Posts

Posted on

March Madness bracket South Region predictions: Upset, sleeper, winner picks

Florida’s quest to repeat as NCAA champion begins in the South Region, where the Gators are the top seed. But in order to get back to the Final Four, their trip will have to go through the city of Houston, where they might also face a potential rematch of last year’s national title game with the hometown Houston Cougars.

There is, however, a lot of basketball to be played before we get to that point in this tough region, which also features an Illinois team that spent numerous weeks ranked in the top 10 this season, and the same Vanderbilt squad that toppled the Gators in the SEC tournament.

March Madness printable bracket: Fill out for predictions, picks in NCAA Tournament

March Madness region breakdown: East | Midwest | West

South Region best first-round matchup: No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 VCU

The Tar Heels have had a little time to accustom themselves to life without standout freshman Caleb Wilson, but their struggles down the stretch after he was lost to injury resulted in some seed slippage. As a consequence, they pick up a tough first-round draw against the Rams, the champs of the Atlantic 10 and a program with a history of contributing to the madness of March (see 2011, First Four to Final Four).

South Region potential upset in first round: No. 13 Troy over No. 4 Nebraska

Fred Hoiberg’s Cornhuskers earned their top-16 spot on the bracket with a strong finish in the Big Ten standings. But it’s still an undeniable fact that Nebraska has yet to win a game in the NCAA Tournament. OK, to be fair, the Trojans of Troy haven’t won a game in the Big Dance in their three prior appearances either. But the Sun Belt champ can be a tough out, and Troy coach Scott Cross has led the Trojans to 20-win campaigns in five consecutive seasons.

NCAA Tournament South Region sleeper: Illinois

It’s hard to consider the No. 3 seed a true sleeper, but given the teams ahead of them the Fighting Illini will have a difficult road. In addition, their fans will be more than a little concerned with the team’s recent troubles closing out close games. But they do have the talent to match up with anyone in the region, and if they figure out how to make another play or two down the stretch, they could surprise.

NCAA Tournament South Region winner: Florida

Florida. It took a couple of months for the Gators’ new-look backcourt to find its rhythm, and they reverted to some of their earlier struggles a bit in the SEC tournament. But there are enough experienced hands from last year’s title team to presume that their bad game is behind them. Yes, that potential date with the Cougars in H-town is a concern, but the Gators are still the team to beat.

NCAA Tournament South Region schedule

First Four

Wednesday, March 18

  • No. 11 Miami (Ohio) vs. No. 11 SMU, 9:15 p.m., truTV (Sling TV)

First round

Thursday, March 19

Oklahoma City

  • No. 4 Nebraska (26-6) vs. No. 13 Troy (22-11), 12:40 p.m., truTV
  • No. 5 Vanderbilt (26-8) vs. No. 12 McNeese State (28-5), 3:15 p.m., truTV
  • No. 7 Saint Mary's (27-5) vs. No. 10 Texas A&M (21-11), 7:35 p.m., TBS
  • No. 2 Houston (28-6) vs. No. 15 Idaho (21-14), 10:10 p.m. TBS

Greenville, S.C.

  • No. 6 North Carolina (24-8) vs. Virginia Commonwealth (27-7), 6:50 p.m., TNT
  • No. 3 Illinois (24-8) vs. No. 14 Penn (18-11), 9:25 p.m., TNT

Friday, March 20

  • No. 8 Clemson (24-10) vs. No. 9 Iowa (21-12), 6:50 p.m., TNT
  • No. 1 Florida (27-6) vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M/Lehigh, 9:25 p.m., TNT

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South Region NCAA Tournament predictions to advance in March Madness

Posted on

Grimes goes for 31, Edgecombe comes up clutch as Sixers pull off win vs. Trail Blazers

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 15: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 15, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Here come the Hospital Sixers.

With strong contributions up and down the roster, the Sixers were able to sweep their back-to-back with a 109-103 win over the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Quentin Grimes led the way for the Sixers posting a game-high and season-high 31 points. Justin Edwards had another strong performance with 21 points. VJ Edgecombe stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points — including a couple huge clutch buckets — three assists and a career-high 12 rebounds.

The team was once again without the services of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. Jabari Walker missed his second straight game with an illness. Dalen Terry was out with left shoulder impingement after a nasty collision in the win over the Nets Saturday.

The Sixers now sit at 37-31, a half game up on the Atlanta Hawks for the eighth seed.

Here are a few thoughts from the arena.

First Quarter

  • Inauspicious start with the Trail Blazers banging a three and getting two and-ones within the first minute of the contest. Justin Edwards snapped the 9-0 opening run with a three and then Dominick Barlow finished a dunk over the massive Donovan Clingan off a nice cut.
  • Good, aggressive starts from Edwards and Quentin Grimes. Ahead of the game, Portland head coach Tiago Splitter mentioned how his team needed to guard against a fast Sixers start, in part by limiting their transition opportunities. The Sixers were out and running early and were even with the Trail Blazers, 14-14, midway through the first.
  • Barlow airballed a three and had a layup attempt easily swallowed up by Clingan, but he was excellent otherwise. He was great defensively and finished another lob and had a beautiful spin move finish. The Sixers were genuinely executing at a pretty high level on both ends, building 24-19 lead.
  • It was an understated but solid start for VJ Edgecombe — until this …
  • The Sixers simply did not let up in transition as Edgecombe found Grimes for a lob to cap off a 30-point first quarter for the team. Edwards and Grimes had eight points apiece as the Sixers took a 30-27 lead after one.

Second Quarter

  • Even though Edgecombe’s stats weren’t gaudy, his impact was obvious as the Trail Blazers started the second on a run with the rookie on the bench. Give the Sixers credit for pushing back. It was again Grimes and Edwards leading that charge with Cam Payne providing a nice spark off the bench.
  • The Sixers had done a decent job on Deni Avdija to start the game, but the All-Star forward started to shake loose a bit. Andre Drummond was giving the Sixers all he could, but Portland had him in a real bind running pick-and-roll with Avdija and Clingan. The Trail Blazers took a 42-41 lead midway through the quarter.
  • This was some of the best basketball Grimes has played this season, even with his recent uptick in usage. He was getting downhill and out in transition. The Sixers needed every bit of his 15 points. Fun fact: the Sixers made more threes in the first half Sunday (4) than they did the entire game Saturday (3).
  • Kyle Lowry checks in! It was a strange lineup choice as Nick Nurse also went with Tyrese Martin during this stretch, but it’s hard to scrutinize lineup decisions too much with this current group.
  • It was a rough shooting half for Edgecombe (3-of-10), but he stuffed the stat sheet otherwise with nine rebounds, three assists and a block. It was a defensive-heavy first half, but the Sixers hung in there, trailing Portland by just one at the break, 54-53.

Third Quarter

  • Another scary collision as Clingan crushed Barlow on an attempted dunk on a fast break. It didn’t seem intentional from Clingan, but it felt like one that could rise to the level of a Flagrant 1. Secaucus disagreed as it was just deemed a common foul. In any case, it was Barlow’s third steal.
  • Portland isn’t exactly a well-oiled machine offensively, but the Sixers’ defense was excellent for much of the night. The team also appeared to be hunting threes out of the break — all of Edgecombe, Barlow and Edwards nailed a triple. The Sixers were also balanced scoring with four guys in double figures and Payne chipping in nine off the bench. That effort helped them build a 68-61 lead roughly midway through the dreaded third.
  • Credit where it’s due — Drummond gave the Sixers some damn good minutes in this one. He had 10 rebounds before he even scored his first points (a hook shot over Clingan, no less). Clingan leads the NBA in offensive rebounds per game, so Drummond’s efforts were much needed. He also led the team in assists at this juncture of the game (4). Another nice Edwards bucket followed by Edgecombe getting to his spot in the midrange and the Sixers held a double-digit advantage, 78-68, in the latter stages of the third.
  • Another bucket from Payne and a nice dish to Drummond helped win the Sixers a third quarter(!) and give them an 82-76 advantage heading to the fourth. Edgecombe with a career-high 12 rebounds and the Sixers held an advantage on the glass as a team.

Fourth Quarter

  • The Sixers did an excellent job on Avdija. He was held scoreless in the third and MarJon Beauchamp had an excellent defensive possession to start the third on him. Beauchamp played a big chunk of the third and was stout against Avdija the entire period.
  • They needed contributions up and down the roster in this one and they got a few. Beauchamp gave them a nice boost in the third, especially defensively. Trendon Watford was able to get a bucket in the post and draw a foul. Grimes’ aggressiveness also continued as he finished a tough basket on Clingan and then drew a foul a few possessions later. Doesn’t feel hyperbolic to say this might’ve been Grimes’ best game of the season as he eclipsed the 20-point mark.
  • And Grimes just kept coming, ripping off four straight points out of a timeout to give the Sixers their largest lead at 101-87, forcing a Portland timeout. Grimes had already put up a season-high 29 points with 5:34 left in the game.
  • Things started to get dicey as Avdija started finding looks and Portland started to win more on the offensive glass. The Trail Blazers trimmed the lead down to 101-95 as Nurse wisely went back to Edgecombe and Edwards after a long rest.
  • The Sixers’ offense was leaking oil pretty badly as Portland stepped up the defensive intensity. A timely Edgecombe short pull-up and an Edwards’ steal and emphatic dunk over Robert Williams III helped stem the tide.
  • And Edgecombe buried a massive midrange jumper over the relentless Toumani Camara which essentially put the game away. That clutch gene sure is prominent in this 20-year-old.
Posted on

Dodgers roster battle persists with Hyeseong Kim looking ‘out of sync’

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Baseball player in a South Korea uniform saluting at a game, Image 2 shows A baseball player in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform and helmet, with dirt on his pants, stands on the field, holding his glove

MESA, Ariz. — Hyeseong Kim called his time at the World Baseball Classic with Team South Korea a “great experience.”

Too bad that wasn’t reflected in the way he swung the bat.

In four WBC games this month, Kim had just one hit in 12 at-bats for a Korean team that was knocked out in the quarterfinals by the Dominican Republic earlier this week.

Team South Korea’s Hyeseong Kim celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against Team Japan. Getty Images

The lone hit was memorable, a score-tying two-run home run against Team Japan at the Tokyo Dome in a rivalry game Korea lost 8-6.

The rest of the time, however, Kim failed to build on the success he experienced at the start of the spring.

And after returning to Dodgers camp, he felt some inefficiencies in his swing were to blame.

“After watching some of the videos [of my games], we noticed that there were some changes [compared to] before I left,” Kim said through an interpreter, specifically pointing to the movement of his lower half and bat path through the zone. “It’s been on and off each game. So just trying to focus on those things and make sure they smooth out.”

Kim’s swing remained a work in progress Sunday, when he had just one hit — a softly lined single, followed by a stolen base and run scored — in four at-bats in a spring training game against the Cubs.

Now, he has just a week remaining in spring training to try to find a fix; hoping to show the Dodgers enough to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster.

“I’m focused on the things I’m good at, such as baserunning and defense; I want to make sure I perfect those categories,” he said. “But my WBC numbers weren’t great. So I want to make sure this last week, I focus on my hitting also.”

Kim has been competing for a spot primarily at second base, where a platoon role opposite of Miguel Rojas is open while Tommy Edman recovers from offseason ankle surgery.

Before leaving for the WBC, he seemed to have the inside track for the job over fellow second-year infielder Alex Freeland — who hasn’t helped his case much by batting .118 in the Cactus League this spring.

Besides his home run, Hyeseong Kim did not provide much offense for Team South Korea during the WBC. Getty Images

However, Kim’s renewed struggles have seemingly altered the calculus, leaving the competition open with the regular season less than two weeks away.

“Right now, he seems out of sync with his swing,” manager Dave Roberts said of Kim, who also missed a WBC game after jamming his finger on a base but said the injury was completely healed.

“He obviously makes sense on our roster,” Roberts added. “But he also has to get into a good place where he feels confident that he can conduct at-bats and be productive. That’s the same thing with Alex Freeland as well. At least we still have time to figure some things out.”

Here are four other takeaways from the Dodgers on Sunday:

Tucker tanks: Kyle Tucker uncorked another long ball in the home half of the Dodgers’ split-squad game Sunday, launching a two-run blast 390 feet to right in a 5-3 win over the Rangers. It was his second homer of the spring. 

Double-duty Mook: In the Dodgers’ 14-8 win against the Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa, Mookie Betts had highlights on both sides of the ball: His first spring home run, on a 414-foot drive to center; and a web gem at shortstop, when he went deep into the hole to his right to stop a grounder before firing a strong and accurate throw across the diamond.

Caught my eye: After being claimed off waivers, then outrighted to the minors, earlier this spring, outfielder Jack Suwinski rang in his Cactus League debut with the Dodgers by also hitting a home run against the Cubs. Suwinski, 27, is a four-year MLB veteran with the Pirates who had strong numbers (.314 average, five home runs) against the Dodgers in his career.

Up next: Tyler Glasnow will make what is likely his last start in Cactus League play, when the Dodgers host the Brewers on Monday afternoon at Camelback Ranch.

Posted on

Batherson's 2 goals help the Senators to a 7-4 win over the Sharks

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Drake Batherson scored twice, including the eventual game winner, as the Ottawa Senators beat the San Jose Sharks 7-4 on Sunday.

With the game tied at 4, Batherson put the Senators (34-23-9) ahead with 6:52 remaining when an Artem Zub shot bounced in off him when he turned to protect himself.

Warren Foegele, Fabian Zetterlund, Tyler Kleven and Dylan Cozens also scored for Ottawa. Brady Tkachuk added an empty-net goal. Linus Ullmark, who was coming off a 23-save shutout against Anaheim, made his third straight start and stopped 19 shots.

Mario Ferraro, Tyler Toffoli, Collin Graf and Michael Misa scored for San Jose. Laurent Brossoit, making his first NHL start since April 18, 2024, made 17 saves for the Sharks (32-27-6).

Both teams were playing the second game of back-to-backs and it showed at times.

Macklin Celebrini reached the 60-assist mark in 65 games, the fewest games by a member of the Sharks since Erik Karlsson accomplished the feat in 63 games in 2022-23.

Ottawa’s power play, which has struggled recently, went 2 for 3 with the man advantage.

Up next

Sharks: Visit the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.

Senators: Visit the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Posted on

Inclement weather ends Yankees vs. Orioles after just two-plus innings

SARASOTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: A general view of the rain coming down at Ed Smith Stadium after a rain delay ended a 11-4 Tampa Bay Rays win over the Baltimore Orioles on February 26, 2019 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Given the forecast in Sarasota, it was always going to be a squeeze to get this Yankees/Orioles game in on Sunday night. Indeed, the heavens opened in the third inning and the rain never stopped. Rather than mill around waiting for a break in the weather that may never have come, both teams decided to call this one after two-plus, with no makeup game scheduled.

The wet conditions played their part from the get-go, Yankees starter Paul Blackburn appearing to have trouble with his grip. He issued a two-out walk to Pete Alonso in the first and then a single to top prospect Samuel Basallo. A wild pitch allowed both runners to advance to scoring position, and a Tyler O’Neill single plated the pair to make it 2-0, Baltimore.*

*Those runs will not count toward Blackburn’s spring training ERA due to the game’s cancellation, so lucky for him, I suppose.

Zach Eflin set the side down in order in the first and second, striking out a pair in each frame. Spencer Jones may have been optioned to minor-league camp, but it hasn’t affected his performances in spring including a home run in the first game after receiving the news. The two issues holding him back have been production against the fastball and pitches in the zone. Leading off the third, he got a belt-high four-seamer at 93 and did what you would expect a big league player to do with a pitch like that, lashing a line drive single to right as he continues to do everything he can this spring to convince the Yankees that he has earned an opportunity. That would be the Yankees’ only hit in this very limited nightcap.

That was where the game ended as the rain really started to fall at that point. It’s a somewhat fitting end to a dreary split-squad day, the first game ending in a 12-1 drubbing by the Tigers. At least it frees up all of our evenings to watch Aaron Judge and Team USA take on the Dominican Republic in the first semifinal of the World Baseball Classic. (Join us back in the game thread to talk about that one!)

The Yankees’ next Grapefruit League game is Tuesday at the Rays. Will Warren looks to continue his strong spring showing against Ryan Pepiot. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. EDT with the broadcast on the Gotham Sports App.

Posted on

Wally Szczerbiak 'surprised' Miami Ohio sent to First Four of March Madness

Miami (Ohio) finished the regular season undefeated with a 31-0 record but fell to Massachusetts in the first round of the MAC tournament, putting its 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament resume into question.

But the RedHawks heard their name called on Selection Sunday, and will face SMU in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, for a chance to play No. 6 Tennessee in the first round. Miami wasn't the last team included in the field — it was ahead of Texas, SMU and North Carolina State — but was punished, regardless, for its weak metrics and strength of schedule.

Think you can beat our expert? Join USA TODAY’s Bracket Challenge today!

Ready to win March Madness? Join USA TODAY’s Survivor Pool today!

"(Miami) came in before NC State, Texas and SMU," NCAA selection committee chair Keith Gill said on the live show. "And during our scrubbing process, those teams scrubbed above (Miami) relative to the predictive metrics and also the difference in the quality of wins."

Former NBA All-Star and Miami standout Wally Szczerbiak, now an analyst for CBS Sports, was surprised Miami is headed to Dayton for the First Four, and thought his alma mater should've been squarely in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

"Very surprised that Miami was sent to the First Four," he said. "It is in Dayton, it's an hour from campus. So they're gonna have a huge crowd, and they have a lot to prove by being put into that First Four."

Miami is the lowest-ranked team by NCAA's Net Rankings to earn an at-large bid, coming in at No. 64 in the metric. The RedHawks played zero Quad 1 games, won three Quad 2 games and their lone loss was a Quad 4 game.

CBS Sports' bracketologist Mackenzie Brooks said Miami's record outweighed its metrics when it came to earning an NCAA Tournament bid.

"Their record is clearly what's carrying them into the tournament," she said. "It's their resume-based metrics that got them here (and) it's their predictive-based metrics that are keeping them in Ohio. They did enough to prove they deserve to be here, but when it comes to your predictives, not really something they're shining in."

Miami is an 8.5-point underdog against SMU on Tuesday, March 17, according to BetMGM. The RedHawks have a lot of doubters, and they'll be looking to prove them wrong when they travel down the road to Dayton.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miami Ohio to First Four? Wally Szczerbiak 'surprised' at NCAA Tournament placement

Posted on

MLB players in LA Olympics? How lockout could keep stars from 2028 Games

MIAMI — Major League Baseball players have made their voices heard throughout the World Baseball Classic, expressing their desire to play in the 2028 Olympics, and it’s possible that the players union could reach a deal with MLB permitting players to participate, independent of a new collective bargaining agreement.

Bruce Meyer, executive director of the players association, fully believes that MLB will impose a lockout when the current CBA expires on Dec. 1, but said Sunday that a deal could be reached before Dec. 1 permitting MLB players to be in the Summer Olympics - being held in Los Angeles – for the first time.

Then again, everything changes if a lockout wipes out the entire 2027 season.

“If we don’t have a season," Meyer said before the USA-Dominican Republic WBC semifina at loanDepot Park, “we’re not going to play in the Olympics."

Time is of the essence and Meyer realizes that the Olympics would like to have a decision this summer, if possible.

“It can be on a separate track," Meyer said. “Theoretically, it can be done anytime. It doesn’t have to be at the same time as everything else is negotiated. I mean, it’s been kind of on a separate track, the discussions that we’ve had to date with the league. So it could be discussed on the course of bargaining, but it doesn’t have to be tied to bargaining."

There still are logistical problems to overcome with the Olympics following the All-Star Game, which would be a 10-day layoff. What do the other players do during the break? Would they play exhibition games against their minor-league affiliates? Who pays their expenses? Who pays for the Olympians’ insurance?

There are a myriad of potential problems, but both sides are optimistic a solution can be reached.

“There are a lot of issues that still need to be worked out," Meyer said. “So, I don’t know about before the CBA, which is likely to not be until over a year from now, but theoretically it can be done."

Providing, of course, the 2027 season stays largely intact.

“If we’re in a situation where games are being missed, and in ’27, that could have an impact on playing the Olympics after that,’’ Meyer said. “But for now, it’s on a separate track."

Still, after watching the popularity of the WBC, and the players’ enthusiasm for the tournament, Meyer hopes the WBC becomes a permanent fixture in MLB, where it likely will be played every four years.

“The WBC is fantastic," Meyer said. “The fan engagement has been terrific. I mean, that’s obvious. It’s great baseball. Great players. It’s a great thing for the sport, and its been a tremendous success.

“The players that I’ve spoken to are thrilled to be here, thrilled to be representing their countries, and having a good time. It’s a great thing for the league, and in this market in Miami, you can see the fan interest in baseball, which unfortunately is perhaps not maximized by the franchise here.

“It’s been a great thing."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB players in Olympics? Baseball stars want to play in LA 2028

Posted on

Jay Bilas on Duke NCAA Tournament: 'They don't have the easiest of draws'

For the second straight season, Duke men's basketball was rewarded the top-overall seed in the Men's NCAA Tournament.

The NCAA selection committee did not do the Blue Devils — who open March Madness on March 19 against 16-seed Siena — any favors with the teams they included in the East Region. The Blue Devils were paired with national championship contenders Connecticut and Michigan State and Big East champion St. John's, which is coached by Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino. There's also Kansas, which Duke beat in the Champions Classic, in the region.

Former Blue Devil and ESPN basketball analyst Jay Bilas pointed to the Spartans as the team that could provide some difficulty to Duke's path to the Final Four.

Think you can beat our expert? Join USA TODAY’s Bracket Challenge today!

"I think Duke makes it to the second weekend but they don't have the easiest of draws. St. John's is in their way. And Michigan State is in their way down at the bottom of that draw in their way," Bilas said on ESPN's post-NCAA Tournament bracket reveal show. "I think Michigan State's one of the most interesting seeded threes.

"... In my view, they're the most likely three seed to make a Final Four."

Michigan State earned a top-three seed in the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time under Tom Izzo on Sunday. The Spartans have one of the top point guards in the country in Jeremy Fears Jr., and a defense that is known to wear down opponents with the amount of attention they create inside the paint and around the rim.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness first round full schedule: NCAA Tournament dates, TV info

The earliest the Blue Devils could meet up with the Spartans is the Elite Eight on Sunday, March 29. To get there, Duke would have to beat Siena and either 8-seed Ohio State or 9-seed TCU in Greenville on the first weekend, and then any of 4-seed Kansas, 5-seed St. John's, 12-seed Northern Iowa and 13-seed Cal Baptist.

The Spartans have a tough path themselves to the Elite Eight. Izzo's squad would have to beat 14-seed North Dakota State in the first round, and then either 6-seed Louisville or 11-seed South Florida in the second round. Then they'd have to beat any of the likes of 2-seed UConn, 7-seed UCLA, 10-seed Central Florida and 15-seed Furman in the Sweet 16.

If Duke and Michigan State do meet up at Capital One Arena in The Nation's Capital in two weekends from now, it'd be a rematch of a non-conference meeting from December in East Lansing. Behind 18- and 12 points from Cameron Boozer and Caleb Foster, respectively, the Blue Devils were unable to earn one of their 17th Quad 1 wins of the season.

Ready to win March Madness? Join USA TODAY’s Survivor Pool today!

Foster's availability for the NCAA Tournament, of course, is up in the air as Jon Scheyer said his guard is out for the 'foreseeable time' with a foot fracture before the ACC tournament.

Duke and Michigan State do have some recent history in the NCAA Tournament against each other. The Spartans upset the 1-seeded Blue Devils and Zion Williamson 68-67 in the Elite Eight of the 2019 NCAA Tournament thanks to a go-ahead 3-pointer from Kenny Goins. Duke then repaid the favor in the 2022 NCAA Tournament to send Michigan State home after the second round.

The Blue Devils are 14-4 in 18 meetings in the NCAA Tournament against the Spartans.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jay Bilas says Michigan State 'most likely' three seed to make Final Four

Posted on

Dodgers 14, Cubs 8: Jameson Taillon did not shine

MESA, Arizona — I know most of you are focused on the USA/Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic semi-final this evening, and the Cubs’ 14-8 loss to the Dodgers ran real long largely because of a ridiculous ninth inning that I’ll get to in a bit.

The most important story of this game was Jameson Taillon, just back from the WBC and now with only a couple of spring starts left before he opens his 2026 season.

This was not a good outing for Jamo. He allowed eight hits in less than four innings, including two home runs (one by Mookie Betts, which pleased the very large contingent of Dodger fans at Sloan Park). More concerning was the four walks he issued. One of Taillon’s best features, when he’s on, is that he pounds the zone and doesn’t walk guys. Four walks in 3.2 innings is not good. He walked only 27 batters in 129.2 innings all of last year. Ten of the Dodgers’ 14 runs scored off Taillon, making the score 10-2 at the time he departed. His spring ERA is now 22.18, yikes.

The other homer off Taillon was by Jack Suwinski, who used to wear Cubs pitching out when he was with the Pirates. Maybe he has Taillon’s number — of his 57 career homers, three are off Jamo.

Gotta clean that up, or this is gonna be a rough year for Taillon, who threw only 36 strikes in 70 pitches [VIDEO].

The two runs that scored in that time frame were in the top of the third, a two-run homer by Nico Hoerner [VIDEO].

The good news from this game, such as it is, is that four relievers who will be important parts of this year’s Cubs bullpen all did well. Hoby Milner, Caleb Thielbar, Phil Maton and Jacob Webb combined for four shutout innings, allowing one hit and one walk, striking out three. That’s a good sign, I think.

Then there was that ridiculous ninth inning I mentioned, in which the teams combined for seven walks and nine runs. Devin Ortiz, who the Cubs got over the winter from the Padres system, hit a grand slam in that inning [VIDEO].

For whatever that’s worth.

It was nice to see Jonathon Long back in action in the field. At the plate he was hit by a pitch and walked twice. Hopefully he’ll see some more MLB spring action before camp breaks.

Attendance watch: A sellout of 15,788 attended Sunday afternoon’s contest, as I mentioned, a large number were Dodgers fans. The boxscore says 13,788 but I clearly heard 15,788 announced. Presuming the larger figure is correct, that makes the season total for 13 games at Sloan Park 163,519, or 12,578 per date.

The Cubs travel west Monday to face the Guardians at Goodyear. Cade Horton will start for the Cubs and Gavin Williams goes for Cleveland. Game time Monday is 8:05 p.m. CT, one hour after the WBC semi-final between Venezuela and Italy starts. We’ll have game threads here for both. Monday’s Cubs game will be televised on Guardians TV, with a radio broadcast from the Cleveland flagship station WTAM 1100.

Posted on

Enis scores 19, South Florida wins AAC Tournament, clinches 1st NCAA Tournament berth since 2012

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Wes Enis scored 19 points on Sunday to help top-seeded South Florida beat No. 2 seed Wichita State 70-55 to win the American Athletic Conference Tournament and clinch a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012.

South Florida (25-8) has won 11 in a row and secured its first AAC Tournament crown. The Bulls have won back-to-back conference regular-season titles.

Izaiyah Nelson had 13 points, six rebound, three steals and two blocks for USF and Josh Omojafo scored 10.

CJ Brown threw an alley-oop to Nelson for a dunk that made it 10-8 a little more than six minutes into the game and the Bulls led the rest of the way.

Wichita State (22-11) twice in the second half trimmed its deficit to a point before Isaiah Jones and Enis hit back-to-back 3s to spark a 14-4 spurt that gave South Florida a 59-45 lead with 6 1/2 minutes to play.

Dillon Battie led the Shockers with 15 points and Will Berg added 10 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Kenyon Giles, the team's leading scorer this season (19.7 per game), finished with five points on 2-of-11 shooting, 1 of 7 from 3-point range.

Wichita State had its seven-game win streak — which dated to a 66-58 home loss to the Bulls on Feb. 11 — snapped.

Up next

Wichita State: Awaits a potential postseason invitation.

South Florida: Will be a No. 11 seed and plays Thursday against sixth-seeded Louisville in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Posted on

Warriors vs. Knicks injury report: Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Al Horford out

Draymond Green and Al Horford high-fiving as they run down the court.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 7: Al Horford #20 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors high five during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 7, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Golden State Warriors are hoping to get back in the win column tonight, but it’s going to be very difficult. Not only are they on the road, facing a far superior New York Knicks team, but they’re missing nearly every notable name on the roster.

Here’s the full injury report.

Warriors

Out — Steph Curry (right patellofemoral pain syndrome)

No new news here. Curry will miss his 17th straight game, and it’s unclear when he’ll be back, if at all this year.

Out — Draymond Green (left low back injury management)

Green has been gutting his way through lower back pain, but in this scheduled loss, and with another game Monday night, he’s finally getting some time to let it heal.

Out — Al Horford (right soleus strain)

The sick get sicker. Just when you thought the Dubs couldn’t get any more injured, Horford suffered an injury during Friday’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. So it goes.

Out — Kristaps Porziņģis(general illness management)

After playing two straight games, Porziņģis is headed back to the sideline. He’s only played four times since coming to the Warriors at the deadline about six weeks ago.

Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL surgery)

Nothing new to see here. We probably won’t get much of an update on Butler’s recovery for about nine months.

Out — De’Anthony Melton (left knee injury management)

The Dubs play again tomorrow night, so Melton will likely play in that game.

Out — Moses Moody (right wrist sprain)

Moody will hopefully return at some point during the team’s six-game road trip, which kicks off tonight at Madison Square Garden. This will be his sixth straight absence.

Out — Seth Curry (left adductor strain)

Gotta feel for the younger Curry. This could have been a really fun season for him, and instead he’s played in just four games.

Knicks

Out — Miles McBride (pelvic core muscle surgery)

McBride is having something of a breakout season, averaging a career-high 12.9 points per game in his fifth season. But a core muscle injury suffered in late January will keep him out until the playoffs.

Enjoy the game, Dub Nation. It tips off at 5:00 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock.

Posted on

Preview: Wizards host Warriors on Monday night

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 18: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors dribbling the ball is guarded by Bilal Coulibaly #0 of the Washington Wizards during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on January 18, 2025 in San Francisco, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Washington Wizards play the Golden State Warriors tomorrow night. Let’s get to the preview.

Game info

When: Monday, Mar. 16 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Capital One Arena

How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass

Injuries: For the Wizards, Kyshawn George (elbow), Anthony Davis (hand, groin), Cam Whitmore (shoulder), and D’Angelo Russell (not with team) are out.

For the Warriors, Seth Curry, Al Horford, Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler are out. There are more players who are questionable because they are missing their road game against the Knicks at 8 p.m. ET tonight.

What to watch for

The Wizards are still losing which is good for their draft lottery hopes. They now are back home to host the Warriors, who will not have a full roster themselves. Golden State is 32-34 which is safely in play in tournament territory, but have lost six of their last seven games.

A note tomorrow: there is a high risk of storms coming through from tomorrow afternoon to tomorrow night. Though the storms may be widespread, the NBA doesn’t cancel for severe storms barring something extreme. So be careful if you decide to go to the game tomorrow.

Posted on

Team USA vs. Dominican Republic game chat

HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 13: Will Smith #16 of Team USA stands on the field for the national anthem prior to the 2026 World Baseball Classic Quarterfinals game presented by Capital One between Team USA and Team Canada at Daikin Park on Friday, March 13, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The first semifinal matchup of the World Baseball Classic is upon is, with Team USA and The Dominican Republic facing off.

Paul Skenes starts on the mound for The United States, with Luis Severino going for The Dominican Republic.

Will Smith starts at catcher, continuing the every-other-game timeshare behind the plate with Cal Raleigh.

Sunday game info
  • Event: World Baseball Classic semifinals
  • Teams: United States vs. Dominican Republic
  • Ballpark: loanDepot Park, Miami
  • Time: 5 p.m. PT
  • TV: FS1
  • Radio: MLB Audio, Sirius XM
Posted on

South Africa beats Fiji to win rugby sevens world series. New Zealand wins women's title

HARRISON, New Jersey (AP) — South Africa won the 2026 men's World Rugby sevens series, holding out against a late rally from Fiji on Sunday to win the final at the last tournament of the regular season.

Fiji and South Africa were tied atop the season standings heading into the New York Sevens, making the final also a series decider.

South Africa scored the only try of the first half through Selvyn Davids and increased its lead to 10-0 with a try to Tristan Leyds two minutes into the second half.

Fiji rallied with a try to Terio Veilawa to cut the margin to 10-7 with two minutes remaining. The Fijians had the last possession of the match and were five meters from the South African line when a knock-on ended their attack and ensured South Africa won the final and the series.

“It was just a massive, massive defensive effort,” South Africa captain Impi Visser said. “Fiji brought out the best in us.”

“It's funny that it all came down to the final," added Visser, who played his 50th World Series match in the final. "It's like someone scripted it, and couldn't have scripted it better.”

New Zealand rallied from 21-5 down in the second half to edge Australia 22-21 in the women's final. Australia and New Zealand have contested all six finals on the World Series this season with New Zealand winning five.

New Zealand had already won the women's World Series title when it qualified for the semifinals, gaining enough points to establish an unassailable lead. The New Zealand Black Ferns still wanted to finish the regular season with a win and did so in remarkable circumstances.

For Australia, Teagan Levi scored two tries and her sister Maddison Levi scored one to give their team a 21-5 lead two minutes into the second half.

New Zealand rallied with tries to Alena Saili and Kelsey Tineti, who also scored in the first half, to make the score 21-15 and give themselves a chance of winning.

Jorja Miller won a penalty from a breakdown turnover in the last minute and Katelyn Vahaakolo scored the try close to the posts which was converted to give New Zealand the victory.

“I think for us, even before the game started, we knew it was all going to be about heart,” New Zealand captain Risi Pouri-Lane said. "Final footy can go either way and we all know that. But to grind it out when the odds may not be in your favor is what counts.

“But the belief within every single person beside you is huge.”

___

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

Posted on

GameThread: WBC Semifinal USA Vs Dominican Republic

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 13: Juan Soto #22 of the Dominican Republic slides home during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Quarterfinals game presented by Capital One between Team Korea and Team Dominican Republic at loanDepot park on Friday, March 13, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

I’m not going to pretend to be impartial: GO DR GO

DR is in tough against starting pitcher Paul Skenes. Luis Severino starts for DR.

DR has their lineup out.

  1. Tatis, RF
  2. Marte, 2B
  3. Soto, LF
  4. Vlad, 1B
  5. Machado, 3B
  6. Caminero, DH
  7. Rodriguez, CF
  8. Wells, C
  9. Perdomo, SS

As I type this, the US doesn’t have a lineup posted.