Victor Bericoto and Gregory Santos reassigned to Minor League camp

Victor Bericoto in the batter’s box.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Victor Bericoto #83 of the San Francisco Giants bats during the fifth inning of the spring training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Scottsdale Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Opening Day is just five days away for the San Francisco Giants, and the camp cuts are coming as fast and furious as my favorite modern movie franchise. The big news came on Thursday, when the Giants optioned top prospect Bryce Eldridge to AAA Sacramento, along with Grant McCray and Tyler Fitzgerald. That ended the camp-long question of whether or not Eldridge would make the roster for March 25’s Netflix special.

But more news came on Friday, when the Giants made their seventh round of camp cuts. This time, rather than optioning a trio of rostered players, the Giants reassigned a trio of non-roster invitees to Minor League camp: outfielder Victor Bericoto, right-hander Gregory Santos, and infielder Osleivis Basabe.

The biggest name here is Bericoto, who had an absolute breakout of a performance in his first Spring Training, which resulted in being named the 2026 Barney Nugent Award winner shortly before being reassigned. Bittersweet day!

Bericoto, a right-handed hitter who signed with the Giants in the same international period as Luis Matos and Marco Luciano (and who re-signed on a Minor League contract this past offseason after reaching free agency), was positively dynamic in Cactus League play, while manning both left and right field. In 19 games he hit a blistering 18-38 with a team-best three home runs as well as three doubles, while sporting a 1.264 OPS and a 221 wRC+. He also posted some of the most impressive exit velocities on the team, while striking out just seven times.

To the naked eye, then, it might seem like the Giants are making an error by reassigning him instead of giving him a spot on the Opening Day roster, especially since the players in the running for the fourth outfield spot — Matos, Will Brennan, Drew Gilbert, and Jared Oliva — aren’t exactly tearing holes in the box scores. But Bericoto, who recently turned 24, was never seriously in play for an Opening Day assignment. Spring Training numbers should always be taken with a grain of salt, and as exceptional as his were, it bears noting that he drew just one walk, rocked a hilariously unsustainable .517 BABIP, and did the bulk of his damage against fellow Minor Leaguers and NRIs. Most importantly, Bericoto has just 11 games in AAA to his name (during which time he hit just .196/.196/.283) so, despite his performance, he’s in need of some further development.

Still and all, he opened eyes, and certainly impressed his teammates, coaches, and front office. Given how unproven that aforementioned quartet is — plus McCray and Jerar Encarnación — there will almost certainly be a roster spot for Bericoto in a few months if he hits well with AAA Sacramento.

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While Bericoto was the most notable name given his spring, the most surprising of the three cuts was Santos. I’ve spent the offseason telling anyone who will listen that I think Santos — who was signed and developed by the Giants before being cut three years ago, and re-signed to a Minor League deal this past offseason — will end up being the team’s best reliever this year. I’m sticking with that, though it will take him a little while to get there, apparently.

Santos struggled with command this spring, walking five batters — while striking out just two — in 3.1 innings, leading to a 5.40 ERA and a 7.87 FIP. That shouldn’t be incredibly surprising, given that there’s rust to wash off: injuries have limited him to just 26.2 innings between both the Majors and the Minors over the last two seasons combined. The bright side is, when he finds his rhythm, command shouldn’t be a big concern: the 26-year old walked just 2.3 batters per nine innings during his breakout season with the Chicago White Sox in 2023, which is an astonishingly low number for a player who regularly clips triple digits with his fastball.

Given the lack of heat that the Giants have in the bullpen after trading Camilo Doval and seeing Randy Rodríguez suffer an injury — and given that fastball velocity is the primary barrier for entry in MLB bullpens these days — it feels like a matter of when, not if Santos will be a high-leverage reliever for this team.

As for Basabe, he had a great camp, but never really had a chance of making the team. The 25-year old right-handed hitter played his usual excellent defense across the infield, while really showing out with the bat, as he hit 12-31 with two triples, four doubles, and one walk, for a 1.051 OPS and a 167 wRC+. With Casey Schmitt and Christian Koss entrenched as the backup infielders — and Fitzgerald on the 40-man roster — the usually light-hitting Basabe (who is Matos’ cousin) was always ticketed for depth in Sacramento. But he played well enough that the organization will likely be quite comfortable bringing him up should injuries create a need.

The Giants are now down to 39 players in Major League camp: 34 rostered players, and five non-roster invitees (pitchers Michael Fulmer, Caleb Kilian, and Joey Lucchesi; catcher Eric Haase; and outfielder Oliva). They’ll have to trim 13 more names between now and Wednesday.

March Madness games tomorrow: NCAA Tournament second round schedule Saturday

Be sure to follow USA TODAY Sports' live updates keeping track of all of NCAA Tournament's Friday first round games.

The road to Indianapolis and the Final Four continues Saturday as the first eight teams will book their tickets to the Sweet 16.

Will High Point and VCU's magic continue? Top-seed Duke struggled against Siena, how will Blue Devils respond against No. 9 seed TCU? Saint Louis scores in bunches, can Michigan slow the Billikens down?

It should be a great feast of March Madness. Below is Saturday's schedule and TV listings. Here is the rest of Friday night's slate of games.

March Madness games tomorrow: Second round game times, schedule for Saturday, March 21

All times Eastern

  • 12:10 p.m.: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 9 Saint Louis, CBS
  • 2:45 p.m.: No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 6 Louisville, CBS (prediction)
  • 5:15 p.m.: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 9 TCU, CBS (prediction)
  • 6:10 p.m.: No. 2 Houston vs. No. 10 Texas A&M, TNT (prediction)
  • 7:10 p.m.: No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 11 Texas, TBS/truTV (prediction)
  • 7:50 p.m.: No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 11 VCU, CBS (prediction)
  • 8:45 p.m.: No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt, TNT (prediction)
  • 9:45 p.m.: No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 12 High Point, TBS/truTV (prediction)

2026 Men's March Madness remaining full schedule

  • March 21-22: Second Round
  • March 26-27: Sweet 16
  • March 28-29: Elite 8
  • April 4: Final Four
  • April 6: National Championship

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness 2026 schedule: Who plays tomorrow, when in second round

Aaron Judge on a midseason WBC, Olympic future, and Team USA's no-fun perception

TAMPA – Try as he might to feign immunity to the noise,Aaron Judgeheard the questions about why the United States team he captained in the World Baseball Classic looked like it wasn’t having any fun. He admitted that friends and family wondered the same things the rest of the baseball world did when they saw the stoic Americans juxtaposed with the unmitigated joy of the Dominicans and Venezuelans: Why were the Americans so, well, boring?

“Everybody is different. Every culture is different. I loved everything that Mexico was doing, what Great Britain was doing, the DR, how they celebrated the game…that was amazing,” Judge said. “If they’re going to say we don’t have the passion – my passion is grinding in this cage when nobody is watching, grinding in the backyard as a six-year-old when I’d be in the backyard with my dad. That’s where our passion came from as kids. If I don’t show it outwardly like that, it doesn’t mean I don’t love the game.”

Judge said he felt certain that “every one of those guys” in the U.S. clubhouse would say they had never had more fun playing baseball than they did during the tournament. He said he saw players he had never seen show emotion unleash more than they ever showed during the major league season. But he also said he doesn’t feel there is much point in arguing.

“What am I going to do?” he said. “I can’t change their opinions.”

Few players in baseball show as dogged a commitment to a business-like demeanor as Judge, and in fairness, it seems to have served him well. He emerged as the Yankees' leader long before he qualified as a veteran. He accumulated enough respect around the league to be named captain of an American team loaded with viable leadership options. Perhaps it is no coincidence that both teams seemed to mirror his approach: Act like you’ve been there before. Winning is the only goal. Neither, or the expectations levied on both teams, allow much room for whimsy.

So perhaps it is not surprising that when asked if he would like to see more whimsy – dancing, bat flips, flair – in Major League Baseball, Judge looked down and paused, finally answering after several seconds of calculation.

“I think it’s just tough to do for 162 games. I think it’s just a lot of energy. A lot of…I don’t know,” Judge said. “I love how the game is, but definitely I would love more energy, more flair, stuff like that. I think it’s great for the fans. It’s great for the fans. It’s great for all the young kids watching the game who love seeing their favorite player do stuff like that.”

“That’s a good question,” he added, a notable addendum for a player who rarely says anything more than he must. “It was cool for that, but I don’t know.”

He was similarly as careful when asked how playing in the WBC final against Venezuela compared to playing in the World Series – a noticeable retreat from his comments during the tournament, suggesting the WBC crowd was “bigger and better” than the ones at the 2024 World Series.

“It’s different when you’ve got a band out in right field, a band out in left field, different chants, you don’t usually see that,” Judge said. “World Series games, a lot of the passionate fans, they can’t afford the tickets sometimes.”

Judge returned his focus to the World Series when he returned to Yankees camp Thursday. He will serve as the designated hitter in the Yankees’ game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night. As WBC participants go, Judge likely saw his spring disrupted least: He played every day. He got regular at-bats and full games’ worth of defensive build-up. And he will get a few more games of at-bats before the Yankees’ opener in San Francisco on Wednesday.

Still, he said he thinks conversations about potentially moving the WBC to the middle of the season should continue.

“There were so many restrictions, even with us. There were certain guys that couldn't pitch because of this, had to pitch on these days,” Judge said. “I think now, if you get into where everybody is built up, everybody has no restrictions, you get out there and just play -- I think it would be better for the game."

Judge said he would love to play for Team USA again, whether in the 2028 Olympics if MLB comes to an agreement to let players go, or in future WBC events. In the meantime, he said he is encouraged by where his Yankees are to start the season – and sees the return of so many familiar faces as an opportunity to improve on last year’s league-leading win total.

“I think it comes down to just details. That’s one thing we’ve talked about a lot. Fine-tune the details, figure out as a team how we can be better,” Judge said. “We’ve had stretches the last few years in July, August, when we’re puttering and you guys are asking some tough questions about what’s going on. I think if we can figure that out, we’ll be in a good spot.”

Jacari White helps Virginia snap 7-year March Madness win drought

Be sure to follow USA TODAY Sports' live updates keeping track of all of NCAA Tournament's Friday first round games.

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Virginia basketball coach Ryan Odom did not mention the elephant in the room with his team heading into Friday's Men's NCAA Tournament First-Round game against No. 14 seed Wright State.

"We never talked about it," Odom said following his team's 82-73 opening round win of the NCAA Tournament on Friday at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. "We only talk about what this team wants to accomplish. We had no thought about the history other than being proud of the history of Virginia basketball."

There was no need to. To Odom's point, the 2025-26 Cavaliers roster features 12 newcomers from last season, and Odom, himself, is in his first year on the sidelines in Charlottesville.

The 3-seeded Cavaliers' first NCAA Tournament win in 2,538 days didn't come easily, however. The Raiders had Odom's squad on upset watch for much of the game and forced them to fight until the end to break their three-game losing skid. Nonetheless, a win in March Madness can go a long way toward building a new team's confidence for a run in March.

"The first game is always the hardest, especially Wright State, credit to them. They did a great job executing. Their game plan was amazing," Virginia guard Malik Thomas said. "As a team, we were a little bit nervous. ... After we got our jitters out and we started to play our basketball and come together, we were able to string some shots together and hit some big shots."

Virginia struggled in the first half with Wright State's fast tempo. The Cavaliers turned the ball over seven times compared to Wright State's single turnover. Those seven turnovers led to four points for the Raiders in the first half, and a five-point halftime deficit.

"They played a little bit differently than we were expecting going into the game and how we prepared," Odom said. "...But our guys did a nice job throughout the game of adjusting, and just hanging in there. And that's what you've got to do in this tournament. It's not going to be perfect. It's not meant to be perfect."

The Cavaliers quickly erased the Raiders' halftime lead with a 7-2 run out of the locker room. They then pushed the lead to as many as four points at that point of the game when 23-year-old freshman Thijs De Ridder drained a 3-pointer in the corner.

Wright State would continue hanging in there with Virginia, which picked up its 30th win of the season, for the next few minutes before the Cavaliers shifted the momentum and the energy in the arena their way. Jacari White hit a few key shots down the stretch for Virginia to pull out the win with his six 3-pointers on the day.

Virginia separated itself from Wright State with an 11-0 run after a technical foul was called on Sam Lewis for bouncing the basketball off a Wright State player, going into a timeout.

White led the way for Virginia with 26 points, while Lewis added 12 and Thomas added 11. De Ridder also finished in double figures with 10 points and six rebounds in addition to two assists.

Odom mentioned that he's proud of how his team held together and played down the stretch to pull out the victory.

"We had to keep the pressure on defensively. We couldn't watch the guys shoot threes. A couple of times, we watched guys shoot and they made us pay. That's not something we have done all season," Odom said. "I think our guys did a nice job of showing the proper poise that was needed to be able to come out victorious."

Virginia will now look to punch its ticket to the second weekend for the first time since 2019 when it takes on the No. 6 Tennessee Vols.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Virginia holds off Wright State for first March Madness win since 2019

Pistons vs. Warriors preview: Two teams missing Star guards

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 30: Tobias Harris #12 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket between Brandin Podziemski #2 and Al Horford at Chase Center on January 30, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Detroit Pistons lost Cade Cunningham to what was later diagnosed as a collapsed lung two games ago. He was out within five minutes of that first game, so effectively, two games minus their All-Star and most important player. They are 2-0. Or maybe they just played the Washington Wizards twice. The Golden State Warriors are no great shakes, and they are also missing their star in Steph Curry. But they are also not the Washington Wizards. As we move forward for the next couple of weeks, especially absent any kind of return timeline for Cunningham, every game becomes a test. Can this team pass the Warriors test if they only play as good as they did against the Wizards? I’m not so sure. But I also think they have a lot of room for improvement, even within their limited offensive skillset. There have been positives — Jalen Duren is a monster and Kevin Huerter is doing all the little things (big thing he’s still not doing — hitting 3s). Tobias Harris has stepped up as a rebounder, and it’s good to have Ausar Thompson back and healthy. Still, Daniss Jenkins is struggling, the lack of point guard play is hurting tertiary guys like Javonte Green and Ron Holland the most, and now the aforementioned Huerter and Duren are questionable with ankle and shoulder issues, respectively. The end of the season is going to be a roller coaster. Strap in.

Game Vitals

When: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -5.5

Projected Lineups

Detroit Pistons (50-19)

Daniss Jenkins, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Golden State Warriors (34-38)

Brandin Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton, Gui Santos, Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis

Katie Clayman and husband Flynn look to be duel Cinderellas in NCAA Tournament

NASHVILLE, TN. — Most coaches are focused on one March Madness bracket. High Point University assistant coach Katie Clayman is living in two.

Clayman’s husband, Flynn, is the head coach of the High Point men’s team. March 19, the Panthers pulled off a 12-over-5 upset against Wisconsin. Clayman brought her son, Quinn, to Portland, Oregon, from North Carolina to watch his dad coach in the men’s matchup.

As if caring for a 19-month-old wasn’t already a full-time job, Clayman is traveling between tournament sites to support her husband while also helping lead her team into a matchup against No. 2 seed Vanderbilt in the women’s tournament.

“One thing I honestly believe is family first,” High Point women’s head coach Chelsea Banbury said. “She should be there.”

Of the 136 teams across both NCAA tournaments, only 30 schools have both their men’s and women’s programs in the field. Clayman has a stake in both sides of one of them.

For her, one round is done and it’s on to the next. And as she travels to Nashville, she’ll be working on setting up the High Point women for a Round 1 repeat.

“It's obviously long travel days,” Banbury said. “There's not any direct flights, but she'll get here this evening. I've been in touch with her. She's watching film. I've given her a task of what I want to see when she gets here and what to have broken down by the time she is.”

Both sets of Panthers are looking to make deep tournament appearances. And, for Quinn, it’s a front-row seat to both of his parents chasing history.

Katie Fryburger is a student in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.

This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: Katie and Flynn Clayman look to lead High Point men and women to runs

Lens back on top of Ligue 1 thanks to star turn from Florian Thauvin

LENS, France (AP) — Florian Thauvin scored one and made two and Odsonne Edouard grabbed a double as Lens beat Angers 5-1 to leapfrog Paris Saint-Germain and return to the top of Ligue 1 on Friday.

Lens is seeking a first French title since 1998 but its challenge has faltered in recent weeks with losses to Lorient and Monaco.

However, it made its intentions clear in a comprehensive win over a side that has lost five of its last six league matches.

Thauvin set the ball rolling in the 13th minute with his fourth goal in six games.

Then he set up Edouard to make it 2-0. Mamadou Sangare added the third just before halftime.

Edouard scored a fourth three minutes into the second half after taking a perfectly weighted pass from the outstanding Thauvin. Although Lanroy Machine pulled a goal back for Angers 14 minutes later it was no more than a consolation.

Matthieu Udol restored Lens' four-goal cushion with a spectacular fifth.

The result took Lens two points clear of PSG, which has two games in hand.

Angers, meanwhile, was in 12th place, far from the fight from European places but well above the relegation zone.

___

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

Yankees option Jasson Dominguez to Triple-A in flurry of roster moves

The Yankees optioned outfielder Jasson Domínguez to Triple-A as the club made a flurry of roster moves ahead of Friday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Domínguez faced an uphill battle to win a spot in the Yanks outfield after Cody Bellinger re-signed in free agency, and with the organization looking to get him regular at-bats to help him along in his development, starting the season in the minors seemed an inevitable conclusion for the 23-year-old.

Domínguez had 13 hits, including three home runs, in his 40 at-bats this spring, good for a .325/.378/.600 slash line. He added three steals on the basepaths.

The Yanks also optioned right-handed relievers Kervin Castro and Yerry de los Santos to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Castro, 27, was in the bullpen conversation to make the roster on Opening Day, but it sounds like his spot might go to Rule-5 Draft pick Cade Winquest.

Catchers Ali Sanchez and Payton Henry and outfielder Kenedy Corona were reassigned to minor league camp, as well.

The Yanks open up the regular season on Wednesday in San Francisco.

2025-26 Gamethread #69: New Jersey Devils at Washington Capitals

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 15: New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec (17) scores game winning shootout goal on Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) during the NHL game between the Washington Capitals and the New Jersey Devils on November 15, 2025, at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. (Photo by Bella Sagarese / Icon Sportswire) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Matchup: New Jersey Devils (35-31-2) at the Washington Capitals (34-27-8).

The Time: 7:00 pm EST

The Broadcast: TV — MSGSN; Radio — Devils Hockey Network

The Game Preview: Matt had it here.

The Rules: If you have been a reader here, you already know the rules. But for the rest, a reminder: please do not swear in the comment section, and keep comments relevant to the hockey game going on. Beyond that, do not attack any other commenters, and do not ask for or pass along illegal streams on this board.

LGD!

Fernandes stars again for Man United but Bournemouth worth a point in 2-2 scrap

BOURNEMOUTH, England (AP) — Bruno Fernandes got a goal and an assist and Harry Maguire marked his return to the England squad by getting a red card as Manchester United drew 2-2 at Bournemouth in the Premier League on Friday.

After a dull first half, Fernandes, so often United’s saviour, put the visitor ahead from the penalty spot an hour in.

Ryan Christie equalized for Bournemouth with a perfectly executed low shot six minutes later.

Fernandes’ in-swinging corner was headed into his own goal by James Hill under pressure from Maguire at the far post.

Then with 12 minutes remaining Maguire — who hours earlier was named in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for pre-World Cup friendlies against Uruguay and Japan — was red-carded for bringing down Evanilson in the box.

Teenage Bournemouth forward Junior Kroupi converted the penalty to make it 2-2.

The home side threw everything at its more illustrious visitor during a frantic final push but could not get a winner. Instead, it was a fifth consecutive draw for the Cherries, whose unbeaten run clicked on to 11 matches.

“I’m happy for the performance — it’s a decent point always when you face United," Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola said. "But in the big picture it’s five draws in a row. It doesn’t give you a lot in the standings. Probably, especially at the end, we were looking for a win.”

Bournemouth was 10th in the table.

United remained in third place, six points behind Manchester City, but captain Fernandes could not hide his disappointment at not taking all three points.

“We were in front two times, we gave it away,” he said.

___

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

Champions Bath blow away Saracens in nine-try rout to reclaim top spot

  • Bath 62-15 Saracens

  • Finn Russell kicks 17 points and Arundell scores twice

Champions Bath left no doubt about their appetite for another title as they swept Saracens aside 62-15 at the Rec to regain top spot. The Londoners started brightly and did not lack effort but Bath’s killer instinct earned them nine tries in front of another capacity crowd.

Scotland’s Finn Russell kicked 17 points from seven conversions and a penalty. Russell and the club captain, Ben Spencer, were straight back into action after ultimately frustrating Six Nations campaigns with their respective countries.

Continue reading...

March Madness games tonight: Who is playing in NCAA Tournament Friday night?

Be sure to follow USA TODAY Sports' live updates keeping track of all of NCAA Tournament's Friday first round games.

There's nothing like spending your Friday night with some madness.

The 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament first round continues with eight more games tonight.

Will anything match the drama of Otega Oweh's banked-in buzzer-beating 3-pointer that kept Kentucky's season alive against Santa Clara?

Guess we'll find out. Tonight's remaining schedule is below.

Here's who plays in Saturday's second round.

March Madness games tonight: Men's NCAA Tournament first round schedule, TV listings

  • 6:50 p.m.: No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa, TNT (predictions)
  • 7:10 p.m.: No. 5 St. John's vs. No. 12 UNI, CBS (predictions)
  • 7:25 p.m.: No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 UCF, TBS (predictions)
  • 7:35 p.m.: No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens, truTV (predictions)
  • 9:25 p.m.: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M, TNT (predictions)
  • 9:45 p.m.: No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 California Baptist, CBS (predictions)
  • 10 p.m.: No. 2 UConn vs. No. 15 Furman, TBS (predictions)
  • 10:10 p.m.: No. 7 Miami (FL) vs. No. 10 Missouri, truTV (predictions)

March Madness results so far today

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness games tonight: Who is playing in NCAA Tournament Friday?

After Santa Clara and Kentucky trade 3s in thrilling finish, 'a tough one to swallow' for Broncos

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Santa Clara thought it had knocked Kentucky out of the NCAA Tournament when freshman Allen Graves answered a tying basket by Wildcats star Otega Oweh with a 3-pointer in front of his own bench with 2.4 seconds left in regulation.

The problem for the Broncos: There were still 2.4 seconds left in regulation.

As coach Herb Sendek tried to call timeout, Kentucky quickly got the ball into the hands of Oweh, who raced across the midcourt line and heaved up a 3-pointer, which banked through the bucket to tie the game at 73-all. The buzzer sounded when the ball was in midair.

The kind of shot that puts the madness into March Madness didn’t exactly end Santa Clara’s postseason hopes — that didn’t come until Kentucky scored eight consecutive points in OT to pull away. But the sequence of shots in those wild last few seconds of regulation will be remembered much longer than the 89-84 final score Friday, which sent the No. 7 seed Wildcats into a matchup with No. 2 seed Iowa State or No. 15 seed Tennessee State in the Midwest Region.

“You know,” Sendek said afterward, “it was a really euphoric high followed by a tough one to swallow.”

The No. 10 seed Broncos certainly gave everything they had — everything built up over the 30 years since Steve Nash last led them to the NCAA Tournament — in trying to knock off one of college basketball’s bluebloods inside the packed Enterprise Center.

The game was tied 12 times. The lead changed hands 20 times. Santa Clara led by two at halftime as the West Coast Tournament runner-up went toe-to-toe with Kentucky, which was making its record-extending 63rd NCAA Tournament appearance.

Yet the first 59 minutes merely set the stage for the dramatic conclusion.

MIDWEST

NO. 2 IOWA ST. 108, NO. 15 TENNESSEE ST. 74

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Iowa State star Joshua Jefferson left in the first half of the Cyclones’ romp past Tennessee State with a left ankle injury Friday, leaving the All-American’s status for the remainder of the NCAA Tournament in doubt.

Jefferson landed awkwardly after a layup just 2 1/2 minutes into the first-round matchup in the Midwest Region. The 6-foot-9 senior had to be helped by trainers to the X-ray room, emerged about 10 minutes later using crutches, and watched the second half from the end of the Iowa State bench with his ankle in a bulky gray boot.

Nate Heise had eight of his season-high 23 points during a 23-0 run for the Cyclones (28-7), which began shortly after Jefferson was hurt and sent them breezing past the Tigers (23-10) and into a second-round matchup with seventh-seeded Kentucky on Sunday.

The Wildcats beat No. 10 seed Santa Clara 89-84 in an overtime thriller to begin the session at the Enterprise Center.

The Cyclones already were dealing with a groin injury that limited point guard Tamin Lipsey in the Big 12 Tournament. Now, their depth will be tested even more without Jefferson, who was second on the team in scoring and their leading rebounder.

NO. 3 VIRGINIA 82, NO. 14 WRIGHT ST. 73

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jacari White hit six 3-pointers and scored 26 points, and Virginia avoided yet another early NCAA Tournament exit, beating a resolute Wright State in the first round.

The Cavaliers (30-5) will face sixth-seeded Tennessee or No. 11 seed Miami (Ohio) in the second round in the Midwest Region on Sunday.

Virginia won its first NCAA Tournament game since it won the 2019 national title.

The Cavaliers lost in the first round or the First Four in 2021, 2023 and 2024, and title-winning coach Tony Bennett abruptly retired before last season. Ryan Odom took over this season and quickly turned the program around.

Odom knows all about Virginia upsets in the tournament. He coached UMBC in 2018 when it was the first No. 16 seed to knock off a No. 1 — yes, Virginia.

Wright State (24-11), a No. 14 seed, was an 18 1/2-point underdog according to BetMGM Sportsbook but never looked out of step as it tried to pull off the shocker.

Michael Imariagbe scored 19 points and kept hope alive for that rare 14 seed win — there have been none in the tournament since 2024 — with a late 3 that pulled the Raiders within 78-73. White responded with a bucket that finally put to rest any thought of an early ride back home for the Cavaliers.

NO. 4 ALABAMA 90, NO. 13 HOFSTRA 70

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Labaron Philon Jr. scored 29 points and Alabama rallied from an early double-digit deficit to beat Hofstra in a first-round game in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament.

The Crimson Tide (24-9) advanced to a second-round matchup against fifth-seeded Texas Tech (23-10), a 20-point winner over 12th-seeded Akron in the earlier first-round game at Benchmark International Arena.

Alabama ended the opening half on a 19-7 run to wipe out a 10-point deficit, then built its own lead to 13 before Hofstra (24-11) mounted one last push for a possible upset.

Freshman Preston Edmead had 24 points for the Pride, and his basket pulled the Pride within 67-62 with just over seven minutes remaining. Victory Onuetu’s dunk trimmed Alabama’s lead to 69-64 and ignited much of a crowd of 17,769 that threw its support behind the underdogs.

Philon was simply too much down the stretch, though, delivering a layup and a long 3-pointer during a surge that enabled Alabama to rebuild the lead to double digits. Taylor Bol Bowen put an exclamation point on the Crimson Tide response with two dunks and a 3-pointer as the lead ballooned to 20.

NO. 5 TEXAS TECH 91, NO. 12 AKRON 71

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Jaylen Petty scored 24 points, Christian Anderson added 18 and Texas Tech beat Akron in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Red Raiders (23-10) will face fourth-seeded Alabama in the second round in the Midwest Region on Sunday.

Playing without All-America guard JT Toppin, who tore the ACL in his right knee last month, Texas Tech got double-figure scoring from five players.

Josiah Moseley had 16 points, Donovan Atwell scored 15 and LeJuan Watts added 14.

Amani Lyles led Akron with 26 points and Shammah Scott had 20.

Akron (29-6) became first team to win the Mid-American Conference Tournament three straight years. But the Zips again failed to reach the second round in their eighth March Madness appearance.

Petty and Atwell opened the second half with consecutive 3-pointers to give Texas Tech an 11-point lead.

Akron got within 64-60 midway through second after Eric Mahaffey scored on a layup and made a free throw to complete a 3-point play. But the Zips couldn’t get any closer.

NO. 6 TENNESSEE 78, NO.11 MIAMI (OHIO) 56

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ja’Kobi Gillespie hit six 3-pointers and scored 29 points as Tennessee ended a fabulous season for Miami (Ohio) with a win.

The Vols (23-11) shook off a rough end to the season — losing four of six games — and advanced to play third-seeded Virginia on Sunday in the Midwest Region.

Gillespie hit five 3s in the first half to help the Vols push ahead by 20 and squash any chance the 11th-seeded RedHawks (31-2) could carry over the confidence gained from their First Four win and pull off a signature victory.

The Vols did just about everything right and showed again why — no matter the seed — they are a perennial threat to go deep in March. Led by Gillespie, the Vols made 12 of 19 shots to start the game, including long 3s and 20 quick points in the paint.

Just to add one more gut punch to Miami, Ethan Burg hit a 3 at the first-half buzzer for a 51-32 lead.

Gillespie passed up a chance to score 30 points — only two other Vols have ever reached that mark in the NCAA Tournament — when he drove the lane with 1:13 left but skipped the open look and threw a lob to Felix Okpara for the bucket.

J.P. Estrella had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Vols.

Peter Suder was the lone Miami player in double digits with 27 points.

WEST REGION

No. 1 ARIZONA 92, NO. 16 LIU POST 58

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Brayden Burries hit four 3-pointers while scoring 18 points, Koa Peat added 15 points and top-seeded Arizona opened its NCAA Tournament run with a over Long Island on Friday.

Ivan Kharchenkov had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Big 12 regular-season and tournament champion Wildcats (33-2), who quickly showed why they’re the tournament’s second overall seed behind Duke.

Pushing the pace on offense and stifling the Sharks with defense, Arizona went up by double digits in the opening minutes and led the Sharks by 27 in the first half while delighting the thousands of fans who filled Viejas Arena with red.

Arizona will return Sunday to face the winner of Villanova’s meeting with Utah State in the West Region bracket.

NO. 9 UTAH STATE 86, NO.8 VILLANOVA 76

SAN DIEGO (AP) — MJ Collins’ steal and emphatic one-handed slam dunk with 1:13 left gave him 20 points and Utah State opened its fourth straight NCAA Tournament by beating Villanova.

Mason Falslev, the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, scored 22 and helped bring the Aggies back from a 10-point deficit early in the second half.

Utah State (29-6), the No. 9 seed in the West Region, will play No. 1 seed Arizona in the second round on Sunday. The Wildcats beat No. 16 Long Island 92-58 on Friday.

Collins converted a three-point play with 2:53 left to give the Aggies a 78-73 lead. After No. 8 seed Villanova (24-9) committed a five-second inbound violation, Falslev fed Collins for a layup and an 80-73 lead. Collins intercepted a pass by Bryce Lindsay and went in for his slam for an 84-74 lead.

Lindsay made six 3-pointers and scored 25 points for Villanova. Duke Brennan and Tyler Perkins added 15 points apiece.

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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles: Luis Gil vs. Zach Eflin

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees smiles before a spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 26, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Captain is back! Aaron Judge has returned to Yankees camp after taking Team USA agonizingly close to winning the WBC, ultimately falling to Venezuela in the final. He rejoins in time for one of their final five spring tune-ups, the Yankees rolling out something close to their Opening Day lineup tonight against the Orioles.

Luis Gil makes his sixth start of what has been an up-and-down spring for the 27-year-old rotation hopeful. He looked decent enough in his first four outings, allowing four runs (three earned) in 11.1 innings (2.38 ERA), albeit while still not looking like his 2024 self in terms of stuff. He then got shelled for seven runs on three home runs in three innings last time out against the Tigers. He and Ryan Weathers have looked the shakiest of the Yankees’ starters this spring, though the team recently locked Weathers into the rotation to start the year. In 11 starts after returning from a lat injury last year, Gil went 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA (123 ERA+), 4.63 FIP, and 41 strikeouts in 57 innings.

Zach Eflin re-signed with the Orioles in December after missing the final two months of last season due to lower back surgery. He had a 5.93 ERA prior to the procedure and looked a shadow of the Rays righty who quickly excelled for the Orioles post-deadline in 2024. Things were going well for him last Sunday against the Yankees, with a pair of strikeouts in each of the first two scoreless frames, but rain brought a premature end to that game shortly thereafter.

I suspect we’ll be seeing a lot of today’s Yankees lineup to start the regular season with most if not all of their starters in. Giancarlo Stanton has been tearing the cover off the baseball this spring and can hopefully carry that momentum into the start of the season. Ryan McMahon continues to get reps at short meaning Oswaldo Cabrera starts at third, while the only change from the projected Opening Day lineup (aside from José Caballero at the six with McMahon at third) sees J.C. Escarra replace Austin Wells behind the plate this evening.

The Orioles lineup meanwhile is missing several of its regulars, Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg out with injury and Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman on the bench. Offseason acquisitions Taylor Ward and Pete Alonso bat leadoff and third, respectively. Top prospects Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo have been raking this spring and look to have forced their way into the Opening Day lineup conversation.

How to watch

Location: George M. Steinbrenner Field — Tampa, FL

First pitch: 6:35 pm ET

TV broadcast: Gotham Sports App

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660 AM, WBAL 1090 AM

Online stream: Gotham Sports App

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