's Final Four win over No. 3 Illinois on April 4.
Should the Huskies be able to stop the Wolverines, the No. 1 team in KenPom, inside Lucas Oil Stadium, it'd be a remarkable and historic feat for the program, since not many Division I men's college basketball programs have done what they'll look to do in a four year span.
Here's what to know on UConn's national championship titles:
How many national championships does UConn men's basketball have?
UConn has won six national championships in men's basketball, with three of them coming under Calhoun, who is responsible for the Huskies' initial rise to a powerhouse program inside the Big East and the country.
The Huskies' first men's national championship came in 1999, when Calhoun's squad defeated Duke 77-74 inside Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Richard Hamilton finished with 27 points against the Blue Devils, which featured NBA talent in Trajan Langdon and Elton Brand. To get to the finals, the Huskies defeated Ohio State in the national semifinals, the first Final Four in program history.
Calhoun would lead the program to two more national titles in 2004 and 2011, with the latter coming during the Kemba Walker postseason run that featured a famous step-back jumper in the Big East Tournament championship vs. No. 3 Pitt.
UConn's last two national championships under Hurley in 2023 and 2024 have made the Big East responsible for four of the last nine Men's March Madness titles heading into Monday's game.
Here's a breakdown of when the Huskies have won the Men's NCAA Tournament:
1999: beat Duke, 77-74
2004: beat Georgia Tech, 82-73
2011: beat Butler, 53-41
2014: beat Kentucky, 60-54
2023: beat San Diego State, 76-59
2024: beat Purdue, 75-60
UConn basketball record in Men's NCAA Tournament national championship game
UConn is an impressive 6-0 in the Men's NCAA Tournament national championship game. The Huskies are 2-0 in the title game under Dan Hurley.
Which team has most NCAA Tournament national championships?
UConn is tied for the third-most Men's NCAA Tournament titles with North Carolina at six. Only UCLA and Kentucky have more national titles than the Huskies.
Both Michigan and UConn are banged up entering the national championship game on Monday, April 6.
Wolverines star Yaxel Lendeborg, a first-team All-American this season, was limited to 14 minutes in Michigan's Final Four win over Arizona after suffering a knee injury in the first half. He also re-aggravated his ankle, stemming from earlier in the season in the Big Ten Conference Tournament.
Meanwhile, multi-year starting UConn guard Solo Ball's status is also unknown. Ball was seen with a boot on his foot during April 5's walkthrough, and coach Dan Hurley said he was unavailable for practice.
Both teams could look a bit different when they square off at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, or at least less than 100% healthy for the final game of the season.
Here's a look at our six most important players for the national championship between No. 1 seed Michigan and No. 2 UConn:
Most important players of Michigan vs UConn national championship game
Yaxel Lendeborg
In one way or another, Lendeborg's presence will be felt — or it won't.
The 6-foot-9 forward was one of the best players in college basketball this season, averaging 15.1 points with 6.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game after transferring from UAB. While Michigan still defeated Arizona 91-73 in the Final Four without Lendeborg only playing 14 minutes, the Wolverines are still — obviously — a much better team with Lendeborg in the fold.
Lendeborg was playing his best basketball heading into the Final Four, with consecutive performances of 25, 23 and 27 points against Saint Louis, Alabama and Tennessee respectively. He might not be as mobile against UConn as in prior NCAA Tournament games but can potentially still impact the game old-head style.
"He played the second half like a 38-year-old at the YMCA, and a really good 38-year-old at the YMCA," Michigan coach Dusty May said April 5. "Whatever version of Yaxel we get it's going to be somebody that helps us play better basketball."
Tarris Reed Jr.
UConn's offense runs through Tarris Reed Jr., a who has an argument as the most impactful player in the NCAA Tournament this season. The 6-foot-11 center is also facing his former team, adding potential fuel to the fire.
The first-year Huskies starter is averaging 14.8 points with 8.8 rebounds per game, although those totals have jumped to 20.8 points with 13 rebounds per contest in March Madness. He outdueled likely national player of the year Cameron Boozer and top-seeded Duke in the Elite Eight, finishing with a ridiculous stat line of 26 points with nine rebounds, three assists, four blocks and two steals on 10-of-16 shooting.
It's hard to imagine UConn having a path to winning without Reed.
Aday Mara
Aday Mara saved his career-best performance for a perfect time against Arizona in the Final Four, scoring a career-high 26 points with nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks on 11-of-16 shooting.
The 7-foot-3 first-year transfer from UCLA will be tasked with stopping Reed, who has been a force to be reckoned with during the NCAA Tournament. Mara vs. Reed will be a strength-vs.-strength matchup for Michigan and UConn.
Solo Ball
Ball has been one of UConn's most-reliable 3-pointer shooters for three seasons, but the veteran starter could potentially miss the national championship due to injury.
The 6-foot-4 junior is a vital part of the Huskies' offense and is attempting 9.4 3-pointers per game in March Madness. Losing Ball would be a huge blow and would put added pressure on true freshman Braylon Mullins and fourth-year starter Alex Karaban, UConn's other top 3-point shooters.
"I'm just listening to the medical staff," Ball said when asked if he'll play Monday night against Michigan. "I've been preparing and doing rehab already. So definitely just preparing the same way as (if) I'm playing."
Alex Karaban
Alex Karaban is the "best babysitter," according to coach Dan Hurley. The fourth-year starter has been with the program for five years after redshirting as a true freshman, and is looking for third national championship as a player.
The NCAA Tournament's all-time wins leader among players is 3-of-18 shooting in UConn's last two wins over Duke and Illinois, and the Huskies will need its leader for their best shot at Michigan.
The 6-foot-8 wing stepped up and made a huge shot in UConn's upset win over Duke in the Elite Eight, although the 3-pointer to pull within two points with under a minute left was overshadowed by Braylon Mullins' heroic game-winning 3-pointer. Mr. UConn will be relied on in his final collegiate game.
Elliot Cadeau
A former five-star recruit, Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau didn't live up to his potential in two seasons at North Carolina. The junior has been outstanding for the Wolverines in March Madness, though.
The 6-foot-1 guard is averaging an NCAA Tournament-leading 8.6 assists per game, serving as an offensive hub for Michigan's potent attack. He's also averaging 11 points per game and shooting 40.7% from 3-point range, and could be asked for more responsibility if Lendeborg is limited due to injury.
Regardless, the ball will be in his hands a lot in the national championship game.
Hurley led the Huskies to back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024, pushing UConn to six titles in program history (all of which occurred from 1999-onward). If he wins another, he would join a short list of elite men's college basketball coaches to win at least three NCAA championships.
Here's what you need to know about coaches who have won at least three national titles in NCAA history:
How many coaches have won three NCAA championships?
Sixteen NCAA coaches have at least two NCAA titles during their coaching careers, which includes Hurley. However, only six coaches have ever won more than three national championships during their careers.
The list that Hurley is looking to join includes UCLA's John Wooden; Duke's Mike Krzyzewski; Kentucky's Adolph Rupp; North Carolina's Roy Williams; UConn's Jim Calhoun; and Indiana's Bob Knight. Rupp was the first to achieve the feat in 1951, with Williams the most recent three-time national champion following the Tar Heels' 2017 championship.
With a win on Monday, Hurley would tie Calhoun with three titles, the most in Huskies' program history.
Men's college basketball coaches with most national championships
Here's a look at the list of NCAA men's college basketball coaches with the most national championships. Of note, current St. John's coach Rick Pitino is not on the list after having his second title, with Louisville, in 2013 vacated by the NCAA.
Obviously, the biggest thing on the line will be who wins the national title for the 2025-26 men's college basketball season. But, while a title would be significant for both programs, not all national championships are created equal: A win would mean something different for the Huskies as opposed to the Wolverines.
A win for the Huskies would cement them as a modern-day dynasty and move them further up the list of all-time national championship winners, while the Wolverines would break a historic title drought for the Big Ten Conference while becoming one of only a few programs to win multiple championships.
Ahead of their national championship meeting, here's a look at which programs have the most national titles in NCAA Tournament history:
Who has the most March Madness national titles?
UCLA leads all Division I men's basketball programs, with 11 championships. The Bruins' last championship came in 1995, when they defeated Arkansas 89-78.
The vast majority of UCLA's championships came under John Wooden between 1964 and 1975, when the program held a chokehold on the sport by winning 10 national titles in 12 seasons. That included a window of seven straight championships between 1967 and 1973.
Teams with most NCAA championships
While UCLA has the most national championships, Kentucky is a close second, with eight national titles. UConn enters its championship game appearance vs. Michigan with six championships, putting it in a tie for third with North Carolina.
Here's a look at the men's programs with the most NCAA Tournament national championships:
Regardless of who wins between the Wolverines, college basketball was guaranteed a new champion this season as early as the first weekend of March Madness, when last year's national champion was shocked with a second-round exit.
Here's what you need to know about who won the 2025 men's national championship, who has the most championships and past champions:
Who won NCAA championship last year?
Florida won the 2025 Men's NCAA Tournament national championship last season. The Gators defeated Kelvin Sampson's Houston 65-63 in the championship round at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
The Gators also defeated No. 16 Norfolk State (95-69), No. 8 UConn (77-75), No. 4 Maryland (87-71) and No. 3 Texas Tech (84-79) in their path to the 2025 Final Four. Florida defeated No. 1 Auburn 79-73 in the national semifinal.
The Gators entered the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament having won the SEC regular season championship and earning a No. 1 seed in March Madness for the second straight season. The Gators opened March Madness with a dominant win over No. 16 seed Prairie View A&M (114-55) in the South Region.
However, No. 9 seed Iowa bounced Florida in the second round, 73-72, on a game-winning shot by Alvaro Folgueiras. The Gators had a shot at their own buzzer-beater, but ran out of time when guard Xavien Lee attempted to get to the basket and find one of his big men for a layup down low.
Todd Golden and Co. were seeking to become just the second program in NCAA history to repeat twice after winning national championships in 2006 and 2007.
UCLA leads all men's programs with 11 NCAA Tournament championships, the last of which came in 1995. Kentucky is No. 2 all time with eight titles, while UConn is tied with North Carolina with six (all of which came from 1999 onward).
Here's a look at the men's programs with the most NCAA Tournament national championships:
The first-team All-American forward and Big Ten Player of the Year was held to 14 minutes in the Wolverines' 91-73 dominant win over Arizona in the Final Four, as he dealt with ankle and knee injuries that were re-aggravated in the first half against the Wildcats.
Lendeborg, a first-year transfer from UAB, was the most sought-after transfer portal recruit last season and he has proved it in 2025-26. The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 15.1 points with 6.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this season, and his points-per-game average has risen to 19 points per contest in the NCAA Tournament.
Lendeborg returned late in the second half of Michigan's win, and will spend the next day preparing for his final collegiate game.
Here's everything to know of Lendeborg's injury before the national championship game:
Will Yaxel Lendeborg play vs UConn in national championship game?
Lendeborg is dealing with a sprained MCL and a tweaked ankle, which he has been playing with since the Big Ten Conference Tournament. He said he will play against UConn in the national championship game, although likely not at 100%.
"I'm sure he'll give it a go tomorrow, but that'd be entirely up to him and the medical staff," Michigan coach Dusty May said April 5.
Lendeborg explained what happened on the play after the game on April 4, and also said he's playing no matter what.
"I tried to go up for a dunk in between three people like a dummy," Lendeborg told CBS Sports after the game. "I stepped on (Arizona forward Motiejus) Krivas' foot, turned (and) felt the pain right away. My knee, at worst is like an MCL sprain. ... My ankle got re-rolled, so that's bothering me a little bit.
"But I'm going to feel good, I'm going to do a lot to work on it and I'm playing on Monday for sure, no matter what."
Yaxel Lendeborg injury update
Lendeborg exited the floor and entered the locker room with 8:51 in the first half against Arizona after injuring his knee and ankle. He didn't return for the first half but did start the second half with a brace on his knee, playing 14 total minutes.
Lendeborg, a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, said his agent and his mom both said he should sit out the first half, but he declined. His imaging and MRI came back clear after testing on April 5.
When Lendeborg returned in the second half, he was clearly hobbled. May said whatever version of Lendeborg they get still makes the Wolverines a better team, though.
"He played the second half like a 38-year-old at the YMCA, and a really good 38-year-old at the YMCA," May said. "Whatever version of Yaxel we get it's going to be somebody that helps us play better basketball."
Yaxel Lendeborg stats
Here are Lendeborg's per-game averages in 2025-26, along with his final stats from each of Michigan's NCAA Tournament wins this season:
2025-26: 15.1 points with 6.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game on 52.3% shooting
NCAA Tournament
vs. No. 16 Howard: 9 points with 4 rebounds and 4 assists on 40% shooting
vs. No. 9 Saint Louis: 25 points with 6 rebounds and 2 assists on 69.2% shooting
vs. No. 4 Alabama: 23 points with 12 rebounds and 7 assists on 66.7% shooting
vs. No. 6 Tennessee: 27 points with 7 rebounds and 4 assists on 52.6% shooting
vs. No. 1 Arizona: 11 points with 3 rebounds and 1 assist on 75% shooting
Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto hoists the World Series MVP trophy as they celebrate their World Series victory at Rogers Centre. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
What do you remember most about the epic, riveting, thrill-a-minute Game 7?
As the Dodgers return to Toronto on Monday, for the first time since conquering the Blue Jays to capture the World Series championship, I wanted to look back with a peek at the official World Series documentary.
Not so fast. Major League Baseball did commission a documentary, as it always does, but the film was not ready for release by the time spring training started. The series was so dramatic that the league is looking into options for a high-profile rollout, probably around midseason.
The Dodgers did their part, with a creative bobblehead series of Game 7 moments: Max Muncy’s home run in the eighth inning, Miguel Rojas’ tying home run in the ninth inning, Will Smith’s game-winning home run in the 11th inning, Mookie Betts turning the game-ending double play, and a Yoshinobu Yamamoto “last out” image.
Collect all five, though, and you still don’t get the behind-the-scenes access that a documentary does. So why not ask the Dodgers themselves to take you behind the scenes in those wild hours between their departure from Rogers Centre as champions and their arrival in Los Angeles the following day?
Actually, by the time the Dodgers left the stadium, it was already the following day. Game 7 did not end until 17 minutes past midnight. The Dodgers gathered on the field to collect their championship trophy, retreated to the clubhouse to douse themselves in champagne and beer, returned to the field to share the moment with their families, then went back inside to shower and dress.
“By the time you get done celebrating, there is nowhere that is still open,” Muncy said. “So we had a little spot downstairs at the hotel. We had a little party down there.”
It was past 2 a.m. by the time most of the players and their families joined the party in a hotel ballroom to share food, drink, and joy.
“It was really cool to embrace all the families, see all the excitement,” Rojas said.
“It was unbelievable that you got to bring the trophy back to the hotel. That’s what I remember: taking those moments and enjoying them with the people that I really care about.”
Freddie Freeman said he was one of the first to leave the party. He and his family stayed about an hour and a half, and by then his kids were so tired that it was time for bed.
The Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani holds the World Series trophy with teammates after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series at Rogers Centre. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Rojas said he hung out at the party until around 5 a.m. He did not sleep that night.
Was there any sleep to be had for Muncy that night?
“At some point, there was,” he said. “I don’t remember it.”
The Dodgers pushed back their flights to noon, manager Dave Roberts said. The Dodgers travel in two groups: one for families, coaches, and team staffers; the other for the players.
“I don’t know what they were doing,” Roberts said. “I was sleeping.”
They were singing.
“My favorite part was the bus ride going to the plane,” Freeman said. “Music blaring. Everyone is singing on the bus.
“Miguel is on the mic. Every song he played, he seemed to know the words, or he made up words.”
For Rojas to get up and sing on the team bus, well, nothing new there. What was new that morning was one song in his repertoire.
“There’s this song they were playing at the stadium in the seventh inning — I think it goes, ‘Oh yay, Blue Jays,’ something like that,” Rojas said. (It’s called “OK, Blue Jays.”)
“And I was just singing the song and getting the guys going. I didn’t plan it. I was just happy and letting myself go, as I always do on the mic. And the guys enjoy it. I do my part on the bus every time, and it’s like a performance. Every time I go up there, I feel like I’m Kevin Hart.”
And then …
“At some point, we were on a plane,” Muncy said. “I don’t remember the timing of any of that. I just know that it was all a lot of fun. Traveling isn’t always something that is fun, but in that scenario, it was something that everyone really enjoyed.
“You’re passing the trophy around. You’re getting pictures taken. You’re playing ‘We Are the Champions’ on repeat for hours, not getting tired of it at all. It’s a really good time.”
The planes landed. The players reunited with their families. It was time to go home.
But reflection on those few hours of celebration — that wild scramble to enjoy the moment, yet hurry to get everyone ready to go home — left the Dodgers envisioning one of the few things this contemporary dynasty has yet to accomplish.
“I would love to win at home,” Muncy said. “We haven’t done that yet. It would be ideal to do that.”
