Despite goals from Gridin, Blake Coleman and Yegor Sharangovich, the Flames couldn’t overcome an early deficit and a pair of quick third-period strikes from Washington.
Washington wasted little time opening the scoring. Just 2:46 into the first period, Cooley stopped an initial shot but the rebound bounced straight to Hendrix Lapierre, who quickly snapped it home to make it 1–0.
The Capitals doubled their lead midway through the frame. After sustained pressure in the Calgary zone, a loose puck slid to the side of the net where Tom Wilson gathered it and wired a shot into the top corner at 9:13.
Washington added one more before the intermission. Justin Sourdif won a battle along the boards and fed Connor McMichael alone in the slot. McMichael ripped a shot past Cooley at 17:43, sending the Capitals to the dressing room with a 3–0 advantage.
Calgary mounted an impressive response in the middle period.
Gridin got the Flames on the board after a crisp passing play. Olli Maatta moved the puck to Ryan Strome, who slid a cross-ice feed to Gridin for a one-timer that beat Logan Thompson.
Late in the period, the Flames struck twice while shorthanded.
First, Mikael Backlund intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and sprung Coleman on a breakaway. Coleman made a smooth backhand-to-forehand move before tucking the puck past Thompson at 17:39.
Still killing the same penalty, Calgary tied the game moments later. Joel Farabee chased down a loose puck deep in the Washington end and set up Sharangovich trailing into the slot. Sharangovich buried the chance at 18:55, recording the sixth-fastest shorthanded goal in franchise history and sending the game into the second intermission tied 3–3.
Capitals Regain Control
The third period swung back in Washington’s favour.
On a power play at 10:52, a scramble in front of the Calgary net led to McMichael collecting a loose puck and roofing his second goal of the night to restore the Capitals’ lead.
Just 23 seconds later, Washington struck again. Sourdif forced a turnover and fired a shot that deflected off traffic in front and into the net, giving the Capitals a two-goal cushion.
Ethan Frank added an empty-net goal at 17:14 and then a breakaway goal from Ryan Leonard (19:44) sealed the 7–3 win for Washington.
Calgary’s two quick shorthanded goals completely shifted the momentum in the second period, but Washington responded with two goals just 23 seconds apart in the third — a sequence that ultimately proved to be the difference.
Apr 2, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) shoots over Atlanta Hawks forward Georges Niang (20) during the first half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Timing is important in the NBA. Teams that are and aren’t playoff-bound are fairly easy to discern after about 20 to 30 regular-season games. Who is and isn’t a contender is also largely well known by about the same point. There’s jostling for seeding and homecourt advantage, but what’s important for teams looking to make some postseason noise is that, come May, the team is healthy and playing its best basketball. Atlanta looks to be fulfilling those two dependencies, which is not great for a Dallas team trying to halt a seven-game losing streak.
Dallas, at least, can check one of those boxes; they’re heading into Tuesday’s game with as clean of an injury report as they’ve had in some time. Dallas’ young core, Cooper Flagg, Ryan Nembhard, and Max Christie, will all be available to play against a team in Atlanta, with players like Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, and Dyson Daniels. It’s a matchup that, if nothing else, is perhaps aspirational, as the Hawks’ youth movement is gelling post-deadline, and has the Hawks, who are 7-and-3 over their last 10 games, fighting to break out of the Play-In Tournament and reach the 6th seed in the East.
No Trae, no problem
Atlanta has hit the ground running in their post-Trae era. Literally. Despite trading a player in Young who is nothing if not a high-pace, high-firepower offensive engine, Atlanta is playing with the second-highest pace in the league over the last 10 games.
Their up-tempo playstyle has the Hawks scoring the fifth-most points per game over that span, averaging nearly 119 per contest. No team in the league has generated more possessions than Atlanta has, and their sixth-best assist percentage indicates that it’s not just playing fast, but also unselfishly and with an ability to move the ball.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, Dyson Daniels, and Jalen Johnson are all averaging more than four assists per game over the Hawks’ 7-and-3 stretch. Dallas has just two such players in Cooper Flagg and Brandon Williams.
Best foot forwards
Both lineups will feature future stars at the forward position for both of these teams. For Dallas, obviously there’s Flagg, and for Atlanta, Jalen Johnson has become a do-it-all style player who is filling up the box score. Johnson is leading his team in points, rebounds, and assists, averaging 22.9/10.5/7.9. He’s behind only Nikola Jokic (though by a wide margin) for players with the most triple-doubles this season, with 11.
Flagg is still searching for his first triple-double (He’s had double-digit assists just once this season, 11 against the Lakers in November), but with the team fully focused on his development since trading Anthony Davis, the light couldn’t be greener for him to have the ball in his hands as much as is feasibly possible. Especially as coach Jason Kidd has made getting Flagg reps as the lead ball handler this season a point of focus for his rookie development.
Board battle
The Hawks have been voracious on the board recently. Their rebound rate is 54%, which trails only the Celtics, and they have the seventh-best offensive rebound rate.
The Mavericks and Hawks are roughly equal when it comes to second-chance points scored, with Dallas at 14.7 to Atlanta’s 14.4 points. However, the Mavs are allowing opposing teams to score 16 points on second-chance points, while the Hawks allow just 10.7.
Daniel Gafford and Dwight Powell will have their work cut out for them to prevent the Hawks from crashing the boards and tilting those numbers even further in their favor. With how Dallas’ offense has looked recently, giving up easy second-chance buckets wouldn’t bode well for the team.
How to watch/listen
You can watch the game at 6:30 pm on KFAA Channel 29 or MAVS TV (streaming), or listen at 97.1FM KEGL (English), and 99.1FM KFZO (Spanish).
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — Thomas Dowd finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds, and regular-season champion Troy ended the five-day run of No. 10 seed Georgia Southern with a 77-61 victory in the championship game of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Monday night.
Dowd made 8 of 12 shots with two 3-pointers and 5 of 6 free throws for the Trojans (22-11), who earned a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament and their fourth overall.
Georgia Southern (21-16) became the fourth team to win five games in five days in a conference tournament — joining N.C. State (2024, ACC) and Connecticut (2011, Big East). North Carolina did it in 1922 and 1925 while members of the Southern Conference.
Jerrell Bellamy scored 15 on 7-for-11 shooting for Troy. Victor Valdes added 12 points and six assists, and Cobi Campbell scored 11.
Spudd Webb had 16 points to pace the Eagles, and Tyren Moore scored 10 on 3-for-11 shooting with two 3-pointers. Nakavieon White added 11 points off the bench.
Dowd had 13 points by halftime to help the Trojans build a 38-25 advantage. Georgia Southern missed 18 of 26 shots overall and 12 of 16 from 3-point range in the first half.
Moore hit a 3-pointer to begin the game, but Dowd had a layup and Bellamy followed with a dunk and Troy never trailed again.
Georgia Southern has made three NCAA Tournament appearances, none since 1992.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Cooper Bowser had 21 points and 11 rebounds as No. 6 seed Furman beat top-seeded East Tennessee State 76-61 on Monday night to secure the Southern Conference Tournament and a NCAA Tournament bid.
Furman (22-12) won its eighth SoCon title in program history and first since defeating Chattanooga in 2023.
Tom House added 13 points off the bench for Furman and Alex Wilkins, who scored a career-high 34 to help rally from an 11-point halftime deficit in the semifinals, scored 12. Bowser was 9 of 12 from the field to help the Paladins shoot 51%.
Brian Taylor II scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half for ETSU (23-11), which was in the title game for the second time in three seasons. Blake Barkley added 14 points and Jaylen Smith had 10.
House made Furman's sixth 3-pointer of the first half to extend the lead to 37-27 with four minutes left. The Paladins led 42-35 at the break.
Wilkins' steal and fast-break dunk extended Furman's lead to 72-61 with 2:11 left and Bowser added a hook shot in the lane on their next possession for a 13-point lead.
ETSU went 2 of 7 from the field over the final five minutes to halt a comeback attempt. The Buccaneers finished 3 of 16 from 3-point range and 10 of 18 at the free-throw line.
The Buccaneers were trying for their first NCAA bid since 2020.
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 9: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 9, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers handled their business against a shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers team that was missing their four best players. The Cavs took the lead at the end of the first quarter, stretched the advantage to 25 in the third, and settled for a 115-105 victory.
This was a complete team victory. The Cavs had six players finish in double figures, led by James Harden, who scored his 29,000th career point.
Harden set the tone. He controlled the offense, got his teammates involved, and found ways to score himself. He provided a team-high 21 points on 6-11 shooting with five assists.
Evan Mobley had another solid game. The pick-and-roll partnership with Harden is still a work-in-progress, but games like today show that there is a way that this duo can work together, even if he isn’t the typical big man you’d pair with Harden.
Mobley finished with 15 points on 7-12 shooting with eight rebounds and three blocks.
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Donovan Mitchell wasn’t his usual efficient self from the floor. He shot 4-11, but was able to make up for it by going 9-9 at the free-throw line. He had 17 points, six assists, and two steals in the win.
The other Cavaliers that finished in double figures scoring were Keon Ellis (19 points), Dean Wade (13 points), and Jaylon Tyson (11 points).
The Sixers were led by Quintin Grimes’s 17 points on 6-13 shooting.
There isn’t a whole lot to take from a game like this. The Sixers weren’t close to having their usual rotation players, and it very much looked that way. There weren’t many ways they could actually challenge the Cavs.
It is, however, worth pointing out that the Cavs didn’t take this game lightly. They approached it as they should’ve, didn’t suffer a letdown from yesterday’s emotional loss, and played up to their skill level.
The Cavs will be back in action on Wednesday when they hit the road to take on the Orlando Magic. Tip-off is at 7:30 PM.
The Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star guard has now scored at least 20 points in 126 consecutive games, tying the NBA record set by Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain. Gilgeous-Alexander tied the mark during the Thunder's game against the Denver Nuggets Monday, March 9.
It’s yet another indicator of Gilgeous-Alexander’s remarkable consistency and dominance. Gilgeous-Alexander, the 2024-25 NBA Most Valuable Player, entered the night ranked second in the league in scoring, at 31.6 points per game.
Gilgeous-Alexander, 27, set the record in the third quarter, on a stepback 3-pointer that he rattled through the net.
He got off to a quick start, making his first four shot attempts of the game. The Thunder are down three starters in the game, with Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain), Chet Holmgren (flu) and Isaiah Hartenstein (left calf contusion) all sidelined. That meant that Gilgeous-Alexander had to take on a greater role in the team’s offense.
Through the first quarter, aside from Gilgeous-Alexander and backup guard Ajay Mitchell, who combined to go 10-of-13 from the field, the rest of the Thunder started the game just 4-of-14 (28.6%) from the floor.
Gilgeous-Alexander will now have the chance to set the NBA record Thursday, March 12 in a game against the Boston Celtics (Amazon Prime).
Max Fried struck out six batters and looked solid in four innings of work, but the Yankees fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-3, in Grapefruit League action on Monday night in Tampa.
Here are the takeaways…
- Fried had a 1-2-3 first, blowing a 3-2, 95 mph fastball past Henry Davis, one of the Pirates' most promising young prospects, to close the frame. The lefty got two more strikeouts in the second, the first on ABS overturn on a changeup that clipped the bottom of the zone, and the other on a 95 mph fastball off the outside corner.
After retiring the first seven, Fried allowed a lofted single into right field, but he got out of the frame, adding another strikeout swinging, this time on a down-and-in slider. The lefty needed 17 pitches for a clean fourth with two more strikeouts.
Fried got stung to start the fifth when Endy Rodriguez took a 2-2 slider on the inside corner and snuck it over the wall in left despite a leaping effort from DukeEllis for a 386-foot homer. Fried faced one more batter and got ahead 0-2, before a PitchCom issue led to a throwaway ball as the lefty tossed it 50.1 mph and nowhere near the plate to avoid a pitch clock violation. After throwing a 95 mph fastball and getting a foul ball, Aaron Boone yanked the starter in the middle of the at-bat.
His final line: 4.0 innings, two hits, one run, no walks, and six strikeouts on 67 pitches (42 for strikes), and he looked much sharper than he did in his previous outing. Fried's average velocity and average spin rate were down on all of his pitches from last year's average last season, but this is just his second outing of the spring and he will likely make at least two more before being New York’s Opening Day starter, which Boone officially confirmed after the game.
- Giancarlo Stanton put a great swing on a hanging cutter that was right over the plate and socked it 424 feet (109.5 mph off the bat) for a tremendous home run to lead off the second inning. Stanton laced a single his last time up, 115.3 mph to left, to finish his day 2-for-3 with two exceptionally loud hits.
- Cody Bellinger, after grounding out his first time up, smacked a 2-0 fastball at the top of the zone for an RBI double to plate the Yanks' third run of the game. He just missed the homer, hitting it 392 feet off the wall (103 mph). Playing right on the day, he finished 1-for-3.
- Oswaldo Cabrera, in his second game of the spring and back from a gruesome injury last season, hit one hard into the left field corner his first time up, but Pittsburgh’s blank made a nice running grab. He finished the day 0-for-2.
- Paul DeJong, who joined the Yanks this offseason on a minor league deal, got a 2-1 fastball at the top of the zone and clobbered it for a 375-foot homer down the left-field line. It was a loud homer, 105.9 mph off the bat. He finished the day 1-for-3.
- Randal Grichuk made his first appearance of spring training on a minor league deal. He went 0-for-2 with a flyout and a groundout while playing left field.
- Ryan McMahon and Ben Rice each went 0-for-3 at the plate
- Trent Grisham had a single in three at-bats, finishing the night 1-for-3.
- Jake Bird had a tough bit of luck as he looks to try and make the roster. After entering the game in the 5th with a 2-2 count, he walked the first batter and then got hit with bad luck when a strikeout was whipped away by a catcher's interferene putting two men on. After a strikeout and a fielder's choice, the lefty walked the next man before allowing a two-run double to left off Konnor Griffin's bat as a sweeper got the center of the plate.
He threw 21 pitches (12 strikes) while getting just two outs and allowing two runs.
- Ahead of the game, the Yanks announced they had optioned outfielder Spencer Jones and right-hander Elmer Rodriguez to minor league camp.
The Yankees head over to Clearwater to face the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. Right-hander Luis Gil is set to make the start for New York.
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 9: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 9, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Another 0-4 season series against an Eastern Conference opponent — that’s not exactly ideal.
The hospital Sixers were handled a 115-101 loss by the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday night.
They are 34-30, the eighth seed in the East and now a game and a half back from the sixth.
Quentin Grimes led the Sixers with 17 points shooting 6-of-13 from the floor. James Harden led all scorers with 21.
The Sixers were only down Tyrese Maxey (finger strain), Joel Embiid (oblique strain), Paul George (suspension) and VJ Edgecombe (lumbar contusion).
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
The start was about what you’d expect from the Sixers’ side. Adem Bona’s first two attempts of the night were thwarted. Grimes’ first drive ended with a pass sailed into the second row, but the guard went on to knock down his first two threes of the night off the catch. Cleveland opened the game just as cold as their game the day before, missing eight of their first 10 attempts.
The Sixers held an early lead thanks to some hustle plays like Cam Payne’s putback layup and turning a blocked jumper into a transition opportunity. Harden hit his first three before having one blocked. He also got four from the line and was the only source of points in the early going.
On the other end it was a struggle from the stripe, with Dominick Barlow and Tyrese Martin each missing their first two foul shots to start the night. Both Martin and Dalen Terry got early minutes with Barlow and Oubre getting in early foul trouble. Martin somehow made a nice recovery block on a Jalen Tyson layup attempt, but Tyson drilled a corner three at the buzzer to make it a six-point Cavs lead after one. The Sixers went the last 3:05 of the quarter without a field goal.
Second Quarter
Justin Edwards was also on the floor early, getting on the board with a midrange pull-up before trying a deep three of the catch. The two-ways all ended up with short shifts, with Martin and MarJon Beauchamp combining for three ugly turnovers. The Cavs’ offense — DonovanMitchell specifically — took advantage with drive after drive.
Bona got rolling, quite literally in fact, having two nice finishes at the rim being set up by Grimes and Payne. Grimes himself found success getting to the hoop after missing three straight threes. The occasional bucket in the post hardly kept up with the Cavs’ offense coming alive.
At least that’s how it looked like compared to the Sixers shooting 22% from three in the half. Cleveland only shot 33% from beyond the arc, but eight more attempts certainly helped them take a 12-point lead into the half. Payne hasn’t given the Sixers the shooting boost since coming over from Europe so far, coming into the night shooting 18% from three in his return. He finally got one to go with 30 seconds left in the half after missing his first five attempts.
Third Quarter
Bona had another exciting dunk, but his hands problem was on full display, struggling to corral a rebound and a wild turnover trying to get somewhere with his dribble. Harden seemed intent on putting the game away quickly, setting up a couple teammates for threes after nailing one himself.
The broadcast kept mentioning how the Sixers had as many or more made field goals than the Cavs. They rightly attributed that to free throws, but again the three-point disparity was very much on display. Cleveland had only made two more field goals but had made nine more threes as they coasted to a 21-point lead.
Fourth Quarter
It was at least nice to see Terry have a nice little sequence. He pulled down an offensive rebound and kicked it out for a three before stealing the ensuing inbounds pass and knocked down a three of his own. He drove and found Jabari Walker for a corner three a few possessions later.
A rotation note is that Walker had only played a couple minutes in the first half, perhaps a shot to the head ending that shift prematurely. If that was the case it didn’t make much sense in putting him out there. If he had been good to go he probably should have played more minutes before this point in the game.
It didn’t take long for Terry, Edwards and Walker to nearly double the team’s made three-pointers on the night, but that was hardly enough to keep the lead under 20 points. It’s been fitting seeing players who were added by teams that did some cost cutting at the deadline play well against the Sixers such as Jose Alvarado back in mid-February. Keon Ellis dropped 19 points in this one shooting 5-of-9 from the floor.
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jesús Luzardo works out during spring training
The Phillies made sure Jesús Luzardo isn’t going anywhere.
The team locked up the 28-year-old lefty on a five-year, $135 million contract extension on Monday, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed.
Luzardo was set to become a free agent at the end of the 2026 season after coming over in a deal with the Marlins before this past season.
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jesús Luzardo works out during spring training AP
Luzardo, whose fastball hits around 97 mph to go with a dominant slider, acquitted himself well during his first year in Philadelphia, going 15-7 with a 3.92 ERA with 216 strikeouts in 183.2 innings.
His career-high 216 Ks were second in the NL behind the Giants’ Logan Webb.
He gives the defending NL East champions a formidable top-three in the rotation, joining Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sanchez as the team looks to win the World Series for the first time since 2008.
Wheeler, 35, is a bit of a wild card coming off thoracic outlet surgery, leaving Luzardo as important insurance, despite his own injury history with elbow and back issues early in his career.
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jesús Luzardo throws out Los Angeles Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez at first during the fourth inning in Game 2 of baseball’s National League Division Series, Oct. 6, 2025. AP
The Phillies are Luzardo’s third stop during his career after being drafted by the Nationals in 2019, having made his big league debut with the Athletics in 2019 before three-plus seasons in Miami, where he went 21-28 with a 4.15 ERA and 1.231 WHIP over 74 starts.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 9: Seth Curry #31 of the Golden State Warriors watches a shot drop during warmups before their game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on March 9, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s something poetic about this. Steph Curry, the greatest shooter in NBA history, is watching from the bench while his little brother Seth laces up for the Golden State Warriors tonight against the Utah Jazz. Three months removed from a left sciatic nerve issue that’s kept him sidelined since December 4th, Seth Curry makes his return for what is technically his third appearance in a Warriors uniform this season.
Two sons of Dell Curry. One family legacy built on the art of putting the ball through the net.
And right now, with Steph still nursing his knee, the Warriors need the other one badly.
Seth Curry is officially making his return tonight for the Warriors @NBCSWarriors
This will be his third game of the season and first since Dec. 4 after missing the last three months to left sciatic nerve irritation
Seth’s sample size this season is microscopic but encouraging: 7.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, shooting 66.7 percent from the field and 50 percent from three in two games back in December. That’s not a projection. That’s not a trend. But it IS a sharpshooting guard on a team that has been scrapping for consistent perimeter shooting while running its “Communist Ball” offense through youth and collective will.
The timing matters. The Warriors’ shooting depth is stretched thin. Seth Curry arriving tonight isn’t just a heartwarming family subplot. Rather, it’s a necessary basketball injection.
We spent all offseason talking about the “Splash Brothers 2.0” narrative when Golden State signed Seth. The blood version of a legacy pairing that helped redefine how the NBA plays basketball. Dub Nation started daydreaming about Steph and Seth running off screens together, surgical and inevitable. The injury report had other plans. But tonight, at least one son of Dell is back.
And in a season that has tested the faith of every Warriors fan repeatedly, that’s worth something.
As the Sun Belt’s No. 10 seed, the Eagles would need to win six games in six days to secure one of those precious auto bids that unlock NCAA Tournament access for super Cinderellas, no matter their record.
A conference 10-seed, becoming a bid-stealer? That really would be mad, but, hey, this is March.
The way the Sun Belt’s “Flying V” bracket works, teams with double-digit seeds like Georgia Southern face a rigorous journey to reach the point of the “V,” the finals, while the conference’s best teams start several rounds closer to the finish line.
The NCAA Tournament starts next week, and mid-majors supply the event's charm and paint some of the most epic scenes for Luther Vandross to croon over. Real ones know, though, the upsets and the mad twists begin in the conference tourneys, where precious NCAA access is on the line, even for teams with damaged records and flawed resumes.
One by one, night by night, Georgia Southern carved through Old Dominion, Arkansas State, South Alabama, Coastal Carolina and Marshall.
Down went Sun Belt’s No. 3 seed. Out went the No. 2.
One more upset, and the Eagles wouldn't just be soaring, they'd be dancing.
And you can say they ran out of steam, and that’d probably be right. Or you can say they simply ran into the Sun Belt’s best team, and that’d be right, too.
However you put it, super Cinderella bowed out. The Sun Belt’s No. 1 seed, Troy, is headed to the NCAA Tournament for a second straight year after a 77-61 victory to turn back Georgia Southern.
"We wanted to make it six, man," Georgia Southern coach Charlie Henry said. "We really did."
How to describe playing six games in six nights?
"It's legendary," Georgia Southern guard Tyren Moore said. "It didn't end the way that we wanted it to, but I'm still proud."
Troy beating Georgia Southern makes NCAA Tournament bracket better
This result works neatly for the Sun Belt, that its best team will be on display on the sport's biggest stage. Troy is likely headed somewhere in the direction of the 14-seed line, after its frontcourt dominated in the paint against the Eagles.
"We won it with defense and rebounding and toughness," Troy coach Scott Cross said.
And with fresher legs, too, a benefit of Troy winning the Sun Belt's regular-season crown and securing the top seed.
It’s good for March Madness when the best teams in mid-major conferences win their respective conference tournaments. That means a better batch of underdogs.
And, still, what a story it would have been — a story that can only be told in March — if Georgia Southern had gotten a crack at playing a No. 1 or a No. 2 seed in a first-round game after a six-night stand in this Panhandle city that’s home to the world-famous Blue Angels and pristine beaches with sugar-white sand.
Georgia Southern came out of halftime burying buckets in a furious final stand that cut Troy’s lead to four points. Ah, but it wasn’t to be, and when Troy’s star big man Victor Valdes made a bucket in the paint to re-establish a double-digit lead, it was clear the postgame Fiskers were headed to the Trojans to do the net snipping.
March Madness expansion is coming, but not to help mid-majors
NCAA Tournament expansion probably is coming for us, not because fans want it or because deserving teams are being left out of the bracket. Expansion is coming because the Power-conference power brokers want to rescue the 10th- and 12th-place teams from the mega conferences they created.
No matter whether the bracket grows to 72 or 76 or even 80 teams, it’s not going to be big enough for 10th-place teams from the Sun Belt.
For teams like Georgia Southern, there’s still only one way in: By banging down the door with six wins in six nights and getting an auto bid.
And in those rare instances when a super Cinderella pulls it off, it’ll be madness, the likes of which Georgia Southern attempted, before Troy took its rightful place in the tournament every mid-major pains to reach.
Aaron Judge, who silences crowds when he steps into the box and makes all the noise in the world with his bat, showed off his defense in the top of the third inning of the United States' 5-3 win over Mexico in the World Baseball Classic on Monday night in Houston.
Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes retired the first eight batters of the game and looked to be cruising. That was until Joey Ortiz reached on an error by second baseman Brice Turang, and when Jarren Duran smacked a single to right, it looked like Mexico had something cooking.
The Yankees' star had other ideas as he unleashed a perfect throw to nail Ortiz at third base, ending the threat before it began and the inning. A throw that put memories of last season's elbow injury solidly in the rearview mirror.
But Judge wasn't done dazzling in the third.
Following Bryce Harper reaching on an infield single, Judge got a 2-1 slider on the outside corner from Jesus Cruz and drove it the other way for a 364-foot two-run home run that just got over the short right field wall. The ball didn't go as far as Roman Anthony's 417-foot three-run shot a few batters later, but it was a solid shot with a 101.5 mph exit velocity.
The Yanks' slugger, and reigning back-to-back American League MVP, singled in his first at-bat and finished the night 2-for-3 with two walks and two RBI.
Earlier in the tournament, Judge blasted a 405-foot homer in his first at-bat of the WBC against Brazil.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 6: Kade Anderson #13 of the Seattle Mariners throws a pitch during a Spring Training game against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium on March 6, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Kade Anderson’s fastball is neither fast nor shapely, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t good.
Anderson’s first two outings this Spring have been somewhat controversial. He’s earned rave reviews from the Mariners and the media, but the underlying data has lagged behind. Public “stuff” models are somewhat skeptical of his arsenal, and his vaunted fastball appears especially disappointing. Here’s a snapshot from Thomas Nestico, whose website I highly recommend for exploring pitching data:
Stuff+ is statement on the physical properties of a pitch, where 100 is average and higher is better. It takes a bunch of data points—velocity, spin, movement, etc.—and estimates the effect of those characteristics on performance. In broad strokes, it works very well, and there’s a reason both public-facing analysts and teams invest in these models. Andrés Muñoz is the Mariners all-time leader in Stuff+, if that helps paint the picture.
Anderson’s fastball so far grades at 91 by tjStuff+, Nestico’s version of the model. (I’m not picking on Nestico here. His just happens to be one of the few models available for Spring, and again, I really enjoy playing around in his website.) For reference, that’s about 10% below league average and would be one of the lesser four-seam grades in MLB. He’s only thrown 28 fastballs—another element of this discourse to keep in mind—but we can see why the models are unimpressed: it’s not very fast. His average four-seamer of 93.4 mph would be below average by MLB standards, and you don’t need fancy statistics to tell you more velocity is good.
The “shape” (or vertical and horizontal movement) of the pitch is also not unique. Great fastballs come in all shapes and sizes, and nothing about Anderson’s movement profile prevents it from being a highly effective pitch. But his fastball doesn’t exhibit the traditional top-rail four-seamer rise to coax whiffs at the letters, nor the bowling ball quasi-sinker that can plop down in the zone. From the perspective of these models, it’s just kind of… generic.
Again, none of this is disqualifying. Plenty of great pitchers have a lesser, nondescript fastball—some pitchers don’t even throw a fastball. But the concern here is Anderson was billed as having a remarkable fastball. FanGraphs, for instance, gave it a 70 grade on the traditional scouting scale. That’s hard to square with what we’re seeing in these models, even in small samples. If the fastball has indeed been overstated, it’s possible there’s some limit to his projection.
But as Nestico or anyone else developing these models will tell you: stuff isn’t everything. It doesn’t capture location, tunneling, and other matters of deception. As Brendan Gawloski noted in his report for FanGraphs, that’s a big part of what makes Anderson’s fastball an elite pitch:
His fastball sits 92-95 mph with vertical ride, and it plays up because his loose arm action hides it until the very last moment. It generated a whopping 35% miss rate in 2025. The way his fastball plays means Anderson’s command of it doesn’t have to be precise; it rides enough to evade barrels in the strike zone.
Jerry Dipoto offered a similar account when Kate Preusser asked him about it on Sunday. Anderson’s delivery naturally hides the ball from the batter until the last moment, Dipoto said. He throws from an unusually high arm slot for a lefty, while still getting solid extension down the mound. It’s just not a “look” batters see very often. Public models can’t capture that, Dipoto said.
And it’s not just Dipoto saying it. Mariners’ hitters have reported issues picking up the pitch in practice.
“It’s got some teeth on it,” Ryan Bliss said. “It’s spinny, it’s sneaky. It’s 93-94, but it feels like it’s 96-97. And he will throw it any time, he’ll throw any of his pitches any time for strikes, so you don’t know what’s coming. It’s an uncomfortable at-bat.”
And look, I’m not going to tell you that I, sitting here in my office, in my sweats, mustard still staining my fingers from lunch, can “see” even the weakest professional fastball. But yeah, I get how this pitch might appear out of nowhere from the perspective of a batter.
The other thing stuff models don’t capture? Arsenals. In addition to the fastball, Anderson throws a slider, changeup and curveball. Each of these pitches grades a more favorably by stuff models, and each gets the same boost from his deceptive arm action. This is one thing we (and by we I mean people much smarter than me) are starting to model publicly, and it does appear to be a big factor in whether a pitch or pitcher is effective. When Anderson releases the ball, batters might expect the incoming pitch to move at four different speeds and in four different directions. They can’t cheat and sit on any one offering, and because of his hocus-pocus delivery, they can’t afford not to cheat. It’s a blender of deception that helps his velocity play up.
…. in theory. We have yet to see the sum of this deception in games that count. We have data telling us one thing, and we have the Mariners telling us another. That’s why there’s dissonance. But while I normally wouldn’t put stock in typical Spring Training chatter from the team, I certainly value action. And the Mariners, somewhat literally, put $8.8 million where their mouth is when they drafted him. That’s worth something, as Justin Hollander pointed out Monday.
“If the Seattle Mariners draft him third overall in the country, you can bet our models like him,” Hollander said.
That’s the strongest point in favor of Anderson’s fastball, in my opinion. To be clear, Kumar Rocker, Max Meyer, and Ian Anderson were also drafted third overall within the last decade, so it’s not quite ipso facto in the way Hollander asserts. But the Mariners are indeed a top five collection of pitching thinkers across the league, and (I’d argue) the best organization at knowing who to draft. They’re aware of the models, and they invested anyways.
This level of scrutiny isn’t entirely fair to Anderson. He is still a prospect after all and has yet to make a professional appearance outside these exhibitions. His stuff is not defined by 64 pitches in any setting, and a few outings while ramping up for the season aren’t representative of his current abilities. Regardless, he’s sure to get better with experience, whether we can measure it or not.
Still, the scrutiny isn’t quite misplaced. The hype heaped on Anderson has been pushed to rare levels, and the emphasis of the narrative is how fast he’s expected to move through the minors. The Mariners are trying to win a World Series this year, and there are legitimate questions about the depth of their rotation. It’s fair to wonder whether the team is serious about accelerating him, and whether he is ready for the jump. Is he now the sixth starter? Seventh? Eighth? I’m not sure. But my sense is Anderson, much like his fastball, will sneak up on us quick.
The Mets defeated the Miami Marlins 9-0 on Monday night at Clover Park.
New York has now won three straight to improve to 8-5 in Grapefruit League play.
Here are some takeaways...
- Tyrone Taylor has always been known for his defense, but he's been swinging a hot bat thus far in Grapefruit League play. The outfielder beat Marlins 3B Conor Norby down the line for an RBI double in the bottom of the first, giving him four XBH's and seven runs driven in on the spring.
- Slugging 1B/OF prospect Ryan Clifford followed that a few batters later with a well-struck two-out opposite-field two-run double to extend New York's early lead. The youngster has had a bit of a rough time at the plate so far in camp, but it was good to see him show the impressive pop he has in his pocket.
- The Mets struck again an inning later, as Carson Benge continued his strong spring. The youngster struck out on a Tyler Phillips curveball with two on in his first at-bat, but he made an adjustment his second time up, and laced the same pitch for an RBI triple into the left-center gap.
Benge worked the count full and drew a six-pitch walk his third time up, then did even more damage in his final plate appearance, going the other way with the bases loaded for a two-run single. The 23-year-old reached base three times and drove in three runs in another big night at the ballpark.
- Ronny Mauricio put together three tremendous at-bats as he battles to crack the Opening Day roster. He drew an eight-pitch walk from the left side leading off the bottom of the third, saw eight more pitches batting righty before reaching on an infield single in the bottom of the fifth, then laced an RBI double in the seventh pitch he saw in the sixth.
- With Brandon Waddell missing his start due to shoulder soreness, young Zach Thornton made his first career appearance in big-league camp. The left-hander opened his night on a high note, setting the top of the Marlins' lineup down in order on just eight pitches in the top of the first; however, the second wasn't as smooth.
Miami created some traffic and caused some havoc on the bases, as a Thornton throwing error on a pickoff attempt pushed two into scoring position, but he was able to dance his way out of danger. The 24-year-old then finished his night working around a two-out single in the top of the third.
Thornton allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out three over three scoreless innings.
- Craig Kimbrel gave up a leadoff single on the very pitch he threw, but quickly picked the runner off first. The veteran righty then needed just four more pitches to work through his third consecutive scoreless appearance since allowing a run his first time out this spring.
- Devin Williams had his signature Airbender in mid-season form as he struck out a pair in a perfect top of the fifth. Aside from the homer he allowed on the very first pitch he threw this spring, the new Mets closer has looked extremely sharp thus far in Grapefruit League play.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 25: Pitcher Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of a spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 25, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Diamondbacks are 7-5, fourth in the Cactus League, and still only the third best NL West team in the league. Preview of what’s to come?
James: While I never consider Cactus League indicative of anything remotely accurate to the regular season, I do still think AZ finishes 2026 in a battle for third or fourth.
Wesley: There’s very little correlation between a team’s performance in spring training and how they ultimately do in the regular season, although I also wouldn’t be surprised if they finish third or fourth anyway. I am actually somewhat encouraged by the performance of some of our young hitters. Seeing Jordan Lawlar, Tommy Troy, Ryan Waldschmidt, and Alek Thomas hit the cover off the ball this Spring should be a sign of encouragement, but it has to be taken with a massive grain of salt especially with Thomas and Lawlar’s previous offensive struggles.
Makakilo: The manager and coaches are looking at things that don’t show up in the box score, such as player skills, poise, and confidence. Three thoughts follow:
In the first 11 games, the offense scored an average of 6.5 runs per game. That encourages me to predict above average offense.
With four infielders who are excellent defenders (Arenado, Perdomo, Marte, and Santana) now playing WBC games, runs allowed are not predictive of the regular season.
Thru Saturday the 5-inning win-loss record would be 4-10-1, which is worse than their full-game win-loss record of 7-8. Nevertheless, my view is that 81 regular-season wins is the floor for the Diamondbacks.
Spencer: They keep a record of Cactus League results?
1AZfan1: Ha Spencer wins
How’s the unexpected fifth starter competition going? Any standouts to you so far? If the season started tomorrow, who gets the nod?
James: This is sort of a trick question for me. If Merrill Kelly is healthy enough to not miss more than the first run through the rotation, I don’t see much of a competition for fifth starter. Michael Soroka was never a serious rotation candidate, despite the narrative around his initial signing. If Soroka is in the rotation, someone is hurt long-term. That would be bad.
Wesley: I’m with James on this, it really depends on how many starts Merrill Kelly is likely to miss. Soroka has stood out to me for the wrong reasons, as he’s been awful so far this spring.
Spencer: Sadly I agree here. I think unlike with The Bum and The Full Monty, Rodriguez is guaranteed a rotation spot because he was actually a Hazen target and signing not a Kendrick splurge. I personally would rather have Soroka in there but he’s headed to the bullpen most likely. I think the only way that changes is if Pfaadt has a rough go and they choose to stash him in Reno for some reason. I put that option at 10% likelihood.
1AZfan1: Concur with the consensus. Soroka will be the odd man out if Kelly is healthy enough to start the year on the active roster.
Makakilo: The following is good news about Kelly:
“But, after throwing 26 pitches Thursday and feeling no discomfort Friday, Kelly may very well be able to open the season on the active roster and pitch at the backend of the rotation.” – Steve Gilbert, 6 March
On the flip side, who gets the ball on Opening Day 12 games in?
James: Unless Ryne Nelson turns into Brandon Webb between now and just under three weeks from now, the answer is Zac Gallen. It shouldn’t even really be a debate.
Wesley: Ryne Nelson has actually been better than his already solid performance this spring, but James is right, Gallen is the obvious answer here.
Makakilo: Last season, Ryne Nelson pitched better than Gallen (ERA 3.39 vs 4.83, FIP 3.73 vs 4.50). Therefore, Ryne Nelson is my choice.
Spencer: The concept that Opening Day Starter means something still confuses me. Whomever is ready and looks good will start. We play in LA. You can basically pencil in a loss already. So ERod or Pfaadt gets my vote.
1AZfan1: Nelson deserves it. He’s been our best starter for the past year and a half. Opening Day starter is largely ceremonial in my mind, so I could see the argument for Gallen getting the ball as he’s been the guy for the past 3 years. Torey has a valid excuse to delay Gallen’s start to the home-opening series, though. If this isn’t Nelly’s perfect opportunity (late start for Gallen and Kelly injury setback) then I don’t know what is.
Jurkison Profar will be serving his second PED suspension in 2 years. Is that a sign the program is working? Or do you feel it’s a sign that even more is happening we can’t see?
James: In this particular case, both. Overall, I think the system works as-is. While the system is far from perfect, it has the sort of teeth that clearly have had an effect.
Wesley: I think there’s a very real issue with medication/supplement labeling in Caribbean and Latin-American countries. There’s also the real issue of tainted/adulterated supplements being sold online as well. While I don’t think that either is applicable in Profar’s case, both are very real issues not being discussed, and MLB really needs to do a better job educating young players on “Maybe don’t take that sketchy supplement from a pharmacy back home” and “Don’t order cheap bulk supplements from a sketchy online retailer.”
Makakilo: There is reason to believe the program is working to reduce PEDs. Looking at this Wikipedia Website, suspensions of MLB players and former MLB players dropped from about 10 per year in 2020 to 2022, to about 6 per year in 2023-2025, with 3 so far in 2026.
An interesting point is that Profar had nothing to gain financially from using PEDs. His high-paying contract was good thru the 2027 season. That would be his age 34 season, which might have been his last season before retirement (and now it looks likely to be his last season before retirement).
Profar’s reaction after his first suspension (assuming it was unintentional per his statement at the time) should have been to consistently guard (and document) his intake of foods, vitamin supplements, and medicine to for-sure avoid a second suspension. Some people might have avoided anything that might have a risk, even if it hurt their health. And yet he is facing a second suspension. Why?
Spencer: Working. The league is actually testing people and following through on punishment. The list of PED users this decade is laughable. And Tatis showed a new generation just how good PEDs can make a player. Profar has proven how stupid players can be…
1AZfan1: I think that’s a really interesting point brought up by Wesley. Something worth looking into further for sure. General rule of thumb is that programs like these don’t catch every rule-breaker, but I still speculate that the program is working overall, though.
What’s your favorite Spring Training park?
James: Trick question. While I am torn between Scottsdale Stadium and SRF for favorite venue, my favorite place to attend an actual game is Tempe Diablo. If one arrives early to the game, there are shaded tables situated along the outfield concourse with individual seats. The view is great. Sitting in those seats allows stretching out. The shade is a massive boon. Also, the be girl is 8-10 feet away. My mattress and I regularly have purchased premium seats to enjoy the game (in case we couldn’t get one of those tables). We then don’t feel bad if we monopolize one of those tables for the duration. Without that loophole, Tempe Diablo needs a serious updating.
Wesley: The two spring training parks I’ve been to no longer host spring training games, ie Hi Corbett Field and Kino Ballpark. I can’t really answer the question honestly.
Makakilo: I, like Wesley, have been to games at Hi Corbett Field and Kino Ballpark. Also, many years ago, I went to Surprise Arizona. Because Surprise was a delightful adventure, and because spring training games happen there this season, my choice is Surprise Stadium.
Spencer: I have no idea what parks I attended as a kid living in Phoenix. So I’ll just say Peoria because it’s the only one I’m confident I went to. As I recall, most Spring Parks are nicer than Chase, but lackluster compared to most AAA/MLB parks around the country. I’m also told this has been changing since I left AZ in 2012.
Justin: Same as Wes. I think of the two, I preferred Hi Corbett. It’s an older ballpark, so maybe the old timey nostalgia feel. When the Sidewinders were still here, I would go to several games over the summer (yay living at my parents house still…) at Kino, versus maybe 1 game at Hi Corbett so that might add to it. 1AZfan1: I’ve only been to one Spring game in the past 20 or so years and that one trip to Salt River Fields was very nice. Baseball is generally a nostalgic pastime, though, so with that in mind, my absolute favorite Spring Training memory occurred at Peoria Sports Complex. I was thrilled to see my all-time favorite player, Ken Griffey Jr., launch a moonball to the top of the berm in right field in his first AB of the game. I was the happiest kid alive that day – except for maybe the kid who got that Griffey home run ball. So I’ll go with Peoria as my fave.
