Last Thursday, Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger gave a press conference in a “State of Monumental Basketball” address.
I’m sorry I wasn’t able to break this down in depth last Thursday. Like most of you, I had to prepare for last weekend’s winter storm. If you missed it, the whole conference is below. A h/t to malsman for posting in “The Feed” about it.
The Wizards are finished “deconstructing.” The Mystics are still in it.
Over the last three years, the Wizards have experienced their worst stretch in franchise history. However, Winger, in his opening remarks, was explicit that the Wizards are finished with deconstructing after three seasons.
Considering that Washington recently acquired Trae Young, a multi-time All-Star point guard in his prime, that’s a sign that the losing stretches are coming to an end.
The Wizards will have to make decisions about which players stay and which ones go.
There has been a lot posted about the fact that Washington has a very young lineup. And last Saturday against the Hornets, they started the youngest lineup ever in NBA history.
The Wizards started the youngest lineup in NBA history today against the Hornets.
Part of that is by design. But it also means that some younger players may or may not be part of the Wizards’ future. Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington and Bilal Coulibaly are among those who figure to be with the Wizards for their sophomore contracts. However, the Wizards’ two-way players including Tristan Vukcevic, Jamir Watkins and Sharife Cooper as well as other additions like Cam Whitmore and Will Riley, may not have the minutes to play on a rebuilding Wizards team — when it doesn’t appear that the Wizards will be rebuilding next year.
David Aldridge of The Athletic asked Winger some pointed questions about whether Young’s addition could mean that the Wizards have playoff expectations next year. Winger responded doing that he isn’t going to have set expectations. However, with Young, the current core and presumably a high 2026 draft pick.
Joshua Robbins of The Athletic also asked a question about whether the Wizards trading Deni Avdjia to the Portland Trail Blazers was a mistake. Coincidentally, the Wizards will play the Blazers tonight. Winger said no, in part because his trajectory and age was ahead of the Wizards’ current younger core of players. This could also be — in part — why Corey Kispert was traded to Atlanta along with with CJ McCollum for Young.
The Mystics are Sonia Citron’s and Kiki Irifaen’s franchise — at least by default.
Winger explained that the Mystics are in year one of their rebuild under his direct control. And by default, he acknowledged that every veteran in the WNBA is on an expiring contract given free agency this year will be hectic.
As I have noted many times over the past couple of years, this effectively means that EVERY WNBA team is deconstructing in 2026. We have no idea who will be on any of the 15 teams until opening day, except All-Star players on rookie contracts. Citron and Iriafen certainly qualify there. Same with Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever or Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings, among others.
No Mystics reporter asked any questions about playoff expectations in 2026. It’s quite frankly premature because of the pending free agency. But it is clear that at a minimum, Winger is looking forward to seeing how Washington’s 2026 draft picks mesh with Citron and Irifaen.
Winger did acknowledge a question by Kareem Copeland of The Washington Post about the Mystics’ arena size at CareFirst Arena and shared practice facility with the Wizards and whether that is a disadvantage for them. While he did toe the company line saying that CareFirst Arena does provide an intimate atmosphere for fans, Winger said that the Mystics will also be playing the majority of their games at Capital One Arena when current renovations are done. He also reiterated that the shared practice facility and the collegial atmosphere of Monumental Basketball (the Mystics, Wizards and the Capital Go-Go) are assets not hindrances.
Let us know what other things stood out from Winger’s conference in the comments below.
The 2026 NBA Draft is a source of hope for teams desperately seeking a savior. This was always going to be a great class with three potential No. 1 overall talents sitting at the top in Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, BYU’s A.J. Dybantsa, and Duke’s Cameron Boozer, but it looks even better now as more freshman studs have continued to emerge.
For this update, I simulated the lottery drawing via Tankathon, and one lucky team moved way up to land a top prospect. The selections in this mock don’t really factor team fit into consideration, and more mirror my evaluations of the players in this class. Here’s our latest projection of the 2026 NBA Draft.
1. Indiana Pacers – Cameron Boozer, F, Duke
You don’t draft for fit with the No. 1 overall pick. Boozer is the best prospect in this year’s draft, and in my opinion one of the strongest NBA prospects of the last decade. If the fit is a little wonky with Pascal Siakam right now, who cares: Boozer was born in July 2007 and Siakam was born in April 1994, meaning they aren’t exactly on the same timeline. Boozer will probably be a full-time four eventually, but he’s versatile enough to play the three early in his career while Indiana figures out what it needs around him and Tyrese Haliburton long-term. His intersection of brains, brawn, and skill is so enticing that it eclipses any concerns about his athletic explosiveness or fluidity. Boozer is massively productive and he’s been driving winning at an elite level dating back to high school. He’s an excellent shooter, passer, and driver for his size, and he knows how to make plays defensively even without quick-twitch movement ability. With Boozer and Haliburton, the Pacers could run the East for a long, long time.
2. Dallas Mavericks – Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
The Mavs jumped up from No. 8 in the lottery standings to the No. 2 pick in our sim, and if that happens Dallas fans are never allowed to complain about the Luka trade again. Peterson hasn’t been at his best this season as he’s dealt with a hamstring strain and constant cramping issues, but if his burst can return to form, he has everything teams want out of a lead guard. Peterson’s shot-making is a signature skill in this class, and he’s shown he has easy NBA range both off the dribble and off-the-catch. He’s a ball dominant star who demands high usage, but he also moves better without the ball than similarly heliocentric players. While his rim attacking and defensive playmaking haven’t looked as good as advertised as he’s battled his various ailments, I fully trust both areas to bounce-back once he’s healthy. Peterson and Cooper Flagg would have the chance to be an all-time NBA duo.
3. Sacramento Kings – A.J. Dybantsa, F, BYU
Dybantsa is a monster scoring prospect as a huge 6’9 wing with rare athletic explosiveness, flexibility, and shot-making. He should punish switches at the next level with an overwhelming amount of length and power against smaller wings and guards, and too much speed for bigs. BYU has been an awesome system to showcase Dybantsa’s strengths with wide open driving lanes inside the arc, and I do wonder how he’ll adjust to the NBA if he needs to be more of a shooter. For now, Dybantsa is only hitting 30.2 percent of the 53 three-pointers he’s taken, which is a slight concern in terms of both volume and accuracy. I’m more worried about Dybantsa’s defense: he doesn’t just imprint his will on that end despite his phenomenal tools. Dybantsa feels more likely to go No. 1 than No. 3, but he has more holes in his game than Boozer and Peterson, and to me that makes him the clear third-best prospect in this class.
4. Washington Wizards – Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina
Wilson is an explosive 6’10 forward with a non-stop motor who makes some jaw-dropping plays above the rim on both ends of the floor. Wilson can be a clunky fit in a halfcourt offense as a total non-shooter right now (5-of-20 from three), but he still makes an impact with his transition scoring, offensive rebounding, and impressive passing. He has some real shot-making touch from mid-range, and shows some awesome pivot moves to score around the basket. The real signature skill for Wilson’s offense is his ability to dunk absolutely everything, with 60 dunks in his first 19 college games. He can do a little bit of everything defensively: switch onto the ball, provide secondary rim protection as a roamer, end possessions with a rebound, and get out into the passing lanes with his length. Wilson plays so hard on every possession and has such good physical tools that it’s hard to see him failing even if the jumper never comes around. He should be an excellent role player at minimum with the potential to be more.
5. Atlanta Hawks (via Pels) – Kingston Flemings, G, Houston
Flemings has my vote for the best prospect in a loaded point guard class because he can play on or off-the-ball on offense while providing solid defense. His driving ability jumps off the screen with an explosive first-step, nasty change-of-direction moves, and the ability to stop on a dime. He can create an advantage with the ball in his hands, but he might be even better extending advantages by catching the ball on the move and attacking decisively. His pull-up mid-range game should be built for playoff moments, but it would be nice to see him shoot more threes or get to the foul line more often. Flemings’ playmaking is even better than his scoring, showing a sixth sense for finding teammates at the rim while avoiding turnovers. Defensively, Flemings has a strong chest, long arms, and quick hands that helps him rack up steals and blocks (5.8 percent stock rate) and quickly turn defense into offense. He’s not the biggest lead guard, but he’s still a natural facilitator with scoring punch and defensive ability. That sounds like a top-5 prospect to me.
6. Brooklyn Nets – Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville
The Louisville freshman just made his return from a long absence due to a back injury, but he’s looked like a capable offensive engine with pull-up shooting, high-level playmaking, and the ability to attack off the bounce all part of the package. Brown has been cold as a shooter so far this year, but the high school and international tape shows a player who can create his own look from deep and knock it down. His playmaking has a case for best in class among this lot of point guards (I’d still give Flemings the edge there), and while I don’t think he’ll be a plus defensively early in his career, he has the height and flashes of takeaway production that at least gives him a chance on that end. Brown has dunk contest-worthy athleticism, three-point contest-worthy shooting, and awesome passing. If it all holds, he has enough other skills to be a high-level guard.
7. Utah Jazz – Hannes Steinbach, F, Washington
Steinbach’s offensive rebounding might be the single best skill in this class outside of the top-three prospects. He’s simply a monster on the glass who does a great job establishing position inside, reading the ball off the rim, and controlling it with his impossibly good hands. He’s a fluid athlete inside the arc who can catch the ball on the move and finish plays above the rim, and he’s showing good touch on awkward finishes as an interior scorer. Steinbach is not an outside shooter right now (9-of-27 from three), but his touch is good enough from the foul line (76 percent) that he should have some long-term upside there. Steinbach probably has to shoot it at least a little bit because he’s not really big enough to play center, and he’s not at all a defensive anchor. I see him fitting best in a two-big front court where he can help gain extra possessions on the offensive glass and his defensive shortcomings can be covered by a primary rim protector and rangier wing defenders. Utah feels like a good fit for that context long-term, and he could certainly improve a middling rebounding team from day one.
8. Charlotte Hornets – Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
Yaxel Lendeborg might be older than fifth-year Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey, but he’s also one of the most complete prospects in this class with rare tools that should translate to immediate success. Lendeborg has been developing at his own rate after not playing organized basketball until he was 15 years old, and now after junior college and mid-major stops he’s become one of the best players in the country. Lendeborg was mostly a center the last two years at UAB, but he’s made a successful transition to the wing at Michigan where he’s upped his three-point rate while continuing to have a big impact defensively. He has an ideal physical profile for an NBA front court player at 6’9, 240 pounds with a 7’4 wingspan, and he has a real chance to be a long-term shooter after hitting 33.3 percent of 8.5 three-point attempts per 100 possessions so far this season, as well as 88 percent of his free throws. The Hornets have looked good lately with a core of LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller, and adding a massive front court player with shooting ability like Lendeborg could make them a playoff team in the East next season.
Quaintance tore his ACL in Feb. 2025, and he didn’t look like himself upon debuting in Dec. after transferring to Kentucky. He’s currently out of the lineup again with swelling in the same knee, and it’s possible he always returned too early. Before the injury, Quaintance looked like an elite paint defender as a 17-year-old freshman at Arizona State. His combination of length (7’5), strength, and quickness easily makes up for his lack of height as a 6’9 center, and allows him to have rare coverage versatility while cutting off the most valuable spots on the floor. Offensively, he showed some flashes of playmaking feel at ASU, and looked better as a driver in a small sample at Kentucky. The truth is that Quaintance’s offense is a major question as an undersized non-shooter with poor touch from the foul line thus far. With a lot of questions about the players in this range, I still like Quaintance for his mix of youth, physical tools, and defensive acumen at the five. I would not be at all surprised if he fell down the board to around the late lottery given the persistent offensive questions in what has been a lost season.
10. Memphis Grizzlies – Koa Peat, F, Arizona
I’m still having a hard time ranking Peat in this class despite the relatively uncomplicated evaluation of his game. Start here: After a killer high school career, Peat has immediately been one of the best and most productive players on arguably the best team in college basketball as a true freshman. The 6’7 wing has a super powerful frame that dishes out punishment to opponents on both ends of the floor. On offense, Peat sets hard screens, rolls to the basket with force, and finishes through contact inside the paint. He’s just a total non-shooter at this point, which is his biggest limitation as a player, and makes him a tricky fit to build around. He projects as a good defender who can hound bigger wings at the point of attack, and he also has some switchability with enough strength to keep bigs away from the paint and the quickness to hang at least a little bit with smaller guards. I love Peat’s motor and play-finishing, but could still see myself dropping him eventually given how hard it is for 6’7 non-shooters without spectacular defensive IQ to impact the game at the highest levels.
Mullins has a case as the best off-ball three-point shooter in the class, and he’s shown he has a chance to compete defensively, too. The 6’6 wing is making 36.5 percent of his threes on 8.8 three-point attempts per 100 possessions, and he’s taken advantage of the Huskies’ pristine spacing to also convert 64.4 percent of his two-point attempts even if it’s only at 3.5 per game. With a 3 percent steal and 2.3 percent block rate, Mullins doesn’t look like a defender who will have a target on his chest at the next level. He projects as a solid connective wing with high volume three-point shooting right now, and that’s something every team could use.
12. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks) – Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
Wagler was the No. 150 recruit coming out of high school, but he’s made an instant impact since he’s arrived on campus at Illinois. The 6’6 freshman has moved into more of an on-ball role recently, and he’s shown flashes of high-level off-the-dribble shooting and good decision-making as a passer. Wagler wasn’t a highly regarded recruit because he’s simply not an explosive athlete, to the point where he hasn’t recorded a single dunk this year and hasn’t produced many blocks or steals. That’s usually an alarming sign for a 6’6 potential lottery pick, but if he keeps shooting the ball at this level, it might not matter. I worry about Wagler’s ability to do the dirty work early in his career if he’s not getting a lot of usage. He looks long (there’s no wingspan measurement on him but I’d guess 6’10) but he lacks strength and just doesn’t project as any kind of stopper or glass cleaner right now. Still, it’s impressive that Wagler has finished 65 percent at the rim with 89 percent being unassisted, and his slow-motion step-back threes when he gets a big on a switch can be a thing of beauty. If the Spurs are looking for a young wing with shooting upside around Victor Wembanyama, Wagler makes sense starting around this range. This is mostly a Best Player Available pick.
13. Chicago Bulls – Patrick Ngongba, C, Duke
Cameron Boozer gets all the attention for Duke, but his front court partner Patrick Ngongba has also been quietly driving the Blue Devils’ success. The 6’11 sophomore center is one of the most efficient play-finishers in the country with 73.3 percent shooting on two-pointers, with many of those makes coming against crowded paints in the halfcourt. Ngongba is also an awesome passer who will zip the ball into cutters, and he’s shown some long-term shooting promise this year too. Ngongba’s defensive paint protection is good with long arms and a strong base, and the numbers back it up: Duke’s defense is 11.5 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor. I do wish he was a little bit more of an ass kicker on the glass, and it doesn’t always seem like he plays with the best motor. Still, Ngongba is a solid two-way center with flashes of perimeter skill that gives him both a high floor and some sneaky upside. That’s a worthy swing for a Bulls team that desperately needs a big man in their young core.
Philon is a drive-and-kick master with a deadly floater game who has made a real leap as a three-point shooter this year. The Alabama guard felt like he could have been a first-rounder last year, but opted to return to school at the 11th hour for an NIL deal. It feels like he’s improved his stock this year as he’s taken on a primary ball handler role in the wake of Mark Sears’ graduation, but he was always going to face frame questions after weighing in at 175 pounds at the combine with a tiny 8’3 standing reach. Philon is really shifty off the dribble, and if he can maintain his 38 percent three-point stroke, he can be a spark-plug guard that generates paint touches and blends scoring and playmaking. The Blazers have Damian Lillard and Scoot Henderson ready to go for next year, but Philon still fits the roster pretty well long-term if they think he’s the best player available.
15. Miami Heat – Dailyn Swain, F, Texas
Swain followed Sean Miller from Xavier to Texas for his junior season, and he’s become one of the most complete wings in the country. Swain was always an athletic wing defender with a great frame (6’8, 225 pounds), and he’s continued to shine on the defensive end at Texas while taking a bigger offensive jump. Swain is a true slasher now who has made 70 percent of his shots at the rim with 83 percent of those looks coming unassisted. He’s shown an improved mid-range game off the dribble, and he’s still an 80 percent free throw shooter for his career. Swain just isn’t a good three-point shooter yet, but his driving and passing look better than ever, and he’s also impacted the game on the margins. This is way higher than where he’s usually at in mock drafts, but both his athletic and statistical profiles are so good that this doesn’t feel like a reach.
Vanderbilt lost three straight after their 16-0 start, but sophomore star Tyler Tanner is still driving their success. Tanner is about as small as an NBA prospect can be these days at 6-foot, 175 pounds, but he plays incredibly physically despite his lack of size. He’s started the year with 13 dunks in his first 19 games, and he’s putting up ridiculous steal and block rates defensively. He’s super fast with the ball in his hands, and he usually makes good decisions with it with a +4.4 assist to turnover ratio. Tanner is going to have to be a great shooter to be successful in the league at his size, and so far this year he’s making 39 percent of his threes and 87.6 percent of his free throws. The NBA really doesn’t like small guards right now, but Tanner’s statistical profile is so good that he’s worthy of a look.
17. Golden State Warriors – Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State
Jefferson has become one of the best players in the country as a senior at Iowa State. At 6’9, 240 pounds, he’s a physical forward with rare passing ability for his size. Jefferson’s 28.7 percent assist rate is a massive number, and the fact that he’s improved to a 36 percent three-point shooter on his first 53 attempts this year shows even more comfort playing on the perimeter offensively. He’s a really good defensive rebounder who can provide some paint protection defensively, too. Jefferson potentially gives a team the benefits of a double big look without cramping their spacing if his shooting improvement holds, and the value he adds as a passer should be enough to lock him in as a first rounder.
18. Atlanta Hawks – Aday Mara, C, Michigan
Mara is a massive center at 7’3, 255 pounds, with a reported 7’7 wingspan. He’s a bit of a plodding athlete, but his rim protection in drop coverage is an elite skill (12.6 percent block rate, No. 8 in the country) and he’s a ridiculous passer for his size. Mara will bomb outlet passes after grabbing a rebound, and his ability to hit cutters out of the high post is every bit as dazzling. He’s a terrible shooter at this point, and his 44 percent free throw mark will have to improve for serious looks in this range. Still, Mara’s size and smarts are an enticing combo.
19. Oklahoma City Thunder – Thomas Haugh, F, Florida
Haugh fits the bill of a connective wing who can finish plays inside, space the floor, and hold his own defensively. Florida’s offense is 13 points per 100 possessions better when he’s on the floor, and its defense is 7 points per 100 better with him on, too. I’m a bit worried about his ability to score inside the paint when he doesn’t have a dunk, but he has appeal as a low-usage offensive wing who doesn’t need to spend time on the ball to have an impact.
20. Toronto Raptors – Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa
Stirtz might be the best pick-and-roll ball handler in the class with his ability to blend three-level scoring with good playmaking vision off a live dribble. He’s making 68 percent of his rim attempts (67 percent self-created), 47 percent of his mid-range shots, and 36.8 percent of his threes (60 percent unassisted) so far this year. Stirtz could struggle to contain the ball defensively, but he’s pretty good at getting into the passing lanes and scoring in transition. Iowa plays at such a slow pace that it’s hard to evaluate how he’ll adapt to the higher octane NBA game, but there’s a lot to like about both his skill set and production.
21. New York Knicks – Darius Acuff, G, Arkansas
Drafting a John Calipari guard is always a safe bet, and Acuff is next in line after a massively productive start for Arkansas. At 6’3, Acuff always has had grown man strength, and uses it on battering ram drives to the rim. His shot-making from deep (41 percent on 9.1 threes per 100 possessions) has exceeded all expectations, and he’s also shown the ability to hit tough mid-range pull-ups. He’s also proven to be one of the best pure playmakers in this class, and he’s especially good throwing lob passes for alley-oops. Acuff’s rim finishing against NBA length is a bit of a question, but his biggest concerns come on the defensive end. He just doesn’t do much off the ball defensively, and has the worst rebounding numbers of any first-round guard. Acuff could easily go 10 spots higher than this on draft night, but this feels like the right range to me.
Ament entered the year tracking as a possible top-5 pick, but he struggled almost immediately against top competition. The idea of Ament is a 6’10 wing with a dribble, pass, shoot skill set, but evaluators have rarely seen it this year as he’s struggled to adjust to the physicality of the game on a cramped floor with Tennessee. His finishing has been poor (57 percent at the rim), he has more turnovers than assists so far, and his shot (28 percent from three on 8.2 attempts per 100 possessions) needs a lot more work. Tennessee was always going to be a tough offensive context for him, and there’s still a talented player in here somewhere with the right strength training program and shooting development. He had a breakout game against Alabama recently with 29 points on 10-of-20 shooting, and could be starting to earn back his reputation as a top prospect. This is probably his draft floor.
23. Los Angeles Lakers – Morez Johnson, F, Michigan
Johnson transferred from Illinois to Michigan over the offseason, and has proven he isn’t just a paint scorer this year. The sophomore has an outstanding physical profile at 6’9, 250 pounds with long arms, and he’s been beating up opponents all year in the best front court in college basketball. Johnson is one of the best defenders in this year’s class. He also kicks ass on the glass, finishes efficiently inside, and has shown significantly improved touch from the foul line (62 percent as a freshman to 78 percent as a sophomore). He’s still mostly a non-shooter from deep at this point (he’s 4-of-10 from three on the year), but if teams think he can shoot it eventually, his ability to defend all over the floor and bully people inside makes him a sure-fire first-rounder.
24. Charlotte Hornets – Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers
Lopez has been on the NBA’s radar for years as a strong 6’8 forward with loads of scoring upside. Born and raised in Mexico, Lopez has been spending his pre-draft year in the Australian-based NBL, where he’s showcased his ability to finish through contact, grab-and-go off the defensive glass, and provide some secondary shot-blocking. Lopez is a shaky outside shooter right now (30 percent on 69 attempts), and he’s not yet a good passer or decision-maker with the ball in his hands. His ability to defend will also be a bit of a question. Where he’s really good is attacking as a face-up scorer off the bounce at his size.
25. Oklahoma City Thunder – Cameron Carr, G, Baylor
A 6’5 wing with a reported 7’2 wingspan, Carr is a great outside shooter who has hit 43.3 percent of his first 97 attempts from deep. With 60 percent shooting from two point range, Carr is posting ridiculous 65.4 percent true shooting that makes him one of the most efficient scorers in this class. He has explosive leaping ability with the clear path to the basket, and has already thrown down 29 dunks this year. Carr is also 21 years old and still needs to add a lot of strength to his frame, improve his decision-making, and clean up his defensive technique. He might end up going much higher than this, because that combination of length and shooting will be appealing.
26. Boston Celtics – Malachi Moreno, C, Kentucky
Moreno is a mobile freshman center with great hands who impacts the game in a lot of areas outside of scoring. He’ll crash the glass, block shots, and keep the offense moving with his passing ability. Moreno isn’t super long (reportedly a 7’1 wingspan), doesn’t shoot threes yet, and has been an underwhelming finisher so far. He may not be quite big enough to anchor a defense without shooting ability, but his all-around impact is still impressive.
27. Denver Nuggets – Tounde Yessoufou, G, Baylor
Yessoufou is a 6’5 wing with a jacked frame who can hound the ball defensively, crash the offensive glass, and space the floor. He can’t do much off the dribble, so he’ll have to be a better shooter eventually than his current 30 percent mark from three.
28. Cleveland Cavaliers – Chris Cenac Jr., C, Houston
Cenac is a 6’11 freshman big man who has the tools to eventually control the paint, and he’s also a very good outside shooter for his size. He’s hitting 38.5 percent of his threes on 39 attempts so far this year, and he’s also posting an excellent 27 percent defensive rebound rate. Cenac just plays kind of soft right now on the offensive end, and his feel for rotations isn’t great defensively yet. It’s hard to find a true stretch five, and maybe Cenac can turn into one one day if his feel and physicality improve.
29. Detroit Pistons – Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech
Anderson is small for a modern NBA game, but he’s a deadly shooter off the bounce and a good facilitator for his teammates. He’s hitting 44 percent of his threes on 157 attempts so far, and he’s also been really efficient scoring from mid-range and at the rim. His finishing volume isn’t very high and scouts will question whether he can finish over NBA length inside. He’s naturally going to get picked on defensively because of his lack of size, but Anderson has some hope on that end because he’s a high-IQ player with quick hands.
30. Washington Wizards – Motiejus Krivas, C, Arizona
Krivas is a massive 7’2, 260 pound big man who has been quietly driving Arizona’s undefeated season. He’s been a super efficient scorer (69 percent true shooting) who cleans the glass on both ends, protects the rim, and makes his free throws (81 percent from the line). The Lithuanian isn’t much of a passer or shooter yet, but he’s really good at doing all the traditional big man stuff.
On Jan. 27, 2025, the Boston Celtics owned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 32-15 record.
Exactly one year later, the Celtics own the No. 2 seed in the East with a 29-17 record.
How has Boston not missed a beat despite playing without its All-NBA First Team superstar (Jayson Tatum) and losing four key rotation players (Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet) to trades and free agency?
If you ask Holiday, it starts with the mindset of the Celtics’ other All-Star, Jaylen Brown.
“Knowing Jaylen, I feel like he takes a lot of things personally,” the Portland Trail Blazers guard told reporters Monday after his first game back at TD Garden since being traded. “He doesn’t accept a lot, especially when it comes to being bad.”
While the Celtics have gotten encouraging contributions from young players like Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez, Brown has been the head of the snake. He’s averaging career highs in points (29.6), rebounds (6.8) and assists (4.9) per game and recently was named an NBA All-Star starter for the first time in his career.
Brown has benefited from a higher usage rate with Tatum sidelined; his 22.5 shot attempts per game lead the NBA. But as Holiday suggested, the 10-year veteran also is playing with a massive chip on his shoulder, fueled by the preseason narrative that Boston would take a step back without Tatum running the show.
“I felt like I’ve sacrificed over the years in order for us to be a championship-caliber team,” Brown told reporters after the Celtics’ win over Portland. “And I think now, we’re getting to see that a little bit: what exactly I was capable of, and what I was sacrificing.
“I think, before, maybe it wasn’t so obvious. I think now, being able to be at the helm of things, and us being the second seed in the East, versus last year (when) we finished second seed in the East. It’s almost been no drop-off with four players, five players (who) are essentially gone.
“The work from the coaching staff, the work from our leadership has been great. And I just try to make myself available every single night.”
There are a couple ways to interpret Brown’s comments. The first — and one that will surely make the rounds on Boston sports talk radio — is that Brown has enjoyed being the Celtics’ bona fide No. 1 with Tatum sidelined, and that there potentially could be some friction whenever Tatum returns to the lineup. Is there a scenario where Brown isn’t exactly eager to revert to his “1B” role and let Tatum re-take the reins?
The other interpretation: Brown clearly thrives on being motivated by his critics, and this is just the latest example. This isn’t the first time Brown has mentioned sacrificing personal stats for the good of the team. In fact, he brought it up routinely over the past two seasons. The result? Tatum and Brown co-led the Celtics to an NBA title in 2024, with Brown winning NBA Finals MVP.
There very well could be an adjustment period for the Celtics when Tatum returns to action, especially as he learns to play with newcomers like Gonzalez, Luka Garza and Anfernee Simons. But given Boston’s extensive track record of success over nearly a decade with Tatum and Brown on the court, Celtics fans needn’t worry about any real or imagined power dynamics impacting the team’s success.
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The Pittsburgh Pirates were last over .500 in 2018. We’ve been waiting eight years now for them to return to winning baseball. With Paul Skenes still on the roster and some improved hitting, is this finally the year? Our question is asking, do you expect the Pirates to be over .500 this season, under .500, or right at .500?
Cast your vote, tell us in the comments. We’ll be back in a few days with the results.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander apologized twice for pointing his middle finger during the broadcast of his team’s 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.
First, he did it on his Instagram account via a story. He later addressed the issue with the media, speaking to reporters when he normally wouldn’t be available due to team policy for injured players.
During the scrum, he apologized again for the gesture, explaining he was frustrated over the injury that had kept him out for five games. He will also miss a sixth game this Tuesday when the club hosts the Buffalo Sabres.
Despite these apologies, the NHL Department of Player Safety decided to fine Nylander $5,000 for the act. “Nylander directed an inappropriate gesture at a television camera operator while the camera was directed at Mr. Nylander and his teammates in the press box," NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety George Parros said in a statement. "This serves as a reminder that the code of conduct governing players extends throughout the arena at NHL games and in public game situations”.
Many were quick to point out that when Utah Hockey Club defenseman Mikhail Sergachev seemingly pointed his middle finger in front of a camera during a game last season, he escaped without a fine. This has prompted Leafs fans and conspiracy theorists to wonder if Parros is issuing the fine simply because the incident involved a Leaf.
On the surface, I don’t disagree with the fine. Is there an inconsistency in terms of how the NHL’s Department of Player Safety hands out discipline? Absolutely. While there is certainly outrage, it’s just a fine; Nylander is not missing any games because of it. Did he do something dumb? Yeah, I think so.
Toronto’s William Nylander has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for making an inappropriate gesture while in the press box during NHL Game #819.
He apologized twice, and that should have been enough to put things to an end. And yet, the NHL extended the issue by issuing a fine. The Leafs didn’t have to make Nylander available to speak on the matter, and they should be commended for doing so. Ultimately, the fine doesn’t accomplish anything other than inciting more debate. I suppose the NHL could have imposed a suspension had he not apologized, although that would have subjected the discipline department to even more scrutiny—something they clearly do not care about.
The upcoming Olympic break could potentially be coming at a good time for a few banged-up Penguins players.
The biggest concern likely involves Evgeni Malkin, who appeared to be in pain on the bench Sunday night following a seemingly light shoulder tap from Anthony Mantha.
When asked about that moment after the game, head coach Dan Muse said there was “no update” regarding Malkin.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now’s Dan Kingerski reported that Muse told reporters afterward when asked again about Malkin’s injury status: “No, there’s nothing there.”
There’s less reassuring than it might have been otherwise given that Muse described Malkin as “day-to-day” shortly before he was sidelined for a month with a shoulder injury in December.
Malkin said earlier this month he felt normal immediately after the Dec. 4 game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in which he was initially injured, but woke up in pain the next morning. After a Feb. 5 game at the Ottawa Senators, the Penguins don’t play again until Feb. 26.
The upcoming schedule break could be a problem for the Penguins in terms of disrupting their momentum, but could also provide some respite if Malkin is dealing with any lingering issues.
Speaking of potentially injured players: Jack St. Ivany left Sunday’s win over the Vancouver Canucks with an upper-body injury. The Athletic’s Josh Yohe identified it as a left hand injury and said St. Ivany “is expected to miss sometime.”
That one could sting for the Penguins. After some struggles earlier this season, St. Ivany has been part of the reason for the blue line’s success while missing Erik Karlsson and/or Kris Letang during this recent stretch.
The Penguins didn’t provide any updates on either player’s status Monday, so it’ll be something to keep an eye out today. Injury updates will at least come before Thursday’s home game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Penguins will also be looking out for news regarding Bryan Rust. NHL Player Safety said he is scheduled to have a hearing for his hit on Canucks captain Brock Boeser this morning.
Pittsburgh’s Bryan Rust will have a hearing tomorrow morning for an illegal check to the head against Vancouver’s Brock Boeser. https://t.co/K8cMz139Hz
The Penguins have five games remaining before the Olympic break, starting with a three-game homestand against the Blackhawks, New York Rangers and Senators and finishing out with a two-game road trip against the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres.
Potential updates today on Malkin, St. Ivany and Rust will determine if the Penguins are missing any starters for that stretch.
The Pens will especially hope to have as healthy a lineup as possible against the Islanders and Sabres, two teams who could possibly be in direct competition for a playoff spot down the stretch.
We’re just a couple of weeks away now from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training. As of now, that group of Orioles pitchers still does not include Framber Valdez. I will continue to update you as nothing occurs.
In the meantime, it’s prospect hype season, as publications continue to drop their top-100 rankings ahead of the 2026 season. Yesterday, The Athletic’s Keith Law unveiled his list, not long after Baseball America and MLB Pipeline did so, and the Orioles were well represented with five prospects among his top 100. Mark Brown has the details.
One notable thing about the lists released so far is that there’s a wide variety of O’s prospects who are highly regarded by at least one source, even if they’re not all in agreement. Only Samuel Basallo and Nate George are included in all three of BA, Pipeline, and Law’s lists, but there are six other prospects who are included on at least one. Dylan Beavers is a top-100 guy for both Baseball America and Pipeline. BA’s list also includes pitchers Trey Gibson and Luis De León, while Law counts Wehiwa Aloy, Ike Irish, and Enrique Bradfield Jr. among his top 100. That’s a lot of different Orioles prospects with a lot of different skills who are getting some measure of hype from the pundits. That seems like a good thing.
Will any of these prospects contribute to a winning Orioles team in 2026? We know that Basallo and Beavers will be on the roster, and if either one plays well enough to win AL Rookie of the Year, they’ll earn the Orioles an extra draft pick. Gibson and Bradfield will be one level away and could debut this season, but they both have things to work on at Triple-A first. It’ll be a longer wait for De León and the just-drafted Irish and Aloy.
The Orioles might no longer boast the best farm system in baseball as they did in the early years of the rebuild. But there’s no reason to think their talent pipeline is slowing down.
Pete Alonso seems to be exactly the kind of clubhouse leader the O’s were badly lacking in 2025. I like that about him. And also that he hits lots of dingers.
For those who were frustrated by Brandon Hyde’s slavish devotion to lefty-righty matchups, good news: Craig Albernaz appears a bit more willing to let young lefty hitters face lefty pitchers.
Ken Rosenthal takes a deep dive into the baseball mind of the former O’s fan-favorite outfielder and executive, who’s now the Angels’ hitting coach. Trey Mancini has particularly glowing things to say about how Brady revitalized his career as an Orioles prospect.
…and sure enough, Trey Mancini just signed with Brady’s team. I have a feeling that’s not a coincidence.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Four ex-Orioles were born on this day, including Orioles Hall of Famer John Lowenstein (79), who spent the final seven years of his career with the Birds from 1979-1985 and formed a potent platoon with Gary Roenicke. Other former Birds with Jan. 27 birthdays are right-hander Jonathan Heasley (29), infielder Tim Beckham (36), and catcher Ken Huckaby (55).
On this date in 2015, the Orioles acquired outfielder Travis Snider from the Pirates. The O’s hoped that the former first-round draft pick would be a capable right field replacement for Nick Markakis, who’d left in free agency, but he didn’t come close. Snider posted just a .659 OPS in 69 games before the O’s released him in August.
And on this day last year, the O’s signed Dylan Carlson to a minor league contract. He didn’t figure to get much playing time with the Orioles unless things went very wrong for the team…which, of course, they did. Carlson ended up getting 241 plate appearances for the O’s, batting .203 with a .614 OPS. He signed a minor league deal with the Cubs yesterday.
How do you weigh the cost of opportunity when it comes to a long-term build? When I talk to Cardinals personnel, the consistent theme remains “long-term focus.” What exactly does that mean for players who continue to accrue service time but are not quite to the point where they are rental assets? We know that Chaim Bloom said in his introductory press conference as President of Baseball Operations that they are long-term focused but arent willing to concede anything.
Bloom has been true to his word in that regard. This offseason, he has traded away veteran players Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and Nolan Arenado, committing to a long-term vision for the future of the franchise. He has also remained steadfast on his high price tag for All-Star Utility player Brendan Donovan, who still has 1 more season of control remaining beyond 2026, and has not conceded on his price tag, knowing the value of the player. As evidenced by other moves this offseason, the Cardinals will execute deals when a team meets their price tag. The fact that Donovan remains indicates a team has not met the Cardinals’ ask.
That being said, Bloom still has not indicated a timetable for when he expects the team to return to contention, and for obvious reasons, pending labor strife, a potential shift in the economic landscape, and uncertainty around revenue from RSN and/or Gate sales. There are quite a few question marks that need to be answered before he has a clear picture of how soon he might push in. This does, however, leave room for unintended consequences, such as when the right time might be to sell other controllable assets as they grow closer to their expiration as well?
SPAndre Pallante
Let’s start with Andre Pallante. Last season did not go particularly well for Andre, and he detailed for us at Winter Warm Up what happened last year. According to Pallante, after the 2024 season, he was experiencing a lot of fatigue and said he took a longer rest period than normal to allow his body to heal fully going into 2025. Because of that longer rest period, it took him longer to ramp up his velocity, which was a consistent talking point surrounding him in Spring Training, if you recall, which he didn’t reach until the start of the season. After which, his mechanics were not properly calibrated for the additional arm speed that was being generated, which led to his ineffectiveness with command. Pallante also touted that he’s been developing a “kick change” this offseason, which could allow for another weapon to neutralize hitters on a day he may not have a feel for release on one of his other offerings. In 2024, Pallante posted a 3.78 ERA and a 3.71 FIP in 121.1 IP, which are solid marks for any starter in the Major Leagues. Should Pallante bounce back and perform the way he did in 2024, given the depth of near MLB-ready arms the Cardinals now possess, perhaps the Cardinals look to sell high before he gets too expensive. Mid-rotation starters with control generally bring back a strong package of prospects, and for only 4 million dollars this season, the justification for the investment on the bounce back is more than digestible.
SPMatthew Liberatore
This one specifically, I know fans are going to have mixed opinions on. Not exactly comparable, but looking at what Mackenzie Gore was able to get the Nationals in return, teams will send high upside young talent for controllable lefty starters with upside. With 3 additional seasons of control remaining beyond 2026, it would take a hefty price tag to pry Liberatore away from St. Louis, but, given the theme of this article, the opportunity to acquire premium young talent that the team can continue to add to build around might be too good to pass up if the offers are there. Through July 1st of last season, Liberatore posted a 3.70 ERA and a 3.09 FIP in 92.1 IP in his first full season in the rotation. The key will be to see if he can repeat that success and perhaps put two full halves together. I wouldn’t necessarily expect Liberatore to be a deadline target, but going into the offseason, if he can put it all together, I can see the Cardinals getting a very strong return and one that could really kick the rebuild into a higher gear.
RPRiley O’Brien
This one is a little more unique as O’Brien is already 31 years old, and is, albeit a late bloomer, a guy with loud swing and miss stuff in his profile that could help a contender close down games in the hunt for October supremacy. As a pre-arb pitcher, the time to strike could be at the deadline when teams are notorious for overpaying for relievers as they push for the postseason. After the trade deadline in 2025, Riley O’Brien stepped into a prominent leverage role for the Cardinals down the stretch and posted a 2.57 ERA, 3.61 FIP, and recorded 6 saves in 21 IP. If he can carry that level of performance through the first half of the 2026 season or even a tick better, you can rest assured that half the league or more will come calling about O’Brien, and Chaim Bloom could be in a strong position to take advantage of a reliever-crazed market.
1BAlec Burleson
I have been steadfast since the end of the 2025 season. Alec Burleson positioned himself to be one of the players the Cardinals feel they have to build around. Oli Marmol and Chaim Bloom both have spoken publicly that he was one of the few players who truly took advantage of the “runway” (shutter) season. With that being said, as Burly enters his age 28 season and his physical prime, if he repeats or takes yet another step forward, can secure more hardware, or even an All-Star selection, it will make him hard to ignore as a potential trade chip. Slashing .290/.343/.459 ->.802 OPS with a .346 wOBA and a 124 wRC+, Burleson made himself one of the better hitters in baseball last season and, again, if he maintains or even takes a small step forward with one fewer season of control remaining, that will be a commodity teams will have interest in as he’d have the same amount of control remaining as Donovan does now, next offseason.
2B/3BNolan Gorman
2025 was a microcosm of the Nolan Gorman experience. High highs and extreme lows. Using the metric wRC+, where 100 is exactly league average, anything above is better, anything below is worse. By Month, Gorman’s wRC+ was: March/April – 76, May – 45, June – 142, July – 110, August – 105, September – 24! That is neither a reliable driver of offense nor a player who is already entering his salary arbitration years, someone you build around long-term. This situation feels like the Cardinals are banking on Gorman having one semi-breakout season so they can maximize a return. At this point, the volatility in Gorman’s profile, combined with 2 seasons of control remaining, could be something that Bloom looks to sell high on the soon-to-be 26-year-old former 1st rounder if he can eliminate some of the extreme lows in his profile in 2026.
C/DH Ivan Herrera
Let me be clear, I would hate this, but IF Herrera can successfully regain his status as an everyday catcher with all of the work he is putting in this offseason, and he can continue to hit at the rate he has, he would be a WILDLY valuable trade piece that could truly alter/expedite the rebuild in St. Louis. With the presence of Jimmy Crooks, Leonardo Bernal, and Rainiel Rodriguez, the Cardinals have some very impressive young catchers behind Herrera in their own right. Crooks – former Texas league MVP, Bernal – 2025 Minor league Gold Glove award winner at Catcher and switch hitter with 20+ HR potential, Rodriguez – posted an ISO of .249 in Single A, and loosely compares to Herrera, and is a near consensus top 50 prospect in baseball. If the Cardinals were hesitant to pay for the level of talent that that perspective profile would command, I could see the Cardinals willing to deal the soon to be 26 year old Herrera for a king’s ransom.
I debated adding RF Jordan Walker to this list, but with him being still only 23 years old and so much pedigree and prospect hype around him in the recent past that if he hits, he will be made a part of the core going forward more than the 6 other players listed above.
I’m not saying these players are overly likely to be moved, nor am I suggesting that the Cardinals are all that eager to move them. What I am suggesting, however, is that because we have no real timetable as to when the Cardinals expect to be in a competitive championship window, there is no clear answer on where the line is in terms of players with control and how far out that extends. If Chaim Bloom intends to be aggressive with how he attacks this build and doesn’t believe in patience in doing so, then the Cardinals do have a few chips they can play to try to expedite this process and try to have a majority of their players in the same age range/years of control.
We’re still very early in this process, and how things unfold over the next 18 months should give a clearer idea as to what the timetable may look like going forward. I understand this will likely aggravate a few fans, but that is not my goal or intention. I am not someone who swims in the “hot take” waters. For context, it is something that a few other writers in the community are starting to wonder about alongside me. Perhaps I should just hope that everyone stays healthy and has fun, who knows! (eye roll)
The San Antonio Spurs have three players on the 2026 NBA Rising Stars roster.
Reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle will represent the NBA Sophomores. He’ll play alongside Matas Buzelis (Bulls), Donovan Clingan (Trail Blazers), Kyshawn George (Wizards), Ajay Mitchell (Thunder), Alex Sarr (Wizards), Reed Sheppard (Rockets), Cam Spencer (Grizzlies), Jaylon Tyson (Cavaliers), Kel’el Ware (Heat), and Jaylen Wells (Grizzlies).
Ajay Mitchell, Jaylen Wells, and Cam Spencer are all second round picks who have elevated their game over the last season and a half.
Spurs guard Dylan Harper has been named to the NBA Rookies with Cedric Coward (Grizzlies), Egor Demin (Nets), Tre Johnson (Wizards), VJ Edgecombe (76ers), Kon Knueppel (Hornets), Jeremiah Fears (Pelicans), Collin Murray-Boyles (Raptors), Cooper Flagg (Mavericks), and Derik Queen (Pelicans). All players were lottery picks in the last draft.
Finally, Spurs two-way guard David Jones Garcia will represent the NBA G-League. He’ll be joined by Dylan’s brother Ron Harper Jr. (Maine Celtics), Sean East II (Salt Lake City Stars), Alijah Martin (Raptors 905), Tristan Newton (Rio Grande Valley Vipers), Yang Hansen (Rip City Remix), and Yanic Konan Niederhauser (San Diego Clippers).
This marks the first time in franchise history that the Spurs have multiple Rising Stars selections in the same season.
The Rising Star game will be played on February 13th at 9PM EST on Peacock.
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We may know the sport’s future is bright when trendsetters worldwide are wearing Fabien Galthié-style shades
On the surface it was business at usual at this year’s Six Nations launch in a chilly Edinburgh. Had the city’s most famous literary sleuth poked his nose into the venue at the top of the Royal Mile, Inspector Rebus would have clocked the usual suspects: head coaches trying not to divulge any secrets, captains quietly studying their opposite numbers and content creators seeking to “jazz up” their tournament previews.
This year’s booby prize went to the “influencer” who asked Caelan Doris, Ireland’s captain, whether or not he liked Fabien Galthié’s thick-rimmed glasses. It was almost on a par with the Breakdown’s all-time classic: the day someone asked Rob Baxter, Exeter’s director of rugby, to pick his favourite motorway service station. “Taunton Deane,” came the instant reply. “Because it means we’re almost home.” Brilliant.
All three are injured, and all three will be sidelined well beyond the Feb. 5 deadline. This complicates the overall market.
Each player is expected to make an eventual full return to health, though each – to varying degrees – has his own complicated injury history. The problem arises in the risk potential suitors may be feeling to trade for players who have combined to miss 63 games this season, as well as the real assets required to pry those stars away from their teams.
This all points to a potential drag in the trading market, possibly making this a sleepy deadline – especially when compared to last season’s that saw stars like Luka Dončić, Jimmy Butler, De’Aaron Fox and Brandon Ingram each shipped to new teams.
Complicating this further is that the entire market is in somewhat of a holding pattern, awaiting to see what happens with Antetokounmpo, the two-time Most Valuable Player and biggest chip on the board.
The Bucks are 18-26 and 10th in the Eastern Conference. This is quickly becoming a lost season, and the latest Antetokounmpo injury likely precludes them from being buyers ahead of the deadline. So the Bucks may reluctantly understand that a fresh start is best for everyone, particularly because Antetokounmpo has one more year on his deal with a player option for 2027-28 that he can decline.
Essentially, if Milwaukee senses that Antetokounmpo is considering walking during the 2027 offseason, the Bucks may want to at least recoup some assets for a rebuild. In that case, a trade makes perfect sense.
Yet, potential suitors will have far more financial flexibility and draft capital to deploy in an Antetokounmpo trade over the offseason, so the Bucks are probably best served to exercise patience.
Either way, we’re nearly 50 games into the season, Antetokounmpo is dealing with an injury that has nagged him, and he’s expected to be reevaluated in a month – at the earliest. That puts potential contenders who would be interested in him in a tricky spot.
Adding Antetokounmpo is a franchise-altering move that also impacts the day-to-day operation of a team. Regardless of who the suitors may be, a player like Antetokounmpo completely alters the way offenses are run, so there would be an adjustment period.
Not only are the mechanics of trading a player like Antetokounmpo during the season complicated (with a third team possibly needing to be involved), it also means these suitors would need to undergo a massive pivot, which is a risk this late in the year.
So, as the rest of the league awaits for resolution with Antetokounmpo, this could create a further lag in the trading market.
The Mavericks have also indicated they’re not necessarily in a rush to move Davis, who was the headliner returned in the infamous Dončić deal. Davis turns 33 in mid-March and is a constant injury concern, though he can be effective when he’s on the floor.
Dallas, though, is hanging around the play-in picture in the West and is also without Kyrie Irving. Eventually, the Mavericks may feel that they can make a late push for the playoffs.
And the Grizzlies have to contend with a depressed market as Morant’s value is as low as it has been throughout his career.
Granted, this could all change very quickly. If the Bucks decide they want to prioritize a head start on a rebuild, they could look to move Antetokounmpo sooner. If the Mavericks feel they can get good value for Davis, maybe they scoop up younger players more aligned with their timeline. Maybe the Grizzlies decide their relationship with Morant has run its course.
This trading deadline will certainly be active with role players like Jonathan Kuminga, Michael Porter Jr., Coby White and Domantas Sabonis likely to find new teams.
Don’t be surprised, however, if all this smoke about Antetokounmpo, Davis and Morant turns out to be just that.
As March Madness inches ever closer, we offer our latest attempt to project the men's basketball NCAA tournament field. While four different conferences are still represented on the No.-1 seed line, the upper quadrant of the bracket skews heavily toward the Big Ten.
For now the top regional seeds are unchanged from our previous installment of bracketology. Arizona has the strongest case for the top overall seed, with Michigan, Connecticut and Duke still projected to lead the regionals. The Wolverines head a group of five Big Ten squads among our projected top 12, despite preseason league favorite Purdue slipping to a No. 3 seed. Red-hot Illinois has moved up to a No. 2 along with still undefeated Nebraska, and perennial tournament contender Michigan State is also on the third line.
It might be a case of quantity over quality for the SEC, which is still well represented with 10 teams in the field but none seeded higher than Florida and Vanderbilt at No. 4 for the moment. The league’s automatic qualifier based on the current standings would be Texas A&M, though the Aggies likely will need to improve their profile should they require at-large consideration.
Seton Hall has toppled out of the field for now, leaving the Big East with just three tournament squads. The Mountain West also has three spots, though a couple of them are dangerously close to the bubble.
Bracketology: NCAA tournament field projection
March Madness Last four in
TCU, UCLA, New Mexico, Miami (Fla.).
March Madness First four out
Virginia Tech, Indiana, Missouri, Seton Hall.
NCAA tournament bids conference breakdown
Multi-bid leagues: Big Ten (10), SEC (10), Big 12 (8), ACC (8) Big East (3), Mountain West (3), West Coast (2).
As the city digs out from a major winter storm that dumped over a foot of snow on the region, the Pittsburgh Penguins were out west taking care of business to remain one of the hottest teams in hockey. Now they will return home and enjoy a few days off before starting a five-game stretch over the next week and half leading into the Olympic break. This stretch run into the break is highlighted by a three-game homestand and a special Stanley Cup reunion for the 2016 squad this weekend.
Pens Points…
Coming off a perfect 4-0 Western Conference road trip, the Penguins return home for a three-game homestand beginning on Thursday night. These will be their final three home games before the Olympic break and it’s another big opportunity to bank some points. [Pensburgh]
Not only did the Penguins sweep their western road trip, they did so in relatively dominating fashion. Besides a few late hiccups against the Canucks, the Penguins dominated play over the course of four games, showing us that this team might very well be for real. [PPG]
There is a chance the Penguins are without Bryan Rust when they return to game action on Thursday night against the Chicago Blackhawks. For once this is not an injury related situation with Rust, but he could potentially be suspended following a hit against the Cancucks. [Pensburgh]
With January wrapping up, it’s a good time to check in on some young prospects to see how they are faring in their development. Prospects are spread across several different leagues right now both in North American and even over in Europe. [Pensburgh]
It’s been a difficult in this native Sweden for Penguins prospect Melvin Fernstrom and the team is stepping in to help with his development. On Monday, the Penguins recalled Fernstrom from his SHL side Orebro and he heading to North America to continue the season. [Trib Live]
With the Penguins preparing to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their 2016 Stanley Cup triumph this weekend, the team website is doing a round-by-round lookback of that playoff run. On Monday, it was a flashback to a thrilling six game victory over the Washington Capitals. [Penguins]
Goalie masks have turned into their own art form over the years with many artists specializing in making masks for the NHL’s best. For Penguins goalies, they turn to a local artist for all their goalie mask needs, including the newest Penguins netminder, Stuart Skinner. [Trib Live]
Expectations were low when the Penguins acquired Stuart Skinner back in December, many viewing him as a placeholder for the rest of the season. With a strong run of play since Christmas, Skinner has suddenly shifted the conversation to perhaps a longer stay in Pittsburgh. [Daily Faceoff]
NHL News and Notes…
Nine points in three games set the pace for all players this week and it was done by Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov who was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week on Monday. Joining Kaprizov as weekly award winners were Nikita Kucherov and Lukas Dostal. [NHL]
Another offseason day down, another day closer to the beginning of spring. The hot stove has little left to offer us, though Monday did bring some news, with the Yankees officially announcing their signing of Cody Bellinger, as well as the Giants making a move, signing old friend Harrison Bader to a two-year deal. Had Bellinger defected this offseason, it wouldn’t have been a surprise to see the Yankees pivot and try to target their former center fielder Bader, but things seem to have worked out in a beneficial way for all.
On the site today, Nolan continues his informative State of the System series with an analysis of the third base position in the Yankee organization. Also, Jeff writes up Fred Haimach as part of our Yankee Birthday series, and Sam remembers the signing of AJ Burnett, the third piece of the Yankees’ 2008-09 spending spree.
Questions/Prompts:
1. How many starts will Ryan Weathers make for the Yankees this year? Do you expect him to factor in more as a reliever or as a starter?
2. Which international sports tournament are you more psyched for this year, the WBC or the World Cup? The WBC surely won’t ever reach the World Cup’s level of significance, but do you think the WBC will continue its upward trajectory going forward?
