In just three days, the Men's NCAA Tournament will officially get underway with TEAM 1 vs. TEAM 2 at XX p.m. ET inside LOCATION, the first of 16 Round of 64 games set to be played out across Thursday's slate of March Madness games.
There are several ways to approach making NCAA Tournament bracket picks — either randomly by choosing the better mascot in a matchup or by overanalyzing bracketology metrics — that make it a fun event for all involved. Then there is the fun (and stress) of hoping to have that perfect bracket — or what later becomes the best bracket — in a bracket group.
Here's what you need to know on whether there has been a perfect March Madness bracket before and more:
Has anyone ever had a perfect March Madness bracket?
No, there have not been any confirmed perfect March Madness bracket entries in the history of the NCAA Tournament, according to the NCAA.
The NCAA notes that the longest a bracket has remained perfect — or at the very least verifiable through one of the bracket challenge websites — has been 49 consecutive games. This took place during the 2019 NCAA Tournament, and was snapped when 3-seed Purdue beat 2-seed Tennessee 99-94 in overtime in the Sweet 16. The previous record was 39 consecutive correctly picked games.
The longest streak in last year's sets of men's brackets submitted was 42 games, the best run for a bracket user since 2019. Per the NCAA, the bracket was named "#RoadToPerfection" and was a part of ESPN's bracket challenge, and was snapped when 3-seed Kentucky upset 6-seed Illinois in the round of 32.
Here's a look at the top five longest surviving NCAA Tournament brackets, according to the NCAA:
Round busted in parentheses
2019: 49 games (Sweet 16)
2025: 42 games (Second Round)
2017: 39 games (Second Round)
2014: 36 games (Second Round)
2015: 34 games (Second Round)
March Madness bracket deadline: When do NCAA Tournament picks need to be submitted?
Though specific times vary depending on which bracket challenge you enter, you have to get your bracket entry (or entries) in before the start of the first set of first-round games on Thursday, March 19. Here's a breakdown of deadlines for Men's NCAA Tournament bracket entries, including the USA TODAY Sports Men's Bracket Challenge.
USA TODAY: Thursday, March 19 at noon
CBS: Thursday, March 19 at noon
Yahoo!: Thursday, March 19 at 12:15 p.m.
ESPN: Thursday, March 19 at 12:15 p.m.
NCAA: Thursday, March 19 at noon
Click here to enter the USA TODAY Sports Men's Bracket Challenge.
The Calgary Flames will look to play spoiler when they visit the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena tonight.
My top Flames vs. Red Wings predictions and NHL picks are headlined by promising Calgary rookie Matvei Gridin.
Flames vs Red Wings prediction
Flames vs Red Wings best bet: Matvei Gridin Over 1.5 shots (-130)
Calgary Flames winger Matvei Gridin is receiving a late-season audition in an offensive role and has recorded 2+ in 10 of his past 13 games while piling up an impressive 61 attempts.
The 2024 first-round selection averaged a healthy 2.78 shots per game during his AHL stint this season, and the high-volume shooting dates back to putting up 4.21 per game in the QMJHL while making the CHL All-Rookie Team last year.
Finally, the Detroit Red Wings have allowed a healthy 28.1 shots per game out of the Olympic break, too.
Flames vs Red Wings same-game parlay
The Flames have scored the fewest goals per road game (2.18), and the Red Wings have only averaged 2.33 per game out of the Olympic break, so I’m expecting the two teams to continue their trends of low-scoring tilts tonight.
Turning to the final leg of this SGP, Calgary starter Dustin Wolf sports an elite .933 SV% and 2.17 GAA across his past five road starts, and the Flames have allowed 29.2 shots per game since the NHL Trade Deadline.
Flames vs Red Wings SGP
Under 5.5
Dustin Wolf Over 25.5 saves
Matvei Gridin Over 1.5 shots
Flames vs Red Wings odds
Moneyline: Flames +155 | Red Wings -180
Puck Line: Flames +1.5 (-155) | Red Wings -1.5 (+135)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-125) | Under 5.5 (+105)
Flames vs Red Wings trend
The Flames have cashed the Under in 11 of their last 14 road games for +7.70 units and a 49% ROI, and the Red Wings have played to the Under in 15 of their last 25 games for +6.40 units and a 23% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Flames vs. Red Wings.
How to watch Flames vs Red Wings
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Monday, March 16, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-Detroit, Prime Video
Flames vs Red Wings latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 15: Will Richard #3 of the Golden State Warriors dunks the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on March 15, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For some reason, the Knicks have decided to play down to the level of their opponents.
Nearly lost in Indianapolis. Damningly close to dropping one to a G League-like Warriors. Will it finally happen when the Pacers visit MSG on Tuesday?
Here’s what the protagonists had to say, including Steve Kerr.
"I was not happy with the way that we started the game and the way we played most of the game…we have to figure out how to start games better"
Mike Brown's thoughts following the Knicks' 110-107 win last night over the Warriors: pic.twitter.com/CVkQj6fWy5
On whether he will change the starting lineup before or for the playoffs:
“Right now I don’t feel the need to. But like I said, if I felt the need to, I would. I don’t feel the need to right now.
“It’s not too late to do anything. And if I feel the need, I will. I’m not thinking that right now. I’m not concentrating on each individual because, like you said, we’ve started different people at different times.”
On demanding better starts despite the recent wins:
“We have to figure out individually, collectively, how we can start games better…. I’m not talking about the outcome, win or loss, I’m talking about the start of the game. (We need to start games) with a level of focus, a level of physicality, so that they’re feeling us to start the game. This group knows it. They understand it. Now we’ve just gotta go do it.”
On Mikal Bridges’ overall impact on the game:
“It’s no secret Mikal has not shot the ball well. But he’s given us life at times, and he’s given us life at the right time at times. I thought he was fantastic in Indiana. On both ends of the floor. So it’s not just Mikal. It’s us collectively as a group.”
On expecting more from the team despite the strong defensive numbers:
“I’m sitting here bitching about this and somebody told me from the first of January on, we had the No. 1 defense in the league. Something like that. We can play better. I know for myself and every man in that locker room, every person in that locker room, expects more. And somehow, someway, we got to figure it out.”
On Steve Kerr’s pregame warning text:
“Steve texted me and he said he came up with some killer plays that were going to make us spin backwards and forward. I believe him. Situations like this, we faced it in Utah. We faced it to a certain degree in Indiana. They’re tough. But if you expect to be who you think you are at the end of the day, you will approach this in a business-like manner.”
On not skipping details against undermanned teams:
“The biggest thing is making sure you don’t skip any details. I think in games like this, the details or the small things are huge. And playing with a sense of urgency while making them feel you on both ends of the floor — that doesn’t mean going out and blowing them out, but if you’re lackadaisical at any point in the game for any stretch, they’re NBA players. A lot of these guys are hungry and some of them have proven that they belong on this level and in a pretty good spot in terms of a rotation. If you relax at any moment in time and they see one, two, three go in, like the guys did in Utah, it can be a climb back up the hill to get back in the game.”
On road trip fatigue not being an excuse:
“I think every game can be challenging for a lot of different reasons. Mainly, all teams are in the NBA, and they’re here for a reason. That stuff’s above my head. A lot of times they say, ‘it’s because of your clock’ or whatever. You win some, you lose some, and I don’t see rhyme or reason for it.”
On prioritizing playing the right way over seeding:
“It’s tricky because let’s say we were in second, and we were a game in front of somebody. Are we just gonna play better because of that? I hope at this point of the season we’re playing the right way regardless of seeding, and sometimes, you’ll lose while playing the right way, but you’re playing the right way all the time—not just to try to catch Boston. That’s part of the equation, but that’s not the end-all, be-all.
“I want us to play the right way because it’s time to do that. We’re going into the playoffs. Play the right way. Again, you’ll lose sometimes playing the right way, but you want to go into the playoffs doing this, not just with your play but with your confidence or your belief, and so I think that’s just as much of it as opposed to — hey let’s find a way to win just to catch these guys. No, no: handle all the small details, embrace the details, embrace the journey. All that stuff and go get a win. So there are a lot of factors, not just those guys are ahead of us by a game-and-a-half and the guys are behind us by two games.”
Josh Hart stops by the NBA Showtime desk before Sunday Night Basketball tips off!
On the possibility of the NBA reducing the 82-game schedule:
“I probably be retired before that happens. So I don’t care. Nah, do I think it will be probably be better for the game and the quality on the court? I think so. Do I think it will happen? Probably not because everybody is so money-hungry and money-driven. I think everybody puts that above everything else.”
On the need for respecting undermanned opponents:
“At the end of the day, you got to respect everybody. And if you’re in a situation like this against a team without its starters, you never want to play with a game or anything like that because you’ll never what’ll happen at the end of a game. You don’t want to put yourself in that position for someone to make a shot, someone to miss a shot or a ref to call a call you don’t agree with. So we got to approach this like any other game. And if that’s the case, then we should handle business early and it should be a game where everybody gets to play. But these guys are good. They’re in the NBA for a reason.”
On his knee soreness leaving him out of two games of late:
“It was just a play in the Laker game where I did my normal fastbreak finish, but just the landing on it kind of irritated it. So I think that kind of flared it up.”
On whether the knee will linger:
“I hope not. We’ll see. Time will tell.”
On not making excuses based on the injury:
“Ehh. I was out there. If I’m out there and able to play, there’s no excuses.”
Karl-Anthony Towns says the final call in tonight's WBC game against his Dominican Republic team was "some bulls–t" pic.twitter.com/iuDTV9ypP5
“Don’t play like that. I think it’s pretty simple.”
On Brown’s frustration even after the win:
“Yeah, he was frustrated. Obviously, the win’s everything, but we don’t want to win games like that, especially this late in the year when we should have better standards and a better execution in playing. I understand it.”
On Jordan Clarkson’s impact off the bench:
“Special. The stats don’t lie. One of the best players coming off the bench in NBA history. He does one thing better than almost anybody in the league, and that’s put the ball in the basket. When he’s doing that, he’s playing with that fire and that passion he has; there’s not many players in the NBA coming off the bench you feel better about.”
On the Dominican Republic’s elimination from the WBC at the hands of the USA:
“Hell yeah, that was a ball, man! That was some bulls**t. They should have had a chance. They had Tatis Jr. coming up. Come on, man.”
"A win is a win, definitely not the prettiest."
Jalen Brunson talks with Zora Stephenson after the Knicks' win over an undermanned Warriors team. pic.twitter.com/P5nrc60ufR
On the need to avoid playing catch-up every damn game:
“If we play better from the start, we don’t have to play catch-up. It’s definitely something that we need to get better at and it has to be our focus.”
Steve Kerr wants the NBA to shorten the 82-game regular season by 10 games to prevent injuries:
“I’m well aware fewer games would mean less revenue which means everybody takes a pay cut and I’m willing to stick my neck out and say I’m all for that because I think the quality of… pic.twitter.com/rfY2KhRuOE
“I’m willing to stick my neck out and say I’m all for that because I think the quality of the product is the most important thing.”
On managing player workloads:
“In talking to performance people, looking at the data, hearing the experts in our own group talk about the load that these guys are facing and then you get older players like Steph or Al or Jimmy – we have to manage them through 82 games. So there are nights where you just have to say, can’t play this guy. I get emails all the time from fans saying ‘I spent $2,000 on tickets to go to this game and Steph didn’t play.’ And it wasn’t an injury designation and I held him out. Shouldn’t we reconcile that somehow? Maybe it’s stretching the season out a little bit. If you can’t give up 10 games, can you extend the season by two weeks and give players more time in between games? I don’t know. I know there’s no guarantee that players are going to be out there every night, but I know that we have enough issues all clumped together that if we put our heads together – we’ve got a lot of really smart people in this league. I think we can address a lot of them and satisfy the fans, the owners, the TV partners. I believe that’s possible. Maybe I’m naïve. But I think it’s important to put it out there just for discussion and see where it goes.”
On advocating for a shorter season:
“I’m just saying what I see with all the injuries. The soft tissue injuries. I see all the data about how fast the guys are running, how much distance guys are covering now compared to 20-30 years ago. I see all the injuries, the tanking. I see everything. I’ve been in the league a long time. I’m well aware fewer games would mean less revenue, which means everybody takes a pay cut, and I’m willing to stick my neck out and say I’m all for that because I think the quality of the product is the most important thing. So I don’t say these things flippantly. I say these things because I mean them. I think there’s a meaningful discussion to be had, and I love the league, I’ve loved the NBA my whole life. My whole adult life has been spent in the NBA in some form and it’s an amazing league. We have incredible people in this league and great fans. I just want to make sure we give our fans the very, very best product we can and try to satisfy all of our corporate partners, and I just think there’s probably a way to do that without just completely ignoring some of the obvious issues we’ve established.”
USA beats the Dominican Republic on a really really bad call and the stream is dead quiet pic.twitter.com/sCBRTm322M
Two days after announcing he would return, Butler announced on Monday, March 16, that men's basketball coach Thad Matta is retiring.
The school announced the news in a press release on Monday. Matta, 58, had been the Bulldogs coach since the 2022-23 season. He will remain with the university with a role as a special assistant to the president and athletics director.
"After taking some time to reflect following the end of the season, I have decided that the time has come for me to step away from the sidelines," Matta said in the news release. "The love my wife, my daughters and I have for Butler is what brought us back four years ago, and it feels especially meaningful that I conclude my coaching career here. Butler has always meant more to us than just basketball—and that connection is why I'm grateful to continue working with the University and offering my help in any way I can.
"My commitment to Butler and to the future of this program remains as strong as ever. I want this program to compete at the highest levels of the BIG EAST and national landscape, and I am excited to be part of what we continue to build here."
Matta finishes his head coaching career with a 502-223 overall record. He won a combined eight conference regular-season championships at Butler, Xavier and Ohio State, while also appearing in the NCAA Tournament 13 times, earning two berths in the NCAA Final Four and one appearance in the national championship game in 2006-07 with the Buckeyes.
"It is hard to fully capture in words what the Matta family has meant to Butler University and to our men's basketball program," Butler athletics director Grant Leiendecker said. "As a student-athlete, two assistant coaching tenures and then twice as head coach at Butler, Thad has given so much to our university and his impact on our student-athletes has been life-changing.
"Today is bittersweet in that Thad will no longer be leading our program on the sidelines but we are grateful that he has accepted President (Jim) Danko and my offer to remain at Butler University to continue to elevate the institution, as his wisdom and experience are invaluable and will help maintain stability in our program."
In his first stint with Butler, the Bulldogs went 24-8, won the Midwestern Collegiate Conference and advanced to the Round of 32. After stops at Xavier and Ohio State, Matta returned to Butler ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Matta finished his second stint with the Bulldogs with a 63-69 record, failing to make the NCAA Tournament in any of the four years.
"I want to sincerely thank (President) Jim Danko, (Vice President and Athletic Director) Grant Leiendecker, and (former Athletic Director) Barry Collier for their trust, leadership and friendship," Matta said. To our players, coaches and staff, past and present, thank you for everything you've poured into this program and for living The Butler Way. To our fans and the countless people who support us, you are what makes this place so special.
"I will always be grateful for the experiences, the relationships, and the memories Butler has given me and my family. I'm proud of what we've built together, and I look forward to staying connected and contributing in a new way as the next chapter begins."
Before his head coaching career, Matta served as a Butler assistant twice before being named head coach of the Bulldogs in 2000. He was a two-year starter with Butler after he transferred in as a player from Southern Illinois.
Thad Matta career record
Here's a look at Matta's coaching career with Butler, Xavier and Ohio State:
The end of the NHL regular season is one month away, and there is a lot of be decided.
No team has clinched and no team has been officially eliminated, though the Vancouver Canucks are getting close.
The scoring race looks like it might come down to the wire.
And the playoff field has a chance to look radically different from last season.
As of the morning of Monday, March 16, eight teams that are sitting in a playoff position – the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Utah Mammoth and San Jose Sharks – had missed the postseason in 2024-25. Some of the those teams are looking to end lengthy playoff droughts.
Here are questions to be answered before the 2025-26 regular season ends on April 16:
Can the Buffalo Sabres end their playoff drought?
It sits at 14 seasons, an NHL record, but the Sabres lead the Atlantic Division with 15 games left. The closest non-playoff team is nine points back. It would take a major collapse for Buffalo to miss the playoffs again, but the Sabres show little sign of doing that, going 30-6-2 since Dec. 8. A big reason for the turnaround was the firing of general manager Kevyn Adams and the promotion of Jarmo Kekalainen on Dec. 15. The new general manager took steps at the trade deadline to keep the run going. After defenseman Colton Parayko vetoed a trade, Kekalainen pivoted to defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn, plus forward Tanner Pearson. Schenn and Pearson have won Stanley Cup titles, important for a core making a rare step into postseason play.
Can the Detroit Red Wings end their playoff drought?
Their situation is precarious. They hold the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference but have played one more than game than their closest pursuers. The Columbus Blue Jackets are surging since making a coaching change to Rick Bowness and sit one point back. The Red Wings are in a 1-3-2 slide and are without forwards Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp. Eight of their final 15 games are against non-playoff teams, including the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 7. Detroit, which last made the playoffs in 2016, added David Perron and Justin Faulk at the deadline.
Can the Anaheim Ducks end their playoff drought?
Their drought is seven seasons but they're first in the Pacific Division. They have a good mix of youngsters and veterans, including trade deadline acquisition John Carlson, and an experienced coach in Joel Quenneville. They'll be without suspended defenseman Radko Gudas for another three games after his knee-on-knee hit on Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. But forward Troy Terry has returned from an injury.
Will we see another Panthers-Oilers Stanley Cup Final?
The Edmonton Oilers are in a good position for a third consecutive run to the Final. They currently sit in a playoff spot, though Leon Draisaitl left Sunday's game with an injury. He was hit by Nashville Predators' Ozzy Wiesblatt, came back for one shift and didn't feel well so he missed the rest of the game.
Who will win the Central Division title?
Early in the season, the answer was easy: the Colorado Avalanche. They had only two regulations losses on Jan. 1 and that figure is up to 12. Gabriel Landeskog and Artturi Lehkonen are out with injuries. Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars are on a franchise-record 15-game point streak and are three points back. The teams meet Wednesday, March 18, in Denver (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT). Both teams beefed up at the trade deadline.
Who will win the scoring title?
There are three 100-point scorers: Edmonton's Connor McDavid (114), Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon (109) and Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov (106). Kucherov, who won the last two titles, is the hottest player with 55 points since Jan. 1 (McDavid has 44 and MacKinnon has 39). But the eight-point gap might be hard for Kucherov to make up until McDavid's point totals are affected by the injury to Draisaitl.
Who will have the best draft lottery odds?
The Vancouver Canucks are last in the league with 48 points and the 31st overall Calgary Flames have 59. But the 2025 draft lottery showed that might not have matter as the Islanders moved up from 11th to first and selected Matthew Schaefer. Utah won the second drawing and moved up to fourth. Penn State's Gavin McKenna and Sweden's Ivar Stenberg are expected to be the top two picks.
This has been a strange season for Manchester City. Every now and then, they’ve threatened to produce the sort of run that used to define them. They won eight games in a row from the end of November to the end of December, then six in a row in February. At which point the tendency has been for a sort of mental muscle memory to kick in and to think that, even if they haven’t been playing that well, even if this doesn’t look like the City sides of old, this is the start of one of those relentless bouts of form that has ground down challengers in the past. After all, some of those past runs began uncertainly.
But this is a very different City. Even Pep Guardiola sounded bemused after Saturday’s draw with West Ham, noting how “in the past always we found the way to win this kind of game … this season, the fact that we didn’t score goals for the amount of chances, it’s punished us”. He seemingly had no explanation for that, muttering about the “unfairness” of the world that his side had not got the results he feels their football has deserved.
This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email soccerwithjw@theguardian.com, and he’ll answer the best in a future edition.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 15, 2026: Jordan Yost #87 of the Detroit Tigers is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after hitting a grand slam during the eighth inning of a game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 1]5, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. The Tigers beat the Yankees, 12-1. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
We don’t generally go out of order with our spring prospect reports, but the timing is too good for Jordan Yost. The Detroit Tigers first round pick last summer stepped to the plate for his first at-bat as a professional on Sunday afternoon and made a little magic. The Tampa native had friends and family in attendance as he dug in with the bases loaded and no outs, trying to just hit something to the outfield. He did, crunching a grand slam to right field on a 1-0, 95 mph fastball from a Triple-A level pitcher. Welcome to pro ball.
The 19-year-old, left-handed hitting shortstop went to the Tigers with the 24th overall pick in the 2025 draft. A graduate of Sickles HS, Yost signed for $3,250,000. That was $500K underslot, helping the Tigers to land Michael Oliveto in the competitive balance round and still afford their seasonal hunt for talented prep arms ready to sign. Yost is the kind of player who seems likely to at least give them their money’s worth, with a chance to be a standout shortstop and one of the most valuable players from this draft.
Right now, the big calling card is pure hitting ability and defense. Yost is already an agile, sure-handed shortstop with a good arm. No doubt he is already enjoying the tutelage of Alan Trammell and the rest of the Tigers development staff, and he has the potential to be one of better defensive shortstops in the league if he continues to refine his game.
Yost makes a lot of good contact at the plate and shows an advanced eye as well. His feel for the barrel is impressive, and he stayed within himself to spray line drives and the occasional home run in his prep career. He has a quick, accurate bat and rarely strikes out. The question is whether he’ll develop enough power to handle major league pitching and do enough damage to become an everyday player. The defense alone could carry him to the major leagues as a bench player. He can hit. The rest is all about the ability to ramp up the raw power over the next few years.
Data before the draft had Yost as one of the few notable players who didn’t top 100 mph in combine BP sessions. The well below average raw power didn’t help his stock and the main criticism of the Tigers pick was that Yost’s lack of power was a limit on his upside and made this a conservative selection. Still, every major prospect site had him in the Tigers top ten this offseason and it was pretty comfortable to rank him sixth in the farm system. The floor on his talent is still useful and the upside is a well above average all around player who can lock down shortstop or play all over the diamond.
So it was particularly striking that Yost’s first appearance on our television or computer screens was him cracking a 102.7 mph grand slam off a 26-year-old Triple-A reliever on Sunday. His contingent in the crowd went nuts. It was a cool moment. But turning around a 1-0, 95 mph fastball in your first at-bat in major league camp was also a signal that Yost is on his way in the power department.
Yost has added that little toe tap since draft day, and you notice how he sits back along with the clean, simple action of the barrel into the zone. That’s a smooth, easy 102.7 mph, caught out front and launched to the pull side.
If the fear on draft day was that Yost wouldn’t grow into something like average power, that swing certainly should open some eyes. The slender, speedy 6’0” shortstop, has plenty of room on his frame to build muscle. Yost looks noticeably stronger through his shoulders and legs already, telling reporters after the game that he’s added 13 pounds since draft day while running even better. Time will tell, but there was some skepticism about Kevin McGonigle’s power potential on draft day as well, and maybe the Tigers just know what they’re doing here. Yost is unlikely to approach McGonigle’s plus power, but average certainly looks attainable. With Yost’s hit tool, that’s plenty.
His defense, pure hitting ability, and his speed all give him plenty of weapons to lean on and he advances into his pro career. He just needs to do enough damage to be playable, and as we suspected that’s not at all a far-fetched hope. The 19-year-old is already in a better spot to start his pro career than it looked on draft day, and the bar much more attainable.
We may see Yost again in the Spring Breakout game this Friday as the Tigers farm system takes on the Pirates prospects in the yearly exhibition game. He should start the year in Lakeland playing shortstop for the Flying Tigers, and with an advanced hit tool it wouldn’t be too surprising to see him hit his way to West Michigan by year’s end. Still, with Bryce Rainer and Franyerber Montilla all at similar stages of development, perhaps they’ll just let Yost cook in Lakeland all summer instead. He’s already taken a nice step up with the raw power since draft day. The next stages may take a few seasons to unfold, but after announcing his presence on Sunday, Jordan Yost is on his way.
Over the next few weeks, 68 different Division I men's college basketball teams will go head-to-head in March Madness at different venues and arenas around the country in the hopes of winning a national championship.
But for two nights before the Round of 64 begins on Thursday, March 19, the Men's NCAA Tournament will tip off the very same way it has for all but two years since 2011: with the First Four, hosted on the campus of the University of Dayton.
It's part of the pageantry of what has made the First Four a tradition like no other in March Madness, as it takes place across two nights on a college campus in winner-take-all games to kick off one of the best postseason tournaments in all of sports.
Action gets underway on Tuesday, March 17 with UMBC vs. Howard in the 16-seed game at 6:40 p.m. ET and Texas vs. North Carolina State in the 11-seed game at 9:15 p.m. ET.
No. 16 Prairie View A&M will take on No. 16 Howard at 6:40 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 18, with the winner advancing to play No. 1 seed Florida in the South Region. But perhaps the biggest game of this year's First Four is the March 18 nightcap as No. 11 seed Miami (Ohio) takes on No. 11 seed Southern Methodist.
Will one of these teams go on a March run that is talked about for years? Time will tell as they look to punch their official ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Here's your guide on the history of First Four teams, and their success in March Madness:
What’s the furthest a First Four team has gone in NCAA Tournament?
The furthest a First Four team has advanced in the NCAA Tournament has been the Final Four. Two teams have achieved this feat: VCU in 2011, and UCLA in 2021.
The Rams, coached then by a young Shaka Smart and featuring players Joey Rodriguez, Bradford Burgess and Jamie Skeen, defeated USC in the First Four and then knocked off three top-10 seeds — No. 6 Georgetown (first round), No. 3 Purdue (second round) and No. 10 Florida State (Sweet 16) — to make the Elite Eight. To make the Final Four, VCU knocked off a Kansas team that was the No. 1 seed in the tournament and featured the talent of Markieff and Marcus Morris. The run ended against Butler in the Final Four.
The Bruins went on a similarly magical run from the First Four to the Final Four in the Indianapolis COVID-19 bubble. It started with a comeback from an 11-point halftime deficit against Michigan State at Mackey Arena, and then led to wins over No. 6 BYU, No. 14 Abilene Christian, No. 2 Alabama and No. 1 Michigan to get to the program's first Final Four since 2008. The run came to an end in the national semifinal in a March Madness thriller against No.1 Gonzaga.
According to the NCAA, at least one team that played its way into the 64-team field advanced to at least the second round in 12 of the last 14 editions of the First Four.
Some examples include LaSalle winning its First Four game in 2013 and then going on a Sweet 16 run that featured upsets of No. 4 Kansas State and No. 12 Ole Miss. No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson also won its First Four game in 2023 and then upset No. 1 seed Purdue in its first-round game.
Mar 15, 2026; Miami, FL, United States; United States second baseman Brice Turang (13) and United States pitcher Mason Miller (19) celebrate after defeating the Dominican Republic in a semifinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
We were expecting a terrific game and we got it. We were expecting a slugfest and we got a pitcher’s duel. It also ended on a terrible call.
Team USA hit two solo home runs and Team Dominican Republic only had one as the United States advanced to the World Baseball Classic with a 2-1 win.
Paul Skenes started for Team USA and the Dominican Republic countered with Luis Severino. The Dominican Republic drew first blood on this 401- foot home run by Junior Caminero. [VIDEO]
It’s amazing how Caminero pulled a pitch that was on the corner, up and away.
Team USA put runners on second and third with one out in the top of the third after Bobby Witt Jr. walked and Bryce Harper doubled. But Severino struck out both Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber to end the threat. [VIDEO]
The Dominican Republic got a rally going in the seventh inning off of David Bednar. Austin Wells doubled with one out and then Geraldo Perdomo singled to center field. However, the slow-footed catcher stopped at third base. Perdomo then stole second base but with runners on second and third and one out, Bednar struck out Tatis and Ketel Marte to end the threat. [VIDEO]
Team USA did not have another hit after a Kyle Schwarber single in the fifth. So it came down to the ninth when the Dominican Republic had to score off of Mason Miller. Miller struck out Caminero to start the frame but then walked Junior Caminero. A wild pitch and an Oneil Cruz ground out to first put the tying run on third with two outs.
Miller got the count to 1-2 on Geraldo Perdomo before missing the zone with a fastball and a slider. So with a 3-2 count, Perdomo fouled off two 101 mile per hour fastballs before taking this slider down low. [VIDEO]
It’s a shame that pitch was called a strike and for an all-time classic contest to end on a bad call by the umpire. But there’s no ABS system in the WBC, so that’s how the game ended.
Later today, at 7 p.m. CT, Venezuela takes on Italy for the other spot in the WBC final. Michael Lorenzen is scheduled to start for Italy and Tigers pitcher Keider Montero is pencilled in for Venezuela. The game will be broadcast of FS1. We will, of course, have a game thread here later today for this semifinal game.
MIAMI — Paul Skenes pitched with poise through pressure, dispatching a series of stars on a night of great stakes in a sold-out stadium with millions watching on TV.
This was the type of game he never sees with the Pittsburgh Pirates and he may not experience on a regular basis until 2030.
Skenes dominated the Dominican Republic’s lineup of All-Stars for 4 1/3 innings in the America’s 2-1 semifinal victory, allowing his only run when Junior Caminero hit a go-ahead home run in the second on a 1-2 sweeper at the top of the strike zone.
“The D.R. is the toughest lineup I’ve ever faced, for sure,” Skenes said.
The NL Cy Young Award winner last year in his first full season at age 23, Skenes mixed six pitches among 71 offerings that included a fastball averaging 97.6 mph. He allowed six hits and finished the tournament 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA and a .226 opponents batting average.
“You can make the argument he’s the best pitcher in the game,” U.S. manager Mark DeRosa said. “Special presence, special man, wants the moment, wasn’t too big for him. Controls his emotions, makes pitches.”
Skenes retired his first five batters before Caminero homered, then hit Geraldo Perdomo with a pitch and allowed Ketel Marte’s single in the third, when right fielder Aaron Judge threw a 95.7 mph strike to third, cutting down Fernandez Tatis Jr. for the inning’s final out.
“A moment like that where I can throw a guy out and help out Paul Skenes, who is electric as he is, I was excited about that,” Judge said.
Skenes stranded the bases loaded in the fourth when Austin Wells flied out. He had been given the lead when Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony homered in the top half.
“He’s very smart. He likes playing with the mind of the hitters,” said Juan Soto, who went 0 for 2 against Skenes. “We have to think a lot when we face him. That’s why I think he’s so special.”
Skenes has a 1.96 ERA in 55 career starts, striking out 386 while walking 74 in 320 2/3 innings. The 6-foot-6 right-hander has not come close to the playoffs on Pirates teams that finished 76-86 in 2024 and 71-91 last year.
Pittsburgh enters this season with seven straight losing records and 27 in 30 years that included a record 20 in a row from 1993 to 2012. The Pirates haven’t reached the World Series since winning the 1979 title.
Skenes is on track to be eligible for free agency after the 2029 season, having earned extra major league service time by finishing among the top two in voting for the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year award, which he won. That provision was added to the collective bargaining agreement in 2022.
If he stays healthy and keeps pitching like the way he has been, he likely would command a record contract for a pitcher. Given the Pirates lack the revenue of large-market teams, they could consider trading him for prospects before he reaches free agency.
Skenes tends to not look too far ahead. He marveled at the Dominicans’ batting order that included eight All-Stars combining for 27 selections.
“Before and after,” he said, “but can’t get too caught up on that.”
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Brandon Valenzuela #59 of the Toronto Blue Jays follows a pop up during the second inning of a spring training game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 11, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Taylor/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We haven’t done one of these Question Time things for a few days, but lets try this one? Who of the Jays minor leaguers has impressed you the most this spring?
I’m going to pick Brandon Valenzuela. He’s hitting the ball well, 7 for 23 with a home run and I’ve liked his glove behind the plate. I asked, in the GameThread, the other day, if ‘all things being equal’ would you give the backup catcher job to Valenzuela?
Of course, all things aren’t equal. Tyler Heineman is out of options and he did a good job for us last year, which trumps any 23 at bats in spring training.
Since catchers tend to get dinged up over the season, I’m pretty sure we’ll see Brandon at some point. If only to cause me more confusion with the various Brandon, Brenden, Braydon, Bradan, Brendans on the team. Those guys should get together and pick one and only one form of that name and all use it, all spelled the same. It is bad enough we have guys who just skip a letter out of their names, to make life tougher on me (yes I’m looking at you Jonatan).
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 20: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball against Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at FedExForum on January 20, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 Ford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA has been experiencing Western Conference supremacy since the moment Michael Jordan retired from the Chicago Bulls for the second time following the 1998 NBA Finals. East teams have won plenty of championships over that time period — most recently, the 2019 Toronto Raptors, 2021 Milwaukee Bucks, and 2024 Boston Celtics — but no one disputes that life is always harder in the West. With recent No. 1 overall picks Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg both landing in the West via the draft lottery, the Western Conference should continue to be superior moving forward.
NBA expansion is just ahead, with a vote coming at this week’s board of governors meetings to start the process of adding two new teams for the 2028-29 season. With franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas expected to be added, one existing team is going to move East. The league has narrowed its choices down to two candidates, per Shams Charania:
Executives across the NBA expect either the Minnesota Timberwolves or Memphis Grizzlies to move to the East to realign conferences with 16 each when Seattle and Las Vegas become West teams.
For the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves, the opportunity to move to the East feels almost as important as draft lottery results. One of these teams is about to have a much easier path to contention going forward in the weaker conference due to factors totally outside of their control.
Here’s one mock up of what the conferences could look like if the Wolves move East:
It’s pretty difficult to project what the league is going to look like in 2028-29 and beyond. What if the big three from this year’s NBA draft class — Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, and Darryn Peterson — all end up in the East? Suddenly that conference looks a lot harder moving forward. Who’s to say that Anthony Edwards will even be on the Wolves by then? A few years ago, no one would have thought the Grizzlies would move on from Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane while begging teams to take Ja Morant, but it’s all happened.
It’s fair to point out that the East has closed the gap a bit this season, but the West still looks much better going forward with Wembanyama and Flagg just starting their rise, plus the Thunder being flush with draft assets and young stars. If the Wolves were in the East this year, I might pick them to reach the NBA Finals. Instead, they will have to fight just to make it out of the first round in the West.
Can the Wolves or Grizzlies bride the committee making this decision in any way? It would be worth it. The West continues to dominate the NBA, and moving East would be a huge deal for any franchise.
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - FEBRUARY 24: Hunter Feduccia #9 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Kathryn Skeean/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Last week, we took a look at the early returns from the outfield group. This week, we’ll turn our attention to the catchers. The front office addressed this area at last season’s trade deadline by acquiring Nick Fortes and Hunter Feduccia. This duo is likely to handle the majority of the reps at catcher this season, and I expect Dom Keegan will have an opportunity to contribute a bit later this season.
Fortes is a plus defender across the board while Feduccia grades as roughly average in blocking and throwing but above average as a receiver. There aren’t many concerns about their defensive skill sets, but both are looking to turn in better offensive seasons than what they showed so far in their major league careers. Early Spring Training data suggests the Rays may get more offensive production from the catching position in 2026 – particularly through improved contact and stronger raw power indicators.
11.9%
… is the combined whiff rate for Fortes and Feduccia so far this spring. That’s a significant improvement from the 26.0% whiff rate Rays catchers posted in 2025.
The front office has quietly been moving towards a more contact-oriented offense, and this change has impacted the catching group as well. More balls in play should lead to a more efficient offensive output – even if some of those balls in play simply move runners along. I don’t think a sub 15% whiff rate is realistic as the wear-and-tear of the position could affect them later in the year, but around 20% seems possible and likely.
104.0mph
… is the 90th percentile exit velocity (EV90: industry standard to measure raw power) for Fortes and Feduccia so far this spring. Rays catchers produced a below-average EV90 of 102.8mph last season, so it’s clear that there’s more power in this duo than the collective combinations of catchers the Rays rostered in 2025.
Fortes and Feduccia were briefly part of that group last season, but they accounted for relatively few of the catching group’s batted-ball events. The raw power upgrade heading into 2026 is real and could make a difference for the offense.
6°
… is the average hard-hit launch angle for Fortes and Feduccia so far this spring.
They’ll need to find a way to elevate the ball more to tap into their power as we countdown to the beginning of the regular season. While the group last year didn’t hit the ball very hard, they did a nice job of elevating the ball when they did – evident in their average hard-hit launch angle of 12°. Fortes and Feduccia may currently be prioritizing contact over damage, which can sometimes lead to flatter contact profiles.
One way to unlock more power would be to take slightly more aggressive swings, even if that comes with a bit more swing-and-miss.
40.7%
… is the zone-minus-out-of-zone swing rate for Fortes and Feduccia so far this spring. While this is better-than-average, Rays catchers ran an even better 43.6% in 2025. However, it was hard for the group last season to leverage their swing decisions into much production because the whiff was prevalent and the power was quite low.
Maintaining strong swing decisions will be key for Fortes and Feduccia, as that approach gives them the best chance to elevate the ball and tap into their raw power. If these trends hold, the Rays should get significantly more offensive production from the catching position than the 70 wRC+ they received in 2025.
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez left Sunday’s spring training game against the Athletics with a sore left shoulder after jamming it sliding into third base, manager Stephen Vogt said.
Vogt said Ramírez would be reevaluated on Monday.
Ramírez was 1 for 2 in the game, which Cleveland won 12-6. He doubled in the second inning, then stole third base. Carter Kieboom pinch-hit for him in the fourth.
A seven-time All-Star who has played his entire 13-year career in Cleveland, Ramírez finished third in the AL MVP voting last season after batting .283 with 30 homers and 85 RBIs. He is a lifetime .279 hitter with 285 home runs and 949 RBIs.
Ramírez, 33, signed a seven-year, $175 million contract this offseason – the largest in franchise history.
MIAMI — A work stoppage that leads to canceled games during the 2027 Major League Baseball season could disrupt plans under discussion to have big league players participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Major League Baseball Players Association is negotiating with Major League Baseball, the IOC, the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the World Baseball Softball Confederation on the six-nation baseball event, scheduled for Dodger Stadium from July 15-20 during what could be an extended All-Star break.
MLB and the union also are preparing for the start of bargaining in April or May for a labor contract to replace the current five-year agreement that expires Dec. 1. A management lockout is expected to start Dec. 2.
“It can be on a separate track, but I’m sure it will come up in the course of negotiations,” new acting union head Bruce Meyer said at the World Baseball Classic. “If we’re in a situation where games are being missed in ’27, that could have an impact on playing the Olympics after that.”
Meyer said a lost 2027 season would eliminate big leaguers from the 2028 Olympics.
“If we don’t have a season, we’re not going to play in the Olympics,” he said.
MLB has not lost regular-season games due to a labor dispute since 1995.
Insurance and player accommodations remain issues that must be resolved for MLB players to appear at the Olympics. At the WBC, costs are split proportionally among the shareholders — MLB and the union have equal stakes that are the most, and the WBSC, Nippon Professional Baseball and the Korea Baseball Organization also own minority shares.
“The federations involved, the IOC, we still have a lot of issues to work out with the league,” Meyer said. “Pretty much everything other than the qualifying — issues like insurance, transportation, and a whole variety of issues. ... Housing, lodging, security is all still under discussion.”
Players during the regular season are entitled to “first-class jet air and hotel accommodations,” according to their labor contract, and they likely would not want to stay in dormitory-type rooms commonly used at Olympics.
For players not in the Olympics, discussions are exploring the possibility of having teams play exhibition games against each other or minor league affiliates.
Meyer spoke on the field at the Miami Marlins’ loanDepot park before the U.S. played the Dominican Republic for a berth in the WBC final against Venezuela or Italy.
A crowd of 34,548 attended Venezuela’s 8-5 upset win over Japan in the quarterfinals. The Marlins drew 1.16 million at home last year, 28th among the 30 teams, and drew 29 crowds of less than 10,000.
“In this market, in Miami, you can see the the fan interest in baseball, which unfortunately is perhaps not maximized by the franchise here,” Meyer said.
MLB and the union are discussing the possibility of having exhibition games during an extended 2028 break for those players not at the Olympics.
The Dominican Republic and Venezuela have qualified along with the host U.S. and one team from Asia and one team from Europe/Oceania can qualify from this November’s WBSC Premier 12 tournament.
A final qualifying tournament will be played no later than March 2028 that includes the top two non-yet-qualified teams from the latest Asia Championship, the top two non-yet-qualified teams from the latest European Championship, the highest-placed non-yet-qualified team from the latest Africa Championship and the highest-placed non-yet-qualified team from the latest Oceania Championship.
Meyer was promoted to acting union head following the forced resignation of Tony Clark, a former All-Star first baseman who had led players since 2013. An investigation by the union’s outside counsel discovered evidence that Clark had an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law, a union employee since 2023.
