Well, that was no bueno. At least the televised game started out well. I made a bad coin flip and started out listening to the Reds game. Boyd wasn’t exactly good Friday night. Taillon wasn’t much better. Miguel Amaya had some juice. Al will have details at 8 a.m. CT.
“I’ve suggested to the hitting coaches that they stay away from him,” Counsell said. “I did have a meeting with the hitting coaches at one point this spring. I called them all together, and they got a little nervous. I said, ‘You guys should stay away from Ballesteros.’
“Joking, you know, but they got the message.” — Patrick Mooney.
Four and a half games left, including the Spring Breakout Game. Cub Tracks is not in favor of ST night games. Or Eugenio Suárez in the Central.
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Andy Koval (WGN9*): PHOTOS: Cubs unveil new food for 2026 season at Wrigley Field. The teams’ respective 2026 journeys begin on March 26, when the Cubs will host the Nationals at 1:20 p.m. CT at Wrigley Field on Opening Day.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
SARASOTA, FL - MARCH 20: Ethan Anderson #57 and Joseph Dzierwa #67 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrate after the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
The final day of spring training has arrived! Huzzah! Kind of.
At 1 p.m. today, the Orioles will host the Phillies for their last game down in Florida. It will be broadcast on MASN and the Orioles Radio Network. Then, they will head north for a home-and-home of exhibitions with the nearby Nationals over the two days that follow. So, technically, they have a couple more “pre-season” games left on the docket before they actually open the season against the Twins on Thursday. But still, it feels like a significant landmark as we suffer through the final days without regular season baseball.
Friday featured the third annual Spring Breakout prospect showcase. The Orioles youngsters faced off with the Red Sox squad in a game in which the O’s prevailed 3-1. MLB.com’s Jake Rill recapped the action, but here are some of the highlights:
Trey Gibson started and tossed three shutout innings.
Joseph Dzierwa got the win and struck out eight over his three clean frames
Reed Trimble had two hits and stole two bases
Nate George and Ike Irish each doubled once.
How much can be gleaned from a single game full of well-regarded young players? Almost nothing at all. But it’s fun! And the final days of spring can be pretty dull, so it continues to be a welcome addition to the mix.
The big league Birds were also in action on Friday. They traveled to Tampa for a face-off with the Yankees, where they lost 3-1.
It was a pretty grim showing for the O’s offense, which collected just three hits, three walks, and struck out 11 times. Pete Alonso doubled, Douglas Hodo tripled, and Samuel Basallo had the lone RBI.
Things were better for the pitching staff! Zach Eflin tossed 5.1 shutout innings and struck out seven while throwing 70 pitches. It seems like he might be ready for Opening Day after all? Dietrich Enns got the final two outs of the sixth inning, and Rico Garcia worked yet another shutout frame. The only pitcher to get knocked around was Cohen Achen, a 24-year-old that has appeared in just two games above Double-A.
Outside of the game action, there are likely to be a flurry of roster moves around the league this weekend. Teams will start to make final cuts. Usually a few minor surprises crop up, which could make some bench or bullpen pieces available. The Orioles, like many teams, aren’t entirely settled in those departments. So, it is possible that a new name or two could make their way onto the Opening Day roster. But nothing has been reported on that front just yet.
Links
Buck Britton happy to be back on Orioles’ coaching staff after wild first season in majors | Roch Kubatko Britton as well as many of the pitching coaches are back despite the rocky 2025 for the big league club. Some level of continuity on the coaching staff seems like a wise choice for Craig Albernaz and the broader organization. Although Albernaz has gotten nothing but rave reviews since joining the club, connecting with every single player in a clubhouse is difficult. Having a few familiar faces around should help to bridge any gaps that exist.
Orioles’ Dylan Beavers: Scratched from lineup | CBS Sports Beavers was supposed to play against the Yankees on Friday. Instead, he sat out with right knee discomfort. There has been no reporting on the severity of the problem. It could be nothing. We should know more today.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Chadwick Tromp turns 31 today. He was one of the many catchers to don an Orioles uniform in 2025. Ultimately he only played in six games for the Birds.
Jimmy Yacabonis is 34 years old. The righty spent parts of three seasons from 2017-2019 on the Orioles pitching staff, accumulating a 5.75 ERA over 101.2 total innings.
The late Tommy Davis (b. 1939, d. 2022) was born on this day. He played 18 seasons of big league baseball, including a four-year stint in Baltimore from 1972 through ‘75.
This day in O’s history
2018 – Just before Opening Day, the Orioles add former Rays hurler Alex Cobb on a four-year, $57 million deal.
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (11) and Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy (49) shake hands before the National League Division Series game on Saturday October 4, 2025 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
In this week’s Reacts survey, we asked fans who they think will win the NL Central in 2026. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it really came down to two teams: the Brewers and the Cubs.
Here’s what the results showed:
The Brewers, who have won the division in each of the last three and four of the last five seasons, came away with 74% of the vote, with the Cubs coming in second at 22%. The Reds garnered 2%, while the Pirates and Cardinals each picked up 1%.
After a franchise-best 97-65 record last season, the Brewers return most of their roster, with the notable exceptions of Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers (traded to the Mets), Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler (traded to the Red Sox), and Isaac Collins and Nick Mears (traded to the Royals). They also lost Rhys Hoskins, Jose Quintana, Erick Fedde, and Danny Jansen in free agency.
In terms of additions, the Crew added a lot of young guys, primarily through those trades. That includes pitchers Kyle Harrison, Shane Drohan, and Brandon Sproat, as well as utility players in David Hamilton and Jett Williams. The Collins/Mears trade also netted them another lefty reliever in Ángel Zerpa, and they added Akil Baddoo, Gary Sánchez, Luis Rengifo, and Reese McGuire in free agency.
Is this a team that can stay atop the NL Central for the fourth straight year? Weigh in in the comments! Thanks for participating in our Reacts survey, and be sure to use FanDuel Sportsbook for all of your sports betting needs.
Brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.
The Florida Panthers played their final game of the season that will start outside of the Eastern Standard time zone on Friday night in Calgary.
Playing their fourth road game in six night, the Panthers put up an admirable fight, but ultimately they lost the game and possibly another key player, falling 4-1 to the Flames.
It wasn’t until nearly midway though the game that someone finally tickled the twine.
On what seemed like an innocent zone entry, a wrist shot from the half boards by Joel Farabee found its way through a screen and past Daniil Tarasov, giving Calgary a 1-0 lead with 12:16 left in the second period.
It took a little over two minutes for the Flames to double their advantage.
A nice backhand pass from below the goal line by Adam Klapka found a wide-open Victor Olofsson, and his one-timer sailed past Tarasov to make it 2-0 with 9:50 on the clock.
Florida finally got on the scoreboard early in the third, when A.J. Greer scored for the second consecutive game, sending a wrist shot from the right circle over the glove of Dustin Wolf to cut Calgary’s lead to 2-1.
That would be as close as the Cats would come.
Later in the period, with Florida killing a long Flames power play, Niko Mikkola was trailing as the Panthers entered Calgary’s zone on a shorthanded odd-man rush.
As Mikkola began to quick turn around to defend after Evan Rodrigues lost the puck, Mikkola collided with Calgary’s Ryan Strome and went down, clutching at his left leg/knee area afterward.
Mikkola hurt, grabbing his left knee after this knee-on-knee collision.
He would need help off the ice and did not return to the game.
Afterwards, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice did not seem particularly optimistic about Mikkola's injury.
"We'll get him looked at when we get back (to South Florida)," Maurice said. "He plays and competes so hard for us every night, but he's been incredibly durable for us, but that's clearly the story of our season.
"They need him. We're in a tough one right now, so you need those veteran guys around, playing and leading. He's been a dominant man for us all year with the injuries we've had. He's played great for us so we're going to miss him. He's going to miss some time, I believe."
Morgan Frost and Matt Coronato added a pair of late power play goals to cement the victory for the Flames and send Florida home with a 1-3-0 road trip and tied for the ninth-worst record in the league.
Photo caption: Mar 20, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) get help off the ice after colliding with Calgary Flames center Ryan Strome (22) during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)
The Toronto Maple Leafs fell to the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime on Friday. The result was flattering, considering the Hurricanes fired 78 shot attempts at Toronto’s net compared to just 43 from Toronto, requiring Joseph Woll to make 32 saves.
But that didn’t stop Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube from giving a rather poignant assessment of his goaltender’s play. "He's played well, but tonight in the end, I don't think—I know—we need a save, whether it's the OT or it's one of the breakaways. We need a big save there".
Berube was referring to three of the Hurricanes’ four goals. In the second period, Eric Robinson beat Woll on a penalty shot to give Carolina a 3-1 lead. K’Andre Miller restored a one-goal lead later in the frame when he stripped Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly of the puck and beat Woll for a shorthanded breakaway goal.
It’s tough to put a lot of blame on Woll, considering the goaltender has inexplicably started in five of the club’s last six games while Anthony Stolarz remained fully healthy and available. Since March 8, Woll has faced 175 shots, more than any other goaltender in the NHL. Could he have made one or two more saves? Sure. But putting the game on Woll hides the bigger picture: the Leafs were simply not good enough to win this game.
"I feel pretty solid, pretty solid in net,” Woll offered regarding his game as of late. Had it not been for William Nylander’s equalizer late in regulation, the Leafs would have ended the night with no points. Given where they are in the standings, not getting that point certainly would have helped their positioning for the NHL Draft.
Stolarz is expected to get the start against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday in a game that has far more meaning for them than the Leafs, who remain seventh-worst in the NHL based on points percentage (.507). To be fair, finishing with no points would have left them in the same position. However, the loss could come back to bite them if they continue to slide.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on March 01, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jordan Bank/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Expectations are the quickest path to disappointment. The Cleveland Cavaliers have learned that lesson the hard way.
Evan Mobley entered the 2025-26 NBA season with a bar that might have been too high to clear. Offseason buzz and previous success led to Mobley becoming a dark-horse contender for MVP. An award that’s exclusively won by the very best in the league.
It turns out Mobley is not that caliber of player. At least not yet. He’s nowhere near the MVP race and won’t even repeat as an All-NBA member this season. Projecting him to make that astronomical leap has backfired — and perhaps dampened what has otherwise been another season of steady progression from the 24-year-old star.
Look at it this way. Mobley is but a decimal point away from averaging career highs in both points and assists this season. Yet, the primary discussion revolves around whether he has taken a step backward in his development. What player flirts with personal bests while also trending in the wrong direction?
That logic doesn’t track.
The reason Mobley’s season has been framed as a disappointment is because of the expectations he rightfully set for himself. That extends to the prediction that Cleveland would once again trample the East following their 64-win season a year ago. The best-case scenario would have seen Mobley leading the MVP race while capping off consecutive campaigns at the top of the conference.
That didn’t happen. Mobely’s numbers have hardly changed while the Cavs are on pace to finish fourth in the Eastern Conference. There’s no denying that this outcome is one of the more disappointing ones.
But does it mean Mobley has actually regressed? Is failing to meet expectations the same thing as actually backsliding in development? I don’t think so. And Mobley has proven there’s still some evolution happening within his game.
Ups and Downs
While bold at the time, the prediction that Mobley could make a superstar leap was not entirely crazy. He had dominated as the third option on a historic offense last year. With injuries plaguing the roster in October, the path was cleared for Mobley to increase his usage and become Cleveland’s hero.
This led to Mobley attempting shots at a career-high rate. His team was force-feeding him the ball early and often, tossing him into the water to see if he would sink or swim. The early results leaned towards the former, with Mobley stumbling out of the gates to shoot just 46.1% from the floor in October.
Gradually, Mobley’s role was shrunk back to where he was before. He took 14.8 field goals per game in October, which decreased to 13.5 attempts in November, then finally down to 12.8 attempts in December — the exact number of shots he averaged last season. The experiment failed, and the Cavs had decided to pull the plug on Mobley taking another step forward.
Or so it seemed.
Would you believe that Mobley’s usage has not only returned, but has actually surpassed where he was in October? Mobley is now averaging 14.9 shot attempts in March, shooting nearly 60% from the floor while averaging 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.8 blocks.
That type of production is more in line with what we hoped to see this season.
Evan Mobley is officially attempting more FGAs per game in March than he did in October – back when the Cavs were first experimenting with increasing his usage
“Evan, I think post All-Star, his numbers are just through the roof,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Not just the raw numbers but the process numbers: paint shots, drive percentage, close-out efficiency. All the stuff we’re emphasizing, it’s great to confirm that he’s trending in the right direction.”
Of course, there are loads of context to go around.
Mobley was attempting twice as many three-pointers (5.8 per game) in October as he is in March (2.9). That shot diet is more in tune with his strengths. He doesn’t need to be Kevin Durant — just be Evan Mobley. Shifting his focus back to being a play-finisher in the paint has brought out the best in him.
He’s also playing next to a more traditional point guard in James Harden than he was during the early portion of the season when Darius Garland was injured, and Donovan Mitchell was running the show. That’s naturally led to easier and more efficient opportunities for Mobley.
Finally, Mobley is enjoying the benefit of playing at center now that Jarrett Allen is on the sidelines. This has granted him more space to operate and has given him the bulk of Harden’s attention in the pick-and-roll. Harden dished out five assists to Mobley in their previous win over the Chicago Bulls. Four of those came in the pick-and-roll.
All of this skews in Mobley’s favor. Yet unlike in October when he was thrown off the diving board — Mobley is actually taking this opportunity in stride. He’s swimming to his strongest stretch of the season and delivering an encouraging sign of life. This is the most Cleveland has leaned on Mobley offensively, and the best he’s responded to that additional weight.
This isn’t to say things are perfect. Mobley’s free-throw shooting has plummeted to 50% in March and a career-low 60.6% this season. He has some soul-searching to do at the line and still has to prove the rest of his success can last more than a few weeks.
But when taking nearly an entire season of work into account, it’s important not to get lost in your preseason expectations. Those are gone now. What’s left is the production on the court. Mobley has course-corrected from a slow start and gotten himself back to one of the better months of his career. That’s the furthest thing from regression.
The ultimate test will come in the playoffs, where Mobley’s performance will give us our conclusion as to whether or not he’s grown. Until then, let’s avoid lazy narratives and continue to monitor his development.
The Spurs recently announced the addition of Native American Heritage Night to their promotional events calendar.
The San Antonio Spurs announced plans for their Native American Heritage Night game, in collaboration with American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions (AIT-SCM), the Lindy Waters III Foundation and Nike N7 on Monday, April 6 when the Spurs host the Philadelphia 76ers. The night will include special in-game performances from Native artists, the awarding of a grant to local community leaders and many more elements that purposefully celebrate and honor the Native community in South Texas and beyond. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at Spurs.com/Tickets.
Spurs shooting guard Lindy Waters III is an enrolled citizen of the Kiowa tribe is also of Cherokee Nation descent. The Lindy Waters III Foundation’s mission “enhances and supports Native American Indigenous communities through sports, health, and wellness, and leadership programs.”
Lindy Waters III shared,
“As a Kiowa and Cherokee person playing in the NBA, I’m honored to be a part of the Spurs Native American Heritage Night. Events like this honor our ancestors and create visibility for our people. Seeing our cultures celebrated in this arena gives young Native kids the confidence to pursue their dreams and reminds all of us that our voices belong in every space.”
American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions curated the evening’s theme “Sacred Like Me,” with planned cultural storytelling, interactive experiences, and in-arena programming.
Activations include:
Land Acknowledgment Ceremony: Before tipoff, fans are invited to the ULTRA Club at 6:30 p.m. for a land acknowledgment led by a representative from AIT-SCM recognizing Indigenous peoples as the original stewards of this land. The space will also feature a vendor fair with information tables and interactive activities where fans can learn about Native history, culture, and community in San Antonio and discover ways to support Native-led organizations.
National Anthem Performance: Spurs play-by-play analyst Jacob Tobey will give a special performance of the National Anthem to open up the night. A proud member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, Tobey became one of the first Native American broadcasters in the NBA when he joined the Spurs in 2024 and has used his platform to promote visibility and appreciation for the Native community.
In-Game Performances: Throughout the evening, fans will experience cultural performances curated in collaboration with AIT-SCM, highlighting the diversity and vitality of Native traditions through dance, music, and storytelling during pregame, halftime, and select in-game moments.
Exclusive Jersey: Fans can purchase a custom Native American Heritage jersey, designed by AIT-SCM, at the Spurs Fan Shop during the game. The jersey is available while supplies last, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Native organizations through Spurs Give.
Leaders & Legacies Grant: The Spurs will distribute a $5,000 grant to AIT-SCM in honor of Linda Ximenes, Tribal Council Member and Former Board President of AIT-SCM. The grant recognizes Ximenes and AIT-SCM for their work in providing access, opportunity, education and health programming for Native American communities across Texas. In partnership with Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, Ximenes will also be honored during the in-game Leaders & Legacies tributes.
For information regarding Native American Heritage Night and other promotional games head to Spurs.com/Promotions or text PROMOTIONS to 210-444-5940.
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Sep 23, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante (53) walks off the field after a pitching change against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
Every new season promises new surprises. Teams and players will drastically under- or overperform projections. Part of the fun of being a fan is planting your flag ahead of time and predicting the next breakout or disappointment (less fun).
For example, I think Masyn Winn is going to overachieve every projection system this year and put up a 5 WAR season. I could cite any number of statistics, narratives, or hunches to support my opinion, but the point is that I have a clear picture of how I think his season will go. If it deviates from that picture, I will be surprised or disappointed.
On the flip side, there are players that I simply don’t know what to make of. Nolan Gorman could hit 40 home runs this year or be DFA’d by the All-Star break, and I wouldn’t be shocked by either outcome. This list is subjective, but here are the five major leaguers and five minor leaguers that can’t surprise me in 2026.
Major Leaguers
Nolan Gorman It may be cliché, but this is truly a make-or-break year for Gorman and the Cardinals. He only has three years of team control left, so the idea that he can incrementally improve and work his way back into the long-term picture is not realistic. No, he will need a full-blown breakout in his age-26 season. I don’t see the Cardinals sticking with Gorman into the second half if real changes to his contact and ability to translate his power into games are not evident in the early going. By the All-Star break, Gorman could be a DFA candidate or a core piece of the offense.
Andre Pallante Pallante is such an interesting pitcher because he is elite at managing damage on contact but struggles to generate enough swing-and-miss to be viable as a starter (or reliever). As currently constructed, he has to walk a very fine line to be effective, but if he can add or refine an off-speed pitch to generate swing-and-miss, there could still be upside left. Pallante, with a little more control and a reliable off-speed pitch, is a mid-rotation starter. The Pallante we saw last year is not going to be pitching important innings on a contending club.
Dustin May May’s injury history and inconsistencies have been well documented. He has also had a healthy and impressive spring training, with his fastball velocity up over two miles per hour year over year. If he combines the velocity and stuff from his early Dodger days with his health from last year, the Cardinals will have a massive asset on their hands. Every pitcher carries the risk of injury, but May is one of the few who has legitimate ace upside.
Nathan Church At this time last year, expectations for Church were low to nonexistent. After a breakout 2025, he still might just be a AAAA player or fourth outfielder. Or… he might be Harrison Bader in the outfield and Brendan Donovan at the plate. He is particularly tough to project because he changed his profile to include more power last season in the minor leagues, but then completely faceplanted offensively during his major league time.
Thomas Saggese Saggese has stayed under the radar a bit over the last couple of seasons. He was a top-100 prospect after his excellent 2023 season, but he did not have the pedigree of a Jordan Walker or Nolan Gorman. Still, upside remains, as Saggese has shown himself to be a competent defender at the major league level and is still just 24 years old. The question is whether he can get to the power that he showed in the minor leagues. Saggese excels at hitting balls at the right angles but will need to find more consistency to have real offensive impact.
Minor Leaguers
These are not necessarily all the highest-upside prospects in the system, but they could all be top-100 prospects in baseball, or not even ranked in the Cardinals system a year from now.
Yairo Padilla Best Case Scenario: Padilla moves up to Low-A and starts showing power commensurate with his athletic 6’4” frame and impressive exit velocity numbers. With a good plate approach and athleticism to dream on, Padilla may still be the highest-upside player in the system.
Worst Case Scenario: Padilla has hit for essentially no in-game power in his first two professional seasons. If he fails to impact the baseball again this season, he will start to look more like Jeremy Rivas as a prospect than Fernando Tatis Jr.
Deniel Ortiz Best Case Scenario: Ortiz continues to build on his impressive debut season. Ortiz is a prospect in the same vein as Joshua Baez in that he has excellent batted-ball data (launch angle and exit velocity), but there are questions around his contact ability. Ortiz still has extremely limited experience against high-level competition as a junior college draftee, so concerns about his contact rate against good velocity may be overblown. He improved throughout last season and could be primed for big numbers in the hitter-friendly environment at Springfield once he arrives.
Worst Case Scenario: If Ortiz’s contact issues persist and he cannot handle third base, he will quickly move from top-100 breakout candidate to an afterthought as a prospect.
Chen-Wei Lin Best Case Scenario: Lin possesses a fastball that can touch 100 mph and intriguing enough secondaries that he might stick in the rotation if everything clicks. He never got into a rhythm in 2025 due to injuries and inconsistencies, but he finished with a flourish in his last two Double-A starts, striking out 15 in seven innings. Listed at 6’7”, Lin may need a little longer to develop, but entering his age-24 season, a delayed breakout is still very possible.
Worst Case Scenario: Another injury or walk-plagued year could lead to Lin falling into the non-prospect tier.
Braden Davis Best Case Scenario: Davis gets his control ironed out and rides his spectacular changeup to becoming a top-100 prospect in baseball. Davis was second in the minor leagues in K% while throwing over 100 innings in his debut season, so the durability and swing-and-miss foundation you want to see in a starter are there.
Worst Case Scenario: If Davis’ command does not improve, or his stuff backs up, he will look more like a hopeful reliever than a potential strikeout-oriented mid-rotation starter.
Sebastian Dos Santos
Best Case Scenario: We just lived through the Rainiel Rodriguez breakout season in his first year stateside, so the precedent has been set for DSL players. Rodriguez was ahead of Dos Santos in comparable DSL metrics in wRC+ (185 to 158) and ISO (.338 to .258), but this is still impressive production from a middle infielder who was not known for power coming into the season. To make a real splash, Dos Santos will need to dominate the Florida Complex League and earn a promotion to full-season ball.
Worst Case Scenario: There is essentially no “floor” on a prospect who has yet to play in the U.S., but if the power does not come with him, Dos Santos will be just another player fighting to get out of the lower minors.
We spend all spring trying to project how a season will unfold, but some of the most important outcomes come from the players we can’t confidently project. So who do you have the least feel for right now?
Sept 16, 2007; Boston, MA , USA; New York Yankees pitcher (22) Roger Clemens throws a pitch during the 1st inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The Yankees defeated the Red Sox 4-3. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Dodgers are making a farce of the league. After winning back-to-back championships on the back of impossibly stacked rosters, they gave the best free agent on the market almost as much guaranteed money over the next four years than the White Sox, Guardians, and Marlins’ entire 2026 team payrolls combined. It is now a forgone conclusion that the Dodgers will capture their third consecutive World Series title in 2026. When – not if – that happens, expect Major League Baseball to suffer the same consequence that followed the crowning of its last three-peat champions; fans of the other 29 teams, driven to apathy, will simply walk away from the sport, in droves, and nothing will bring them back. Rob Manfred must choose one of two paths. He can stand idly by while baseball dies a slow death, or he can take decisive action to curtail —
Hold on, I’m getting a phone call from my editor. Yes? What’s that? Yeah, I was just writing about how the Yankees ruined baseball with their three-peat. That mass exodus of fans after 2000 was really something, right? Wait, what do you mean that never happened? People kept on watching baseball? 1998-2000 isn’t remembered as a black mark on the game’s history?
Oh. Well, I guess I can still submit this story to the Post.
Overwrought intro skit aside, my actual take is this: the Dodgers aren’t “ruining baseball”. Yes, it is groan-worthy to see the game’s leading financial juggernaut, possessing an already elite roster which just won the World Series, take on even more payroll to acquire a top-tier player. But pretending like it’s an affront to the integrity and health of the game itself is pretty rich, especially if you’re a fan of the Yankees. After all, our beloved team did just that in the 1998-1999 offseason, when they celebrated their historic 114-win championship year by trading for literally Roger Clemens. They won the World Series that year, and the year after that too – and then what happened?
I’ll tell you what didn’t happen – baseball didn’t die. Fans kept showing up to games. In 1998, a total of 70.37 million fans attended MLB games, coming out to an average of 29,285 per game. In 1999, those figures dropped all the way to…70.13 million total and 29,152 per game. I’m sure many non-Yankees fans were disgusted with Clemens being traded to the Yankees, but by and large, that disgust did not translate into a marked decrease in attendance. Likewise, the Yankees repeating as champions in 1999 also did not result in MLB attendance suffering in 2000. If anything, total attendance increased to 72.74 million that season, with the per-game average exceeding the 30,000 mark. It was the first 162-game season to accomplish that feat since the 1994 strike.
TV ratings for the World Series in those years also bear this out. The 1998 World Series garnered a Nielsen rating of 14.1 (meaning that an estimated 14.1% of all households with a TV were tuned in), with total viewership estimated at 20.34 million. In 1999, those figures actually improved to 16.0 and 23.73 million, respectively. And while 2000 did see a marked decrease (12.4 Nielsen rating, 18.08 million viewers), those figures rebounded strongly in 2001 (15.7 Nielsen rating, 24.52 million viewers). If fans of the other 29 teams were sick and tired of having to watch the Yankees play in the World Series year after year, they sure didn’t show it by tuning in to something else.
Now, you may argue that my comparison is flawed, because I’m ignoring the magnitude by which the Dodgers currently outspend the rest of MLB. It’s not just the fact that they have two rings in the bag and are going for their third – it’s that they’re going about it by flexing their financial muscles in a way that few other teams can compete with.
The raw figures seem to support this argument. The Yankees did have the highest payroll in baseball in 1999, but their $88.1 million figure only bested the second-highest spenders (the Texas Rangers) by $7 million or so. They led MLB again with a $92.9 million payroll in 2000, but this time, their lead over the second-place Dodgers was only $2 million. Compared to the Dodgers’ 2026 projected Opening Day payroll of $397 million, which clears the runner-up New York Mets’ payroll by a good $30 million, the 1999-2000 Yankees seem like small fries.
However, such a view ignores both inflation and the staggering increase of spending in MLB as a whole. Relative to their peers, the 1999-2000 Yankees outspent the league on a scale comparable to the current Dodgers. To wit: the 1999 Yankees’ payroll was 8.3% bigger than the next-highest spending Rangers, and 583% bigger than the last place Marlins’ $15.1 million mark. In 2000, the Yankees’ lead over the second-place Dodgers shrunk to 2.4%, but their $92.9 million payroll represented a 593% increase from the cellar-dwelling Twins’ $15.6 million total. Meanwhile, the 2026 Dodgers’ projected payroll is 9% bigger than the second place Mets, and only 543% bigger than the last place Marlins’ $73 million tally. Believe it or not, when adjusted for their respective eras, the scale of the Yankees’ spending during their three-peat years isn’t far apart from what the Dodgers are doing now.
The turn-of-the-millennium Yankees were every bit as villainous as the Dodgers are now, in terms of both their success and the ruthless spending by which they pursued it. And yet, despite the bad guys winning three consecutive World Series (and nearly winning a fourth!), fans kept showing up and tuning in, and MLB did not wane into irrelevance. So, I hope you can see why I’m a wee bit skeptical towards the claim that the Dodgers are ruining the game. This isn’t to say that what the Yankees did and what the Dodgers are doing is necessarily good for baseball. I do believe that a more level playing field would benefit the game (although I vehemently disagree with the idea that a salary cap would solve the issue). I do believe that fans of small and mid-market franchises do have a legitimate gripe against the Dodgers. But Yankees fans? The only sports team in America who was compared to U.S. Steel in their prime, and not as hyperbole? I think it’s best for us to sit this one out.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 17: Bryce Harper #24 of Team USA celebrates after hitting a single in the sixth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The team’s starting rotation is out and it should not be a surprise. Cristopher Sanchez will start the opener and will be followed by Aaron Nola and Jesus Luzardo. Anyone thinking Rob Thomson would keep the lefties back-to-back has not watched Thomson manage these past few years. Not there is much to gain from it, but having them split up keeps with is M.O. he’s had in playoff series past.
Who:Winnipeg Jets (28-29-11, 67 points, 6th place Central Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (34-18-16, 84 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division)
When: 1 p.m. ET
How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and TSN3, national feed on NHL Network
Pens’ Path Ahead: The Penguins have two brutal rematches coming up during this three-game homestand, starting with meeting the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday for the second half of a back-to-back. The Pens then get a day off before reuniting with the visiting Carolina Hurricanes next Tuesday.
Opponent Track: The Jets are heading into Saturday’s matinee on a two-game losing streak after dropping a 4-3 shootout decision to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday before getting blown out 6-1 by the Boston Bruins on Thursday.
Season Series: The Jets opened the Nov. 1 matchup between these teams with four straight goals, capped off by Kyle Connor’s short-handed penalty shot, on their way to claiming a 5-2 win over the visiting Pens.
Getting to know the Jets
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Alex Iafallo
Cole Perfetti – Adam Lowry – Gabriel Vilardi
Gustav Nyquist – Jonathan Toews – Isak Rosen
Cole Koepke – Morgan Barron – Brad Lambert
DEFENSEMEN
Josh Morrissey / Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg / Elias Salomonsson
Haydn Fleury / Jacob Bryson
Goalies: Connor Hellebuyck / Eric Comrie
Potential scratches: Vladislav Namestnikov, Ville Heinola
Injured Reserve: Neal Pionk, Colin Miller, Nino Niederreiter
The Jets have just three players this season with more than 15 goals, and they’re all in their top six (Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi).
Connor Hellebuyck is coming off one of the worst starts of his recent regular-season career after allowing six goals in Thursday’s blowout loss to the Boston Bruin.
Connor Hellebuyck allows 6 goals in a regular season game for the first time since January 10, 2023
The Jets are in a tough spot. They’re technically still in the playoff race (five points back, 14 games remaining). They’re also currently projected to select sixth in the NHL draft lottery by Tankathon. Angling for better lottery odds could be a good move for a franchise theoretically hoping to take advantage of the remaining competitive window around their core of Mark Scheifele (33 years old), Kyle Connor (29) and Connor Hellebuyck (32) by bouncing back next season.
And now for the Pens
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin
Anthony Mantha – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau
Elmer Soderblom – Connor Dewar – Noel Acciari
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Sam Girard / Kris Letang
Ryan Shea / Connor Clifton
Goalies: Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner
Potential Scratches: Ilya Solovyov, Ryan Graves, Kevin Hayes, Jack St. Ivany, Ville Koivunen
IR: Sidney Crosby, Filip Hallander, Blake Lizotte
Looks like Sam Girard, who has missed five games with a lower-body injury, could draw back into the lineup after taking regular line rushes during Friday’s practice. That’s set to place him back on the second pairing alongside Kris Letang while bumping Ilya Solovyov from the lineup.
Ryan Graves and Jack St. Ivany were both participating in Friday’s practice as well, although they were doing so on the extra pairing.
Erik Karlsson was named the NHLPA’s Player of the Week on Friday for his efforts to keep the Pens afloat on their recent road trip.
👑 Erik Karlsson’s 3 consecutive multi-point outings saw the @penguins defenceman move into the top 10 among all blueliners in points this season, earning himself the honour of NHLPA Player of the Week. pic.twitter.com/NyeZwYLioA
Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls just won’t stop winning. The race is so tight that a regulation loss for the Penguins could mean not only falling out of the top three in the Metro but all the way out of a postseason spot altogether. Here’s a look at the out-of-town schedule to keep an eye on tonight.
Seattle Kraken at Columbus Blue Jackets: 5 p.m. ET
New York Islanders at Montréal Canadiens: 7 p.m. ET
Reviews allowed for double bounces and double hits
Players not able to challenge electronic line calls
Wimbledon will introduce video review technology this year that will allow players to challenge judgment calls made by the chair umpire, the tournament’s organisers have announced.
Players will not be able to challenge the decisions of the electronic line calling (ELC) system that was introduced at Wimbledon last year, but video reviews will be available to check other scenarios, like whether a ball has bounced twice or touched a player’s racket or body.
LONDON (AP) — Wimbledon will use video review technology for the first time at this year's tournament, the All England Club announced Saturday.
The oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament will have the technology available on Centre Court, No. 1 Court — the club's second-biggest stadium — plus four other show courts.
Players will be allowed to review specific calls made by the chair umpire — such as double bounces.
Video review made its Grand Slam tennis debut at the 2023 U.S. Open. The Australian Open also uses the technology.
Centre Court and No. 1 Court will have video review available throughout the tournament, which starts on June 29, and the technology will be used on No. 2 Court, No. 3 Court, Court 12 and Court 18 for singles matches.
Players will not be limited in the number of reviews they can request.
Video review is separate from the electronic line-calling used for ruling balls in or out.
Last year, Wimbledon replaced line judges with electronic line-calling, though it wasn't without hiccups.
The grass-court major is also adding visual indicators for electronic line-calling on scoreboards showing ‘out’ and ‘fault’ calls.
“This enhancement has been made as a result of feedback following the adoption of live electronic line-calling last year,” the All England Club said in Saturday's announcement.
With March Madness starting, Nets fans are going to be watching a lot of basketball on split screen.
One eye on the Nets, and the other on the NCAA Tournament.
One on their team tanking for lottery odds, the other on the potential franchise-changer(s) they hope all this losing buys them.
Nets fans will be paying special attention to the three stars at the top: Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and AJ Dybantsa.
The Nets came into Friday with the third-worst record in the NBA, and having a 40.1 percent chance of landing one of those coveted top three picks in the draft.
Peterson made his NCAA Tournament debut while Brooklyn was hosting the Knicks on Friday, while Boozer made his Thursday afternoon. Dybantsa put on an all-time performance in BYU’s loss to Texas, looking like a potential No. 1 overall pick.
“He’s going to be a great player. People talk about comparisons to [Kevin Durant], Jayson Tatum, and it does look like it to me,” Nets rookie Egor Dëmin told The Post of his BYU successor. “It’s a lot of midrange, really aggressive driver, slasher, the transition game, physicality, crazy athlete. He’s got everything to be able to play on the highest level.”
Dybantsa was spectacular, albeit in defeat. He put the full package on display Thursday, attacking the rim, putting on a midrange show, making a couple of questionable decisions against a defense bent on crowding the paint to stop him.
They couldn’t. His 35 points were the most ever by a freshman in an NCAA Tournament debut, with none even topping 30 in an opener since Stephen Curry in 2007.
AJ Dybantsa scored 35 in BYU’s loss to to Texas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 19, 2026. Getty Images
Dybantsa’s 894 points this season are the third-most by a freshman, behind only Chris Jackson’s 965 in 1988-89 and Kevin Durant’s 903 in 2006-07.
On the TNT broadcast, Bruce Pearl and former All-Star forward Jamal Mashburn gushed over the wing.
“This is the kid I would take with the No. 1 pick in the draft just because of the intangibles. Plus, the other thing you just can’t teach — that size and length,” Pearl said. “He’s got a chance to be a mismatch, even at the next level.”
Cameron Boozer looks to lead Duke past TCU in their second-round matchup on March 21, 2026. Getty Images
Dybantsa has drawn comparisons to Durant, whose Big 12 tourney scoring record he broke. And Mashburn was full of praise for the phenom.
“He’s going to be special,” Mashburn said before the Nets’ heart-breaking 93-92 loss to the Knicks on Friday night at Barclays Center. “He’s going to learn. The kid’s only 18, 19 years old. He’s going to be something. He’s a generational [talent], a franchise-changer for somebody.”
Boozer was middling in his debut, with 22 points and 13 rebounds in Duke’s unconvincing first-round win over Siena.
Peterson debuted in Kansas’ opener Friday against California Baptist. With questions about his health after constant cramping cost him 11 games and forced him out of others, he can help himself the most of the trio in this Big Dance.
“I’m super excited. This is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little kid. To be a part of it this year is huge for me and my family,” Peterson said. “No [cramp] concerns anymore. The last I don’t know how many games in a row I’ve been getting through without any issues. I feel like the cramps are behind me. I’ve been fine.”
Still, the first statement game of the Nets lottery targets was from Dybantsa, with ESPN analyst Sean Farnham saying the BYU star staked his claim to be the No. 1 pick.
“He’s been No. 1 all season for me. How do you watch him and not immediately close your eyes and believe that he’s going to be a star at the next level? Sure there’s holes in his game that he has to improve, but he’s accomplished everything you could ask,” Farnham said. “He’s as elite as you will find in a draft that has a lot of elite players.
“It’s loaded. But the energy AJ Dybantsa has played with this year separates him a little bit more, especially when you talk to NBA scouts. You talk to general managers, a lot of people you talked to down the stretch of the seasons, just the more they fell in love with his ability to draw fouls, lift defensive players; and they feel with the more open space of the NBA that he’s going to have a lot more success even at that next level.”
After weeks of anticipation, the most exciting two days in American sports have drawn to a close.
The first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament is a beautiful symphony of chaos, with 32 games crammed into a 36-hour window. Those highlight reels of buzzer-beaters, massive upsets and emotionally charged moments that air throughout March and into early April? A solid chunk of them take place in those first two full days of action, when millions of people across the country are skirting personal and professional obligations to soak in all the madness that March has to offer.
As it does almost every year, the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament delivered. There were surprising results in thrilling games, with High Point knocking off Wisconsin in the time-honored 12-over-5 upset. There were furious comebacks, with VCU rebounding from a 19-point deficit to beat North Carolina. There were buzzer-beaters, with Kentucky’s Otega Oweh burying a prayer of a shot to get the Wildcats to overtime against Santa Clara. And whether it was High Point’s Flynn Clayman or VCU’s Phil Martelli Jr., there were post-game interviews that immediately went viral.
What stood out the most from an eventful couple of days? What teams, players and coaches were the most impressive in the win-or-go-home crucible of March?
Here are the 12 most impressive performances from the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament:
March Madness first round biggest winners
Saint Louis
In 2024, a 28-6 Indiana State team that had captivated much of the country with its best season since Larry Bird was on campus ended up being one of the first four teams left out of the NCAA tournament. Two years later, at a different blue-and-white school in the midwest, the coach and star player from that team showed us all what we missed with the Sycamores’ exclusion.
No team turned in a more impressive first-round performance than Saint Louis, which continued its breakthrough 2025-26 season under coach Josh Schertz and stellar big man Robbie Avila. In a 102-77 dismantling of Georgia, the Billikens shot 58% from the field, had 27 assists on 42 made baskets, had eight players score at least nine points and persistently embarrassed a power-conference foe which had wins over the likes of Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky and Texas this season. In the process, they became just the second team in tournament history to be seeded ninth or worse to score at least 100 points in a game and win by at least 25, joining the famous 1989-90 Loyola Marymount team.
After winning 24 of its first 25 games this season, Saint Louis limped into the tournament, going just 4-4 in its final eight regular-season games. If the win against the Bulldogs is any indication, it’s moved way past whatever was ailing it.
High Point…and its coach
In an event that has a wonderful habit of making once-anonymous coaches, players and schools national celebrities overnight, it took only the fourth game of the first full day of action to get our first Cinderella story.
No. 12 seed High Point entered its game against No. 5 seed Wisconsin as a 10-point underdog, trailed for 34 of 40 minutes, never led by more than three and was down by four with 56 seconds remaining, but was able to pull off the upset after getting a fast-break layup from Chase Johnston with 11 seconds remaining for an 83-82 win. The result was only a small part of the Panthers’ charm. Johnston’s winning basket was his first made 2-pointer of the season, as each of his 68 previous made shots were from 3-point range. Immediately after the win, first-year head coach Flynn Clayman gave one of the most memorable post-game interviews in years, sticking up for mid-majors like his own that have difficulty scheduling non-conference games against teams from the sport’s major conferences.
“It looks pretty obvious to me that high-majors need to play mid-majors during the season,” Clayman said. “They said we ain’t played nobody — we played somebody now.”
"Looks pretty obvious to me that high-majors need to play mid-majors early in the season. Because they said we didn't play nobody. We played somebody now."
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 19, 2026
High Point doesn’t perfectly fit the bill as a plucky little upstart. The Panthers’ roster is reportedly worth more than the rest of the Big South Conference combined and the university itself is perhaps most famous on social media for having a steakhouse on campus. But on one afternoon, High Point reminded us all why we love March Madness underdogs so much.
VCU
With 15 minutes remaining in regulation in its first-round game on March 19, VCU trailed North Carolina by 19. The Rams were a popular 11-over-6 upset pick, but in that moment, the Atlantic 10 tournament champions looked to be just about finished. Then, in an instant, everything changed. VCU outscored the Tar Heels 19-4 in the final 6:11 of regulation, forcing overtime and ultimately pulling out an improbable 82-78 victory.
Though much of the attention after the game has focused on North Carolina’s collapse, and what it might mean for coach Hubert Davis’ future, the Rams deserve more than a sizable share of credit for the result. Terrence Hill Jr. was brilliant, scoring a career-high 34 points while making 13 of his 23 shots, including seven of his 10 3s. Twenty-three of those points came in the second half and overtime. The Rams continued their giant-killing ways, knocking off North Carolina as a No. 11 seed after having done the same to Duke and Kansas earlier this century. Then, after the game, first-year VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. took a moment to heap praise on the student reporters who have been covering his team throughout the season.
Really cool moment tonight postgame after VCU upset UNC. VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. made a point to shoutout the student reporters that made the trip.
Lots of great stuff this time of year, but this was a really awesome, genuine exchange. pic.twitter.com/9NiDQHfz63
Kentucky’s All-SEC guard saved his team’s season on more than one occasion on Friday, scoring a career-high 35 points along with eight rebounds and seven assists in the Wildcats’ 89-84 victory against Santa Clara. He provided what’s likely the highlight of the tournament thus far with a 32-foot 3-poiner that banked off the glass as time expired to send the game to overtime, a shot that came less than three seconds after Santa Clara took a 73-70 lead.
Heading into its second-round game Sunday against No. 2 seed Iowa State, Kentucky has been one of the bigger disappointments in the sport this season, with a 22-13 record despite having a $22 million roster. But with the Wildcats’ season on the line, Oweh did everything he could to make sure it kept going.
Tarris Reed Jr.
The most eye-popping numbers of the first round came in its final game, when the UConn senior had 31 points and 27 (27!!) rebounds in the Huskies' 82-71 victory against Furman on Friday. Reed was efficient on the offensive end, making 12 of his 15 shots. On the glass, he was a different kind of monster, outrebounding the Paladins by himself.
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 21, 2026
Just how impressive was the Michigan transfer? Reed became the first player in NCAA tournament history with at least 30 points and 25 rebounds in a game while shooting at least 80% from the field.
Nebraska
The Cornhuskers notoriously were the only program from one of college basketball’s five major conferences that had never won an NCAA tournament game. All those years of misery came to a halt on one cathartic afternoon, with Nebraska blowing out Troy 76-47 on Thursday. The win continued a magical season for coach Fred Hoiberg’s team, which got the season off to a 20-0 start and has now won a program-record 27 games.
Now, with that ignominious historical qualifier behind it, the Huskers can focus on another first heading into its matchup Saturday against No. 5 seed Vanderbilt: a first-ever trip to the Sweet 16.
Braden Smith
Heading into his team's first-round game against Queens on Friday, the Purdue All-American point guard needed only two assists to break Bobby Hurley's NCAA career record. He managed to do much more than that, dishing out eight dimes to move to 1,083 for his exemplary career.
For good measure, he also scored a game-high 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting.
Texas Tech
With All-American forward JT Toppin sidelined for the remainder of the season, the Red Raiders were on the receiving end of a popular upset pick in their 5-versus-12 matchup against Akron. By the time they were done with the Zips, they made those predictions of an early exit from the tournament look foolish.
Even without its best player, Texas Tech shot 64% from the field, 55% from 3 and had five players finish with at least 14 points in a 91-71 rout on Friday. Coach Grant McCasland has built one of the toughest programs in the country, one that has enough talent and wherewithal to withstand losing one of the country’s most productive stars. After their first-round showing, and given that they’re playing an Alabama team likely without its No. 2 scorer, the Red Raiders look poised to make it to the tournament’s second week for a second-consecutive season.
David Mirkovic
Though Keaton Wagler has deservedly gotten much of the attention for Illinois this season, his fellow Fighting Illini freshman was the brightest star during their 105-70 rout of Penn and former Big Ten foe Fran McCaffery on Thursday. The 6-foot-9 Montenegro native turned in arguably the most impressive individual performance of the first round, scoring a game-high 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting, along with 17 rebounds. It continued a late-season surge for Mirkovic, who is averaging 21.5 points per game over Illinois’ past four contests.
Siena
The Saints weren’t able to pull off the third-ever 16-over-1 upset in NCAA men’s basketball tournament history, but for the vast majority of their game against Duke on Thursday, it looked like a distinct possibility. They led for 71% of the game against the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed and were up by as many as 13 before the Blue Devils eventually pulled away for a 71-65 victory.
Siena did all of that while coach Gerry McNamara channeled his inner Norman Dale and played only five players, with each of his starters logging a full 40 minutes. After the game, Duke coach Jon Scheyer said that McNamara out-coached him, believing the Saints were “way more ready to play” than the Blue Devils. If McNamara ends up leaving after this season to take over at Syracuse, his alma mater, his brief Siena tenure ended on a high note…even in a loss.
Jacari White
With a Virginia program used to NCAA tournament heartbreak on the ropes against Wright State in a 3-versus-14 matchup Friday, the North Dakota State transfer came up huge for the Cavaliers, coming off the bench to score a game-high 26 points in an 82-73 victory. White sank 10 of his 12 shots, including six of his eight 3s. He scored 15 points in the final 13:20, helping the Hoos outscore the Raiders 32-23 during that time.
Florida
Listen, when you win a game by 59 points, the second-largest margin of victory in NCAA tournament history, you’re going to make this list.
