PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 01: Kris Letang #58 of the Pittsburgh Penguins moves the puck in front of Michael Rasmussen #27 of the Detroit Red Wings at PPG PAINTS Arena on January 1, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Who:Detroit Red Wings (39-26-8, 86 points, 6th place Atlantic Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (37-21-16, 90 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division)
When: 7:00 p.m. eastern
How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and FanDuel Sportsnet Detroit, streaming on ESPN+
Pens’ Path Ahead: The Pens are headed to Tampa Bay to pay the Lightning on Thursday before returning home for a back-to-back set against the Florida Panthers on Saturday and Sunday.
Opponent Track: The Red Wings most recently let the Philadelphia Flyers back into the playoff race on Saturday, when Detroit started out the matchup by giving up four straight goals to Philadelphia. A late comeback push of three goals in three minutes wasn’t enough to overcome the early deficit, and now the Flyers are officially part of the late-season race for a Wild Card spot.
Season Series: The Penguins are looking to sweep the season series after claiming back-to-back wins (a 4-3 OT win and a 4-1 victory padded by two empty-netters) in a home-and-home set on Jan. 1 and Jan. 3.
Hidden Stat: Monday’s win over the New York Islanders marked the first time the Penguins have had 15 different players record a point in a game since March 27, 2022, per NHL Stats. That game, coincidentally, took place against the Red Wings.
Getting to know the Red Wings
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Emmitt Finnie – Dylan Larkin – Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat – Andrew Copp – Patrick Kane
David Perron – J.T. Compher – Carter Mazur
James Van Riemsdyk – Marco Kasper – Mason Appleton
DEFENSEMEN
Simon Edvinsson / Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot / Justin Faulk
Albert Johansson / Jacob Bernard-Docker
Goalies: John Gibson (starting), Cam Talbot
Potential scratches: Michael Rasmussen (injured), Travis Hamonic, Michal Postava
Injured Reserve: None
The Red Wings are mixing things up after Saturday’s loss to the Flyers. Here’s what the lines looked like during that game. The changes could be an effort to mix up a bottom six that struggled during Saturday’s loss to the Flyers.
I don’t see James van Riemsdyk out there
DeBrincat Copp Kane Compher Larkin Raymond Finnie Kasper Mazur Perron Shine Appleton
John Gibson is slated to make his 12th straight start tonight against the Penguins. He’s seeking redemption, both after getting pulled for allowing four goals on 21 shots last Saturday against the Flyers and giving up two early goals in his last meeting with the Pens on Jan. 3.
The Red Wings had wildly different results in their most recent back-to-back set, following a 5-2 win over the usually-dominant Buffalo Sabres with their collapse against the Flyers. That game was a hugely disappointing swing for a team that traded a package including a first-round pick in order to acquire Justin Faulk ahead of a hopeful playoff push.
Slow starts
Detroit has overall had trouble building much momentum since returning from the Olympic break. This team hasn’t put together a three-game win streak since January.
Part of the reason why could be a lingering issue with slow starts, which showed in Saturday’s loss to the Flyers. The Red Wings have overall been outscored 54-43 (and outshot 663-595) in first periods this season, per Hockey Reference.
Both of their recent losses that have weakened the team’s playoff position— a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators last Tuesday and the Saturday defeat by the Flyers— involved the Red Wings giving up three straight goals to start the game.
The Penguins would love to put up some early goals against this team, which is 15-21-6 when their opponent scores first (5-10-4 on the road).
The Red Wings, who have lost three of their last four and know exactly what playoff implications are on the line here, will be similarly motivated to strike first. As Lucas Raymond said after his team’s loss to the Flyers, “we’ve got to play with a lot more desperation and jump if we want to win hockey games” (h/t The Athletic’s Max Bultman).
Playoff implications
Tonight is another game with major implications for the Eastern Conference playoff race, per MoneyPuck. The Pens could take another step toward clinching a playoff spot with a win, while the Red Wings’ postseason hopes would plummet with a loss.
Checking in on the East’s Wild Card race, via NHL.com. The Red Wings are two points back of the Wild Card line, the same position as the Ottawa Senators and Flyers. All three teams have a game in hand over the current WC2 Columbus Blue Jackets.
And now for the Pens
Projected lines (from Monday’s game)
FORWARDS
Egor Chinakhov – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha – Rickard Rakell – Justin Brazeau
Tommy Novak – Ben Kindel – Avery Hayes
Elmer Soderblom – Connor Dewar – Noel Acciari
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Sam Girard / Kris Letang
Ryan Shea / Connor Clifton
Goalies: Stuart Skinner (Arturs Silovs started yesterday)
Potential Scratches: Evgeni Malkin* (injured), Ilya Solovyov, Blake Lizotte (injured), Kevin Hayes, Ryan Graves, Ville Koivunen, Rutger McGroarty
IR: Filip Hallander, Jack St. Ivany
Dan Muse did some line-shuffling last night, including placing Chinakhov on the first line and shuffling Tommy Novak to the third. Mantha and Brazeau looked good together on the second line, but that could change if Evgeni Malkin is able to return.
Speaking of Malkin: He was a full participant in practice the day before Monday’s game, so it seems there is at least a possibility he returns for tonight’s home matchup. In that case it could be Avery Hayes drawing out of the lineup as Rickard Rakell slides back to wing.
Elmer Soderblom is reuniting with his former team after coming one assist short of a Gordie Howe hat trick last night in his best game as Penguin so far.
The Penguins seem to know the playoff implications of a win tonight, based on their reaction to last night’s victory:
No celebrating in the Penguins locker room. Not even many smiles.
"Time to get ready for the Red Wings," Bryan Rust said.
Sidney Crosby is the eighth player in NHL history to reach this mark, and just the second ever to record 1,100 assists with one franchise, after Ray Bourque with Boston. https://t.co/Nf6yIgsPx6
On Monday night, Victor Wembanyama had his seventh career game scoring 40 or more points. Many of those baskets came from lobs while he was posted at the rim.
During the postgame press conference, Wemby was asked about the connection he has with Stephon Castle and how their game has developed as a result.
Wembanyama on his relationship with Castle:
“We’ve had the chance to spend lots of minutes on the court together and he understand me very well.. It’s just the beginning, I hope to spend 15 years as his teammate so hopefully we see thousands of lobs.”
“We’ve had a chance to spend lots of minutes on the court together and he understands me very well. And that’s not just randomly, we’re just in synch. We get along together because he as the ball handler is actively trying to get the best shot for the team. And me as the roller, try to make a shot every time he throws it up high enough — still sometimes he doesn’t throw it high enough — when he throws it up high enough it ends up in a dunk. And it’s just the beginning, I hope to spend fifteen years as his teammate, so hopefully we see thousands of lobs.”
That’s a lot of high praise for a young player, but then again, Castle isn’t just any player. As the reigning Rookie of the Year, the baton he took from Wembanyama, The UConn guard came in prepared for the rigors of the NBA and has developed at a rapid rate. Whether it’s because of his time with Wemby or whether this is the player Castle could have been on any team, it’s obvious the mutual respect on and off the court has forged a kinship that will shape the future of the San Antonio Spurs and define the next era of franchise.
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ELMONT, NEW YORK - MARCH 30: Anthony Mantha #39 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates a second period goal against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on March 30, 2026 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Steven Ryan/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Penguins got a big boost last night towards earning a playoff spot with a massive win against the New York Islanders.
Headed into the Penguins’ game against the Islanders, second place was up for grabs in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division and Pittsburgh took full advantage with an 8-3 road win over the Islanders.
With the win, the Penguins sit in second place in the division and according to MoneyPuck, the Penguins now have an 83.3% chance of making the postseason for the first time since 2022.
The Penguins can get another boost tonight with their game against the Detroit Red Wings, who currently sit two points outside of the Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot.
If the Penguins win tonight in regulation, their chance of making the playoffs moves up to 91.6%, according to MoneyPuck.
The modeling at Hockeystats.com is even more favorable, their numbers already have the Penguins with 91% odds of qualifying for the playoffs entering today’s game. It has the opportunity to rise even higher with a win tonight. The Red Wings should be a desperate team, their season is slipping away and a loss tonight narrows their odds even further.
The Penguins have eight games remaining this season, only one of which is against a current playoff team when Pittsburgh will travel to Tampa Bay to face the Lightning on Thursday night.
While the Penguins have their own business to handle, scoreboard watching can be helpful too.
If the Islanders lose to the Sabres tonight in regulation, their playoff chance drops from 70.3% down to 43.9%, according to MoneyPuck. If the Blue Jackets lose to the Hurricanes in regulation, their playoff chance drops from 63.6% to 35.8%, according to MoneyPuck.
ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 26: Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals reacts to a play during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Thursday, March 26, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Last year, we attempted to do a “monthly” reader mailbag series to give fans the chance to guide the discussion. That seemed to be a bit over the top. So, this season, we’re going to try every OTHER month instead. This way, enough time builds up between iterations that fans can develop new curiosities about the team, the minor leagues, the organization, or its philosophies.
We are going to make a run at our first of the season this week! So, get those questions in and the fellas will answer them on the next episode of the Viva El Birdos Podcast!
“Early Season Samples”
A tradition that goes back to Doubleday himself, overreacting to early-season performances or lack thereof, is something every fan of every fan base willfully participates in, and at a certain point, the realization around game 10-15 that this is a marathon and you have to try your best not to ride the rollercoaster too much. That’s not telling you how to fan; that’s me trying to work hand in hand with your cardiologist to keep you from “taking the dive” from a managerial decision or poor performance in April that likely the team wouldnt be as patient with in August or September. That being said, here are some early-season trends through the first 4 games that should have some fans optimistic:
Jordan Walker leads the team in OPS with a 1.269 through his first 16 PA and has 3 BB to his 1 K. Jordan seems to be controlling the strike zone, taking his walks, and impacting the baseball when he gets good pitches to hit. I’m not calling for a statue to be built for Walker, but he seems to be stacking wins at the plate in both results and process, and that will only further confidence and internal belief as he dials in on what could be his last real chance in St. Louis as the everyday RF.
Ho-HUM, Alec Burleson leads the team in Hits and RBI’s and is posting an OPS of 1.111. For an offense starved for production, one player Cardinals fans can count on watching produce all season long will be Burly.
JJ Wetherholt looks the part immediately, and we had heard about his poise and maturity, and I’m personally happy that Manager Oliver Marmol decided to insert JJ in that spot. My hope, if nothing else, is that even when Nootbaar returns, JJ continues to lead off. “When faced with a decision between the short term and long term, we will choose the long term every time.” If there were any player on this team I would want taking the most PA’s in 2026 its Wetherholt. He will be someone who gains the most from seeing the most opportunities and gets him to his ceiling quicker.
On the pitching side, Michael McGreevy pitched 6 no-hit innings against the Rays, with diminished velo on his fastball. I was highly skeptical that McGreevy was going to be effective early this season. To his credit, he mixed his pitches well and kept the Rays offense off balance all game long. I will be eager to see how he handles a more potent offense like Detroit in his 2nd start of the season.
George Soriano, at the time of his acquisition, was a bit curious. Cardinals fans seemed to be really excited about Andre Granillo, but Chaim Bloom and his staff seemed to have identified a potential diamond in the rough. 9 scoreless innings in spring and has pitched 3 more scoreless to begin the year. The FB velo is up from 95.7 to 96.6 on average this year, and he is throwing his Changeup as his primary offering, which produces a whacky 7.6 inches above average in drop compared to league-average measured changeups. I expect by the end of April, Soriano will find himself in setup duty and high-leverage opportunities frequently.
Who have you been most impressed by early in the season? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to submit your questions as well! We want to make sure we are covering content that you care about most, and this is your opportunity to guide the discussion!
BALTIMORE, MD - MARCH 30: Pitcher Chris Bassitt #40 of the Baltimore Orioles walks to the dugout after being replaced in the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on March 30, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello, friends.
As the now-old movie quote goes, “Oh no, we suck again!” The Orioles were back at it last night, not convincing anybody that anything is going to be different this year no matter how many slogans they put out. They dropped a 5-2 game to the Texas Rangers to start off their three-game set, falling to 2-2 on the year. Check out Alex Church’s recap of the game for more of the not-so-lovely totals.
The offense getting worked again is an ongoing early story, though for me it’s got to be the clunker of a first outing for Chris Bassitt that’s the most disappointing. He was supposed to not end up in Charlie Morton territory; he’s younger and the Orioles paid him even more money. He had the narrative around him of his postseason success last year and all of that. It was worth nothing in the 2026 season, at least to begin. He will get many more starts to prove he’s better than that, but for now, it’s a bad ERA number.
Alright, fine, I’m also disappointed about the offense. There are no bonus partial wins for silver linings, of course. Even so, it was nice to see Gunnar Henderson connect for his first homer of the season last night, and add a second hit later in the game. Good things will be needed from him this year, and from Taylor Ward and Pete Alonso. This is doubly true as long as these guys are the top three hitters in the lineup. They aren’t doing it yet.
It’s only been four games. Many, many more games remain. Still, I understand the early frustration. The team needs to go out in the month of April and convince people that things are really going to be different this year. They’re 2-2 through four games and honestly, even one of their two wins still had some nervousness underneath it that maybe the offense isn’t fixed. Until they blast this narrative away, it will linger because it’s been lingering since July of two years ago.
Perhaps they can start to author a different story in tonight’s game. The series with Texas is scheduled to continue at 6:35 tonight. As of this writing, the Rangers still don’t have an announced starting pitcher. It’ll be Zach Eflin getting the start for the Orioles. There’s one more guy who needs to quickly show that he’s put a rough 2025 behind him, or else sunny assumptions about the 2026 squad will have to be revisited in the aftermath of a dose of cruel reality.
The Orioles were most recently victorious on today’s date just a year ago, when they beat the Red Sox, 8-5, thanks to scoring four first-inning runs and four eighth-inning runs. Just four of the 17 players who appeared for the O’s in that game are active on the roster to begin this season.
There are a pair of former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2025 one-game pitcher Elvin Rodríguez, and 1954 three-game pitcher Dave Koslo.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: mathematician/philosopher René Descartes (1596), composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685), composer Joseph Haydn (1732), baseball Hall of Famer Mule Suttles (1901), actor Christopher Walken (1943), and actress Rhea Perlman (1948).
On this day in history…
In 1774, in a retaliation for the Boston Tea Party, the port of Boston was ordered closed by Great Britain.
In 1814, the army of the Sixth Coalition (against Napoleon) occupied Paris after two days of fighting. This led to Bonaparte’s surrender and temporary exile.
In 1906, the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States – today known as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) – was established.
In 1995, Tejano singer-songwriter Selena was shot and killed by the woman who was the president of her fan club. The murderer had been embezzling thousands of dollars from the fan club.
A random Orioles trivia question
I received a random book of Orioles trivia questions for Christmas. I’ll ask a question in this space each time it’s my turn until I run out of questions. Last time, I asked who was the ERA leader for the 1970 Orioles. The answer was elusive for some, but if you knew it was Pete Richert with his 1.98 ERA in 54.2 IP, good job. Here’s today’s question:
Who was the first Orioles player to hit for the cycle in franchise history?
**
And that’s the way it is in Birdland on March 31. Have a safe Tuesday.
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 28: Brendan Beck #89 of the New York Yankees works out before the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 28, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yankees minor league baseball is back! While the big league club worked on sweeping the San Francisco Giants out west, the first games of the minor league season took place over the weekend, with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre opening their season on Friday.
They only played three games, and the other three full-season affiliates don’t officially kick off until Friday, but we did get some notable performances and interesting storylines from the first few games of the year from the farm’s top affiliate.
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Record: 2-1, 1 GB in International League East after a 2-1 week against the Buffalo Bison (Blue Jays)
Run differential: +5
Coming up: Away @ Rochester Red Wings (Nationals)
It was a choppy start to the season for the RailRiders, who opened the season on Friday before the cold Buffalo weather forced a Saturday postponement, leading to a Sunday doubleheader.
Debuting one of the best Triple-A rosters you can put together, they put on a show on Friday afternoon, riding five sharp innings from Brendan Beck to an 8-0 shutout victory. Eight of their nine starters got a hit, and the first seven batters all recorded an RBI, with Spencer Jones hitting a double and Yanquiel Fernandez mashing a home run.
The opener of Sunday’s doubleheader was a whirlwind. Scranton took an early lead and rode a solid start from Carlos Lagrange, but was dragged into a 3-3 tie heading into extras (minor league doubleheaders are only seven innings). RBI knocks from Jasson Domínguez and Max Schuemann were just enough to win the game in 10 innings, 5-4, with flamethrower Yovanny Cruz getting a win in his Triple-A debut and Danny Watson picking up his first Triple-A save.
The nightcap was a bit rougher. Jones and Fernandez both launched home runs to get the RailRiders out to an early lead, but Dom Hamel struggled badly with his command in his organizational debut, allowing a six-run fourth inning en route to a 7-3 loss.
It was a strong weekend for the two hitters we all have the most eyes on in Domínguez and Jones, with other notable performers including the veterans on minor league deals. Beck and Lagrange looked good in their season debuts, with Lagrange managing to still hit 101.3 on the radar gun on a frigid day in Buffalo. Much of the bullpen also thrived, with notable names like Cruz, Harrison Cohen, and Kervin Castro delivering scoreless relief along with two guys who we’ll see in the Bronx soon when the inevitable bullpen shakeup occurs (Yerry De los Santos, Angel Chivilli).
It was not a great defensive weekend, as Scranton committed six errors in three games. One of them was particularly bad from Domínguez in left field.
In a stacked rotation that includes a former Rookie of the Year and two Top 100 prospects, a name that may fall behind is Brendan Beck, a former third-round pick who’s battled injuries that cost him most of the first three seasons of his professional career before finally putting together a full season in 2025.
Beck got off to a fantastic start in Double-A Somerset that year and earned a summer promotion to Triple-A, where he struggled with inconsistency. His low-90s fastball wasn’t playing as well and, despite his positioning in the organization, he was left unprotected in the Rule 5 draft. After going undrafted, he came to camp as a non-roster invite while also getting the chance to pitch with his brother, Tristan, for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic.
With that experience behind him, he’s opened 2026 with a bang, dominating Buffalo with one of the better outings of his professional career. While that low-90s fastball was his most-utilized pitch, he located it well and earned a called strike + whiff rate (CSW%) of 43 percent. His best pitch was his slider, and it wasn’t close, wiping out several hitters by generating nine whiffs on just 15 swings. He also mixed in a splitter and curveball, both generating positive readings. The splitter, especially, seems revamped from 2025.
Brendan Beck (NYY) looks like he's levelled up his splitter. Not a high upside guy given the age and velocity, but may have unlocked his huge 9K 5IP night. The slider is slightly different too, not sure what to make of it. pic.twitter.com/AXtmKgBHUq
Beck profiles as a back-end starter or long reliever when he reaches the majors, and the more starts like these that the 27-year-old gets under his belt, the quicker that day will come, whether it’s for the Yankees or for someone else.
Minor League Baseball: View of First Horizon Park scoreboard in the shape of a guitar during anthem before Nashville Sounds vs Memphis Redbirds game. Nashville, TN 5/14/2021 CREDIT: David E. Klutho/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X163617 TK1)
Welcome back to the Minor League Roundup!
I’ll be releasing a weekly update this season covering everything you need to know about each of the Brewers’ minor league affiliates. This week’s edition is a bit brief, as only Triple-A Nashville has begun its season. Starting next week, this roundup will include coverage of each Brewers affiliate while highlighting notable stats and naming a Player and Play of the Week.
Triple-A Nashville(1-2)
Record this week: 1-2
First half record: 1-2
OF Eddys Leonard: 5-for-9, 2B, 3B, BB
OF Greg Jones: 5-for-11, 2B, 3 RBI
INF/OF Jett Williams: 3-for-11, 3 BB, 3 SB
LHP Robert Gasser: 1 GS, 5 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 11 K
RHP Coleman Crow: 1 GS, 4 2/3 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 6 K
LHP Tate Kuehner: 1 GS, 5 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 5 K
Nashville dropped two of three games this week to the Norfolk Tides, the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, despite solid performances from each of their starting pitchers. Robert Gasser had an incredibly impressive first start of the season, striking out 11 in 5 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Triple-A roster features a few of the Brewers’ top hitting prospects, including Williams (No. 3), Cooper Pratt (No. 4), Luis Lara (No. 12), Luke Adams (No. 13), and Brock Wilken (No. 22). Adams and Wilken failed to record hits this week, but Lara went 3-for-12 with a home run and Pratt went 4-for-15. The two hitters with the best stats this week were outfielders Eddys Leonard and Greg Jones, both unranked by MLB Pipeline.
Double-A Biloxi(0-0)
High-A Wisconsin (0-0)
Single-A Wilson (0-0)
Player of the Week
Gasser, who — as shown by his performance on Opening Day — doesn’t really have much to prove in Triple-A anymore. Kyle Harrison is currently the only left-hander in the Brewers’ rotation. If the Brewers decide that Brandon Sproat could use some more time to develop in Triple-A, Gasser would be the logical replacement, especially with Logan Henderson reportedly dealing with soreness in his pitching elbow.
Striking out 11 on Opening Day just runs in the @Brewers family it seems! Robert Gasser was dealing tonight! 💪🔥
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 30: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 30, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Celtics fell to the Hawks on Monday night, 119–109, in a game that felt competitive for long stretches before slipping away in the second half. Playing short-handed on the second night of a back-to-back, Boston leaned heavily on its depth, getting strong contributions from Luka Garza and the second unit while hanging around into the third quarter.
But as the game wore on, the cracks started to show. Atlanta controlled the paint, pushed the pace, and capitalized on Boston’s turnovers and missed free throws, while Jaylen Brown shouldered the offensive load in a night that felt a little more chaotic than controlled. It wasn’t a game that changes anything big-picture, but it offered a handful of interesting takeaways — some meaningful, some weird, and one involving the rise of an ancient mythical beast.
1. Godzilla → Garzilla → Luka Garza
Luka Garza checks into a game the same way Godzilla comes out of the ocean. Stomping around violently, making an ear-shattering amount of noise, and immediately becoming an entire city’s biggest problem.
There’s just no easing into it with this guy! He simply shows up and produces whenever called upon. Early buckets, threes, constant activity on the glass, keeping possessions alive — every touch turns into something useful. The three in the third quarter — followed by some well-earned chirping — felt like the natural extension of that energy. When Garza is playing like this, he doesn’t ease into the flow of the game. He forces the game to adjust to him.
What stands out most is the readiness. Garza plays like someone who fully expects to impact the game the second his name gets called. There’s no hesitation in his decisions or waiting to “get into rhythm.” He is the rhythm. Offensive rebounds, loose balls, physical finishes, Garza raises the floor of a possession just by being out there.
Luka Garza 20 Points, 9 Rebs, 8/9 FG full highlight vs Hawks | 25-26 NBA Season pic.twitter.com/qmPW7dYwAk
Which, now that I think about it, tracks. “Gojira” — Godzilla’s original name, as we all know — comes from a mix of the Japanese words for whale (kujira) and gorilla (gorira), representing his massive size and nature-beast characteristics. Massive, physical, completely chaotic.
They might as well rename the beast Luka Garza.
2. Joe Mazzulla’s mad scientist rotations hit a limit
At one point in the first half, it felt like Joe Mazzulla, eyes closed, was rattling off every player he remembered seeing on the plane earlier that day.
Garza. Walsh. Scheierman. Amari. Pritchard. Hugo. Hauser. Bassey. We saw every available Celtic touch the floor at some point (even if it was only for 17 seconds for some).
It felt less like a rotation and more like Joe standing over a table full of oddly-shaped beakers wondering, “What happens if I mix this with this?”
And honestly? For a while, the chemistry was working. The cook was cooking.
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) March 31, 2026
The Celtics didn’t look overwhelmed one bit, despite all the missing faces. They didn’t look disorganized. Guys knew where to be, what to do, how to play within the system. The Mazzulla structure is so strong that you can plug almost anyone into it and still get functional basketball.
But then the third quarter hit, and the experiment hit its limit.
There’s only so much lineup wizardry you can get away with before the game starts asking for your best stuff. Shot creation. Rhythm. Familiarity. And on tired legs on the second night of a back-to-back against a team that wants to speed you up, that margin shrinks to a tiny sliver.
Joe ran out of magic potions in this one, but the all-cure for the playoffs might just be this team’s depth.
3. Vintage Jaylen showed up…just not the good kind of vintage
If Jaylen Brown is going to be the tip of the spear, he has to be sharp.
And for stretches in this game, he was anything but.
JONATHAN KUMINGA LOCKDOWN DEFENSE & BLOCK ON JAYLEN BROWN. 🔥🔒
This was one of those nights that felt like a throwback, just not the good kind — like Raptors throwbacks or Nickelodeon GUTS. The inefficiency (9-for-29), the turnovers (6), the missed free throws, possessions where he looked sped up instead of conducting the show. You could almost hear the old narratives creeping back in, the ones that have been rightfully buried for months. I won’t tolerate “does Jaylen Brown have a left hand?” discussions entering mainstream discourse again!
To be clear, this game didn’t feel, to me, like a “Jaylen problem.” More so a “this specific version of Jaylen in this specific game” problem. Which isn’t a problem I’m all that worried about.
Because we’ve seen the other version of JB all season — controlled, efficient, decisive. That version has been real and consistent, and it’s why this one stood out so much. Nights like this feel jarring now because they’ve become so rare.
It also didn’t help that Dyson Daniels was glued to him for much of the night. That’s a real defensive presence they’ve got in Atlanta, the kind that makes every handle, every read, every decision just a little more difficult.
Dyson Daniels' defense on Jaylen Brown tonight is as good as anyone has defended Brown all year. Making Brown work to even just get the ball.
And maybe there’s something to the context too. Playing in Atlanta. Back in his hometown. Last time he was here, he dropped 41 points. This time, it felt a little like he was trying to recreate that instead of letting the game come to him.
He still finished with 29, 10, and 9. Very respectable considering how the night felt as a whole.
But this is the standard now. When you’re The Guy, the expectation goes way beyond baseline production. It’s control. Luckily, control will be much easier to come by in games where his co-1A teammate, Jayson Tatum, is also available.
4. Atlanta won the game where they always win it
This game was decided in the exact areas Atlanta wants to live in.
Points in the paint: 48–30 in their favor.
Field goal percentage: .467 vs .412 for the Celtics.
Fast break points: 18–8 in their favor.
That’s been their formula for success during this 15–2 stretch.
The Hawks didn’t need anything fancy in this game. They got into the paint early and often, finished efficiently, and kept the Celtics from ever fully settling in defensively. Even when Boston made small pushes, Atlanta had a response ready — usually at the rim. It also doesn’t help when a guy who shoots 15% from three on the season goes 2/2 on the night. Just one of those games.
This is also what could make them annoying in a playoff series.
They don’t rely on one player to generate everything. It’s waves of pressure. Jalen Johnson attacking, Okongwu finishing, NAW creating chaos, Daniels forcing mistakes. It adds up over the course of a game.
Boston had moments where they slowed things down and made Atlanta operate in the halfcourt. When that happened, things looked manageable.
They just didn’t sustain it for 48 minutes.
5. The Celtics ran out of gas, which HAS to be okay
You could feel the shift.
First half, the energy was there. Everyone was flying around, guys were competing on the glass, the offense had flow throughout the first two quarters. It didn’t feel like the second night of a back-to-back at all.
Then the third quarter hit, and suddenly it did. This is where perspective is important.
THE CELTICS HAVE SECURED THEIR SPOT IN THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE 12TH STRAIGHT YEAR 🍀 pic.twitter.com/48nGazygYy
In this game, the Celtics were missing several key pieces, playing their third game in four days, leaning heavily on highly inexperienced depth, and still competing deep into the game against a good team. Over an 82-game season, nights like last night are just the reality of a grueling NBA schedule.
If anything, the fact that this game stayed competitive for as long as it did says more about the Celtics than the final score does.
6. Amari Williams is a Brad Stevens project worth watching
The size. The activity. The timing on rolls. The instinct to crash the glass. The flashes are absolutely there.
Amari Williams isn’t part of the playoff rotation. Let’s be clear about that. But nights like this are valuable for different reasons. They give you a glimpse of what’s being developed behind the scenes.
There were moments where, if you squinted a little, you could see the Timelord comparisons. The way he moves in space, the way he reads when to slip, the willingness to contest everything. Right down to biting on every pump fake.
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 24, 2023
This new Williams is rawer. Sure, there were a few missed assignments, some spacing issues, moments where the speed of the game caught up to him.
But the intangibles are obvious, and Brad seems to fare pretty well on projects that bring intangibles to the table. Let the Celtics player development team take it from here!
7. Enjoy this beautiful basketball sequence courtesy of Charles Bassey. ENJOY IT.
No words for this one, just enjoy this fun sequence from Summer League darling, Charles Bassey, that came during the 2nd quarter. Because you still deserve joy in this world.
What a sequence by Charles Bassey!
He obliterates a Jonathan Kuminga dunk attempt, Derrick White hits a 3, and then Bassey swats Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s layup attempt.
— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) March 30, 2026
You can drop him into almost any lineup, against almost any matchup, and he’ll find a way to contribute. In this game versus Atlanta, that meant taking on Jalen Johnson defensively and holding his ground longer than he’d typically have to.
Easier said than done.
He competed, stayed connected, and didn’t look overwhelmed by bigger, stronger players. Offensively, he plays with a noticeable joy — which sometimes leads to a heat-check shot that makes Joe immediately look down the bench — but more often than not, it yields positive results rather than negative.
There’s a confidence there that you can’t really teach, and the Celtics are clearly starting to trust it.
9. The missed free throws added up
This one doesn’t need to be complicated.
16-for-23 from the line isn’t going to cut it.
This is a team that’s been one of the best in the league at the stripe all season, which is why it stands out when it slips. It’s not the reason they lost, but it’s part of the story.
You have to take your free points! They’re free! And they really hurt to miss out on in a game that was within reach for most of the night.
10. This game will be forgotten
In a week, you won’t remember this game. In a month, it won’t matter one bit. In a year, when you hear the name Luka, you might think of the one in Los Angeles before the one you were jumping out of your seat for tonight.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MARCH 30: Luka Garza #52 of the Boston Celtics lays up a shot against Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 of the Atlanta Hawks in the first half at State Farm Arena on March 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
That might sound dismissive, but I say it in the hopes that it brings you comfort. This team has built enough equity over the course of the season that a game like this should just…pass through. No need for alarms, overreactions, or spiraling narratives. It’s too late in the season for that.
The game happened. It was frustrating at times. There were things to learn from.
Move on to the next.
The Celtics are back in action Wednesday night against the Miami Heat.
Before you forget this one completely, just know it was part of the journey. Even if it ends up being one nobody talks about again (and don’t forget about me, as I exist only within the confines of this 10 Takeaways article. Fare thee well! And *ghost voice* gooOOooOOOoo Celtics!)
DENVER, CO - MARCH 29: Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors walks off the court late in the fourth quarter of a 116-93 loss to the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on March 29, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
How likely is it that the Warriors’ front office was sitting in a war room in 2015, sweating over draft boards and dreaming about the 7-foot-2 Kristaps Porzingis? KP went 4th in that draft to the New York Knicks, while the Dubs were patiently waiting at 30 for Kevon Looney, the cherry atop their championship sundae.
Golden State had other things on their mind. Little things, like dismantling everything LeBron James thought he’d built in Cleveland, destroying Lob City forever , and quietly assembling the most devastating offensive ecosystem the NBA had ever seen. The lottery? That was somebody else’s problem.
A decade later, Porzingis is wearing blue and gold at a time when the player and franchise need each other more than ever.
Kristaps really is a game changer for this Warriors team. The fit is immaculate, he causes alot of problems for opposing teams on defense. I can't help but imagine Jimmy and Steph on the floor with this dude.
His path here reads like a career that kept getting interrupted right before the good part. He announced himself as a Latvian phenomenon in New York, earned Rookie of the Year votes, made All-Star teams, and looked like the future of the position. Then his Achilles, knees, back, hamstring, calves all at some point or another began to betray him. Trades to Dallas, Washington, Boston, Atlanta. And woven through all of it, reports of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, a cardiovascular condition most fans couldn’t pronounce until it apparently started quietly rearranging his availability on a near-monthly basis. The league had a decade of watching one of the most gifted big men on the planet fight logistics as hard as he fought opposing defenses. By the time Golden State called, he was arriving as more a question than the prize.
But that’s actually when the Warriors like their veterans best.
Andrew Bogut showed up battered from Milwaukee and became the defensive spine of a title team. Shaun Livingston, whose 2007 knee injury was so severe it nearly ended everything, reinvented himself as the most reliable backup point guard in the league. Vets like Nick Young, JaVale McGee, and late-career David West came aboard the dynasty and became made men.
The pattern isn’t coincidence. Golden State has demonstrated a specific talent for receiving complicated opportunities and making use out of them at exactly the right time. We’re not talking about the moment those players were promised. Instead they are receiving the moment that was always meant for them.
What Porzingis is doing right now suggests he’s found his moment.
In his ten appearances in March, he’s averaging 18.2 points on 44.1/37/82 shooting splits, adding 4.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. He’s scored at least 20 points in five of those contests. Against Denver on March 29th, he went 5-for-5 from three and dropped 23 points. He’s played in six of the Warriors’ last seven games. After everything his body has put him through, that availability alone feels like a statement. Let him cook!
Asked Kristaps Porzingis how it’s been working with Rick Celebrini and the coaching staff and he said it plain and simple:
“Rick is amazing. Rick is the GOAT.”
Described him as “high-level”. Safe to say Porzingis feels great in Celebrini’s hands. pic.twitter.com/JSkiPJZYGm
Now consider what that work looks like standing next to Stephen Curry.
Golden State has spent years searching for a seven-footer who turns defensive preparation into a hostage negotiation. Do you sag off the big and let him cook from distance, or do you close out hard and hand Curry the acres he needs to make your scheme look like it was designed by someone who has never watched basketball? Porzingis knocks down the three, scores from the mid-range, and protects the rim on the other end. That combination doesn’t just extend what Curry does. It multiplies it. Opponents have to account for two separate extinction-level threats operating from different zip codes on the floor, and there is no defense in this league built to survive that arithmetic with any dignity.
The 2015 Warriors didn’t need Kristaps Porzingis. They were too busy building a dynasty. Now, the 2026 Warriors need Porzingis to be the best that he can be to give the dynasty one more golden run.
After two thrilling weeks of high-stakes games, a group of 68 teams that entered mid-March with dreams of a national championship has been whittled down to four.
And with that, college basketball’s preeminent event is about to get underway.
Making the Final Four is an accomplishment in and of itself in college basketball, a step in a journey that doubles as a destination after teams successfully navigate all of the challenges that the first four full rounds of March Madness have to offer.
This year, the Final Four is giving fans across the country a pair of teams, Michigan and Arizona, that were two of the three best teams for much of the season and two others, Illinois and UConn, that spent most of the season ranked in the top 15. There’s some history at stake, too. Will Arizona win and break a nearly 30-year title-less spell for schools west of Texas? Can Michigan or Illinois become the Big Ten’s first national champion since 2000? Or is UConn poised for its third title in the past four years, cementing its status as a modern-day dynasty?
Those questions will be answered soon enough, but for now, how do those four squads stack up against one another?
Final Four power rankings
1. Arizona
Though there’s not a whole lot that separates them from fellow juggernaut Michigan, the Wildcats have everything you could realistically hope for out of a title team. They have the consummate floor general in guard Jaden Bradley. They have a pair of five-star freshmen in Brayden Burries and Koa Peat who have more than lived up to their immense hype before likely heading off to the NBA in a few weeks. They’ve got size and toughness down low, with Ivan Kharchenkov, Motiejus Krivas and Tobe Awaka. While he still hasn’t won a title, their coach, Tommy Lloyd, has exorcised some past March demons by leading the program to its first Final Four since 2001.
What might be most encouraging for Arizona is that it’s much less prone than anyone else in the country to an off shooting night. The Wildcats have the third-lowest 3-point rate among all Division I teams, preferring instead to get high-percentage shots closer to the basket. Even when they do fire from beyond the arc, they’re still pretty good, shooting 36% as a team.
While it’s presumptuous to declare Arizona’s game against Michigan as the pseudo national championship, whoever wins the matchup will be a decided favorite in the title game.
2. Michigan
The Wolverines were a pleasant surprise in coach Dusty May’s first season, more than tripling their win total from the previous season and advancing to the Sweet 16. In his second season at the helm, they’re not an upstart; they’re a freight train.
After a 31-3 regular season, they’ve won their four NCAA Tournament games by a combined 90 points, including a 33-point beatdown of Tennessee in the Elite Eight. For all the size Arizona has, Michigan counters with perhaps the best frontcourt in the country, a physical and highly skilled trio featuring Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. May’s team is No. 1 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency and is just one of two squads ranked in the top five in Division I in both offensive and defensive efficiency, according to KenPom (Arizona, fittingly, is the other). The Wolverines’ guards are a bit more of a question mark, but North Carolina transfer Elliot Cadeau has been on a heater in the tournament, with 33 assists to just seven turnovers.
While the Huskies are only 24 months removed from the second of their back-to-back national championships, this is a largely remade team, with program stalwart Alex Karaban the only player left who received significant minutes from either of those squads. Though they don’t have that championship pedigree, this is a squad that has shown its mettle, hanging on to beat Michigan State in the Sweet 16 before pulling off an epic comeback victory against Duke in the Elite Eight, a game they trailed by 17 in the second half.
No player has been more integral to this run than Tarris Reed Jr., who has been perhaps the best player in the tournament. Reed enters the Final Four averaging 21.8 points and 13.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 60% from the field. UConn isn’t nearly as offensively potent as it has been in recent years, but it was still able to beat Duke despite missing 18 of its 23 3s. Cliche as it may sound, this is a team, program and coach that simply finds ways to win.
Dan Hurley’s squad has this working for it, too: the Huskies have now won 18 consecutive games in the Sweet 16 or later in the tournament.
4. Illinois
The Fighting Illini’s road to Indianapolis wasn’t as arduous as the paths traveled by the other three national semifinalists, but coach Brad Underwood’s team didn’t look any less impressive. It won its four tournament games by an average of 19.5 points and each game was decided by at least 10 points, including a win against No. 2 seed Houston in a game played in the Cougars’ hometown.
Illinois is No. 1 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom, more than three points per 100 possessions better than any of the teams remaining in the field. Even when shots aren’t falling at a dizzying pace, it has shown an ability to gut out games behind an improving defense that has held each of its past three opponents under 60 points.
UConn will be a sizable challenge, but don’t let the Huskies’ 74-61 victory against the Illini back in November at Madison Square Garden sway you too much, especially since the teams’ current top scorers, Reed for UConn and Keaton Wagler for Illinois, combined to play just 29 minutes.
Last season, the NCAA Tournament featured four No. 1 seeds in the Final Four. That number has been halved in the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament, as just Michigan and Arizona survived to the final weekend of the season.
While this year's bracket was more exciting in terms of upsets, the final seeds in the Final Four are 1, 1, 2 and 3. It's not quite like the 2024 NCAA Tournament, where No. 11 North Carolina State crashed the party, but there should be plenty of excitement in Indianapolis.
The second of two Final Four matchups on Saturday, April 4, will feature a pair of No. 1 seeds. Arizona defeated Purdue to advance to the semifinals, while Michigan dominated No. 6 seed Tennessee to do the same.
In a more shocking showing, No. 2 UConn unseated the No. 1 overall seed Duke with a last-second, heartbreaking 40-foot 3-pointer from Braylon Mullins. The Huskies will take on No. 3 seed Illinois, which defeated Big Ten foe Iowa. The Hawkeyes had knocked out No. 1 seed Florida in the second round.
Here's the full list of teams to make the Final Four in 2026:
Who's in the men's Final Four?
No. 2 UConn (East)
No. 1 Michigan (Midwest)
No. 3 seed Illinois (South)
No. 1 Arizona (West)
Final Four schedule, game times, TV info, Final Four location
Saturday, April 4
Game 1: No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 2 UConn | 6:09 p.m. | TBS | Sling TV
Game 2: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 1 Michigan | 8:49 p.m. | TBS | Sling TV
The Final Four will be hosted at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The first game between No. 3 Illinois and No. 2 UConn will tip off at 6:09 p.m. ET, while the second game between No. 1 Arizona and No. 1 Michigan is scheduled for 8:49 p.m. ET
The Final Four games can be streamed on Sling TV and on the March Madness Live app.
March Madness 2026 bracket update
East Region
First Round
No. 1 Duke 71, No. 16 Siena 65
No. 2 UConn 82, No. 15 Furman 71
No. 3 Michigan State 92, No. 14 North Dakota State 67
The UConn men's basketball redshirt senior guard is looking to join an exclusive list of players to win three national titles during their collegiate career. Karaban was on the Huskies' back-to-back championship teams in 2023 and 2024.
Karaban, along with teammates Hassan Diarra and Samson Johnson, was denied an opportunity to earn a three-peat last season when Florida knocked them out of the tournament in the second round.
Diarra and Johnson have both since moved on from UConn, but Karaban, 23, has a chance to become the first player to accomplish this feat in 53 NCAA seasons.
Larry Farmer and Larry Hollyfield were the last players to become three-time NCAA Tournament champions when the John Wooden-coached UCLA Bruins defeated Memphis State in the national championship game.
Perhaps the biggest name to win three national championships during his collegiate career was Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). He led the Bruins to three straight titles between 1967 and 1969.
The title marked the end of a dynastic seven straight national titles for the Bruins. Here's a look at the list of three-time national champions in college basketball history:
Three-time national champion college basketball players
Here's a look at the three-time national champions in college basketball history:
When Michigan, Arizona, UConn and Illinois meet in the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, there will be plenty of star power on the hardwood. A championship is on the line, along with status and NBA draft stock, after all.
All four teams have starting lineups built with transfers. First-team All-American Yaxel Lendeborg from Michigan, a sixth-year senior, is a first-year transfer from UAB and has proved he belongs since moving from the mid-major level to the Wolverines.
There's also Illinois true freshman Keaton Wagler, who has risen from a non-elite high school prospect to being a surefire lottery pick in his first collegiate season.
Here's a look at our rankings for the best players of the Final Four in 2026:
Best players of Final Four, ranked
1. Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
The only first-team All-American on this list, Lendeborg was the top-available transfer last season and has backed up that honor and then some in his lone season at Michigan. The 6-foot-9, do-it-all forward is averaging 15.2 points with 7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this season, and has stepped it up a notch in the NCAA Tournament, scoring 27, 23 and 25, respectively, in Michigan's last three wins over Tennessee, Alabama and Saint Louis.
Lendeborg is also shooting 50% from 3-point range in March Madness, and 59.2% from the field. The experienced forward has also shown an ability to take over games in the clutch, giving the Wolverines a huge advantage in that aspect.
Wagler came out of nowhere in 2025-26, as he was a three-star recruit in 2025, per 247Sports' Composite. The 6-foot-6 guard has shades of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with long arms, impressive finishing ability and shooting.
Wagler is averaging 17.9 points with five rebounds and 4.3 assists per game this season on 44.5% shooting and is coming off a 25-point showing against Iowa in the Elite Eight. He has done nothing but helm one of the best offenses in college basketball in recent memory, all as a true freshman.
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 28, 2026
The Shawnee, Kansas, native will hear his name called early in the 2026 NBA Draft.
3. Tarris Reed Jr., UConn
Tarris Reed Jr. has been a different player in the NCAA Tournament for UConn, elevating the Huskies' ceiling as a team. The 6-foot-11 center is averaging 14.7 points with 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game this season, but has upped those numbers to a ridiculous 21.8-13.5-3.0 mark in the NCAA Tournament.
Reed outplayed national player of the year candidate Cameron Boozer in the Elite Eight, as he finished with 26 points, nine rebounds, three assists, four blocks and two steals in the dominant performance.
Reed has been a revelation this season, especially after only starting one game for UConn in 2024-25. He started his career at Michigan, where he played two seasons under former coach Juwan Howard.
Jaden Bradley was a surprise when he won Big 12 Player of the Year over the nation's leading scorer in BYU, but his impact has been greater than his per-game averages show.
The veteran senior guard is in his third season at Arizona after transferring from Alabama and has started every game over the past two seasons. He's averaging 13.3 points with 4.4 assists per game this season, averages less than two turnovers per game, and helps run one of the most efficient paint offenses in college basketball.
The 6-foot-3 guard is nothing but steady and helps find Arizona's top scorers Brayden Burries and Koa Peat open looks.
5. Brayden Burries, Arizona
Arizona's top scorer this season, true freshman Brayden Burries makes up perhaps the nation's best backcourt alongside Bradley. The 6-foot-4 guard is averaging 16.1 points with 4.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game this season, and has been wildly efficient in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 17.8 points per contest on 57.9% shooting.
Burries is a knockdown shooter, shooting 40.2% on 3-pointers for the year and a whopping 68.4% mark from distance in the Tournament. Suffice to say, don't leave him open in the Final Four.
The third member of Arizona's big three, Koa Peat gets it done for Arizona in the paint and on the glass. The 6-foot-8 true freshman is averaging 14.1 points with 5.5 rebounds per game this season, and is coming off back-to-back performances with 20 or more points against Purdue and Arkansas, two of the hottest teams entering March Madness.
7. Aday Mara, Michigan
Aday Mara has been a huge success story for Michigan coach Dusty May and his staff this season. The former UCLA transfer started nine total games in two seasons with the Bruins, averaging fewer than seven points per game in his two seasons there.
He has blossomed into a likely NBA draft pick with the Wolverines, averaging 11.8 points with 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, shooting 66.9% from the field. The 7-foot-3 center is also an imposing figure defensively, with 2.6 blocks per game, ranking fourth nationally in the category.
Mara is part of a frontcourt with Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. that has a ton of size and length. Mara also, importantly, acts as an offensive hub at times for the Wolverines, as he's a surprisingly good passer at his height.
The son of former NBA sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic, Andrej Stojakovic has a much different game than his dad, but he's been impactful for Illinois, nonetheless.
The 6-foot-7 wing is one of the best finishers in college basketball and uses his frame as an advantage against smaller guards. He has been on a heater in the NCAA Tournament, scoring 17, 13 and 21 points, respectively, in his last three outings against Iowa, Houston and VCU.
Stojakovic, a two-time transfer from Stanford and then Cal, is averaging 13.6 points with 4.4 rebounds this season, while only shooting 24.4% from 3-point range on 2.5 attempts per game.
9. Alex Karaban, UConn
One of the most-experienced players in NCAA Tournament history, UConn wing Alex Karaban leads all players with 17 all-time wins in March Madness. The two-time national champion and three-time Final Four participant has been reliable for the Huskies in his four seasons, making 148 career starts in 149 career games.
Karaban is averaging 13.2 points with 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game this season and is a 37.7% shooter from 3-point range. He has been a huge part of UConn's run the last four years, and will be relied on in the Final Four by Dan Hurley and Co.
10. Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan
Morez Johnson Jr. was another transfer portal success story for Michigan, which starts five transfers in its starting lineup. Johnson came off the bench at Illinois last season but has developed into a solid starting forward for the Wolverines.
The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 13.2 points with 7.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game this season on 62.5% shooting as a first-time college starter, ranking second for Michigan in scoring. He scored 21 points with 10 rebounds on 8-of-8 shooting in the Wolverines' opening-round win over No. 16 seed Howard.
