In December, Cameron Green became the highest-paid international cricketer in Indian Premier League history, signed by the Kolkata Knight Riders for 25.2 crore, about AU$4.17 million.
Locking up the rotation is a good idea, right?
Cristopher Sanchez will be a member of the Phillies rotation until 2032.
Jesus Luzardo is at least under team control until 2032.
Aaron Nola will be in Philadelphia until 2030.
Zack Wheeler is only under contract for two more seasons including this one.
Andrew Painter is under control for six years.
The Phillies believe in paying for their starting rotation, especially when they believe the members of that starting rotation are worthy of higher compensation. How good they will continue to be at the end of those contracts remains to be seen, but you don’t pay players for the end of the contract. You pay them for the now and right now, the Phillies should feel secure in who they have together for the next few years.
There is a question though.
Unless there is some other nook and cranny in the ballpark that has yet to be commercialized, there is an end to the resources the team has to put into the team’s payroll. At some point, someone will say “Enough.” and not swim in the deeper waters of free agency. Yet they’ll continue to have a lot of those resources tied up in the rotation. Is that the wisest use of those resources?
On the one hand, the players that they have identified and extended are good! They’re worthy of being paid that much money because they are good pitchers. It’s not as though they are extending five Taijuan Walker-esque pitchers. Rather, they’re getting pitchers that are at, or near, the top of their vocation.
On the other hand, it’s a volatile position where perceived depth can evaporate as quickly as one thinks it can appear. Were something to happen to any of them, that’s a significant chunk of their payroll doing not a whole lot to bring back a return.
It’s definitely a good question, a good way to think about roster construction.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Phillies fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Viva El Birdos Podcast: Episode 57 – 2026 Season Preview with Matt Pauley
This week is exciting in Cardinals Nation for multiple reasons, with Opening Day being the most important element of it all. The Cardinals return to St. Louis on Thursday and will take on the Tampa Bay Rays to open the 2026 season. Gabe and I had the privilege of sitting down with Pre/Post Host for the Cardinals Radio Network, Matt Pauley. St. Louis listeners can hear him on 1120 KMOX AM/104.1 FM. Matt is also on from 5-6 PM Monday-Friday for “Rush Hour Sports.” On applicable nights, you can hear Matt on “Sports open line,” where listener calls drive the show, and Matt or whoever is hosting answers and expands on the sports topics asked.
Matt Pauley is one of the hardest-working people around the Cardinals sphere, and there aren’t many who are more in the know than he is. We covered SO MANY topics with Matt, who was very gracious with his time. Matthew Liberatore, Ivan Herrera, Nolan Gorman, Jordan Walker, Riley O’Brien, George Soriano, JJ Wetherholt, and more!
We have more exciting news to announce later this week regarding podcast-related content for this site, so stay tuned for that! As for the Viva El Birdos podcast, it was a welcome return to normalcy on this week’s episode, as we have been able to run past our tech issues and get back to a level of expectation that we had established previously, and hopefully will continue to grow and get better, much like the young pitchers in the minor leagues.
Contrite Paul George looking ahead as he returns from suspension
Since signing his max contract during the early stages of free agency in 2024, Paul George has been in uniform for just 68 games with the Sixers.
Even if George plays the remaining 10 games of the 2025-26 campaign, he won’t hit the 82-game mark over the course of two seasons combined. The nine-time All-Star’s tenure has been disappointing to say the least.
It’s been a trying two seasons for George as his body hasn’t allowed him to take the court as much as he’d like. Even when he’s been available, the 35-year-old has struggled to regain his form. Those frustrations culminated in George seeking help in the form of a banned substance to deal with the mental struggles of the last year-plus.
Now set to return from his 25-game suspension Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls, George came across contrite when speaking to reporters at the team’s practice facility Tuesday (h/t Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire for all quotes).
“I think first and foremost, just give my apology to, obviously, the city of Philadelphia,” George said in an opening statement. “My family, my teammates, the organization, everybody that was affected through this suspension.”
George was brought to the Sixers as the missing piece — a third star whose skills perfectly complemented those of former MVP Joel Embiid and rising star Tyrese Maxey. Expectations were sky high for a team that won 47 games the season prior, despite the James Harden saga lingering over the start of the year and another Embiid meniscus injury threatening to derail everything.
We all know it hasn’t worked out that way.
Between injuries to Embiid, George and seemingly everyone else on the roster over the past two seasons, the Sixers have been unable to coalesce in any meaningful way. Instead, we’ve seen spurts from certain players (or groups of players) which seem to inevitably end with an injury — or in the most recent case with George, a suspension.
The team seemed to be hitting its stride previously. Just two games prior to the news dropping, George hit a career-high and tied a franchise record with nine made threes in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks. He had another solid outing in a victory over the Sacramento Kings before the league handed down the suspension.
George’s body failing him led to issues mentally, which had him searching for ways to get better. In this instance, that search led to a poor choice.
So, after missing the last 25 games, where is George mentally and physically?
“I’m in a better place,” he told reporters. “Again, being a pro athlete, and the most difficult thing is when your body isn’t where you know it needs to be, or where it once was. That leads and bleeds into the mental side of things, knowing that you’re limited, but for me, if I feel good, my body is feeling great. Mentally, I know I’m capable of doing what I can do, and what I’ve been able to do on the court for years. So the mental thing only comes from the physical side not being in a great place.”
The Sixers, somewhat impressively considering it wasn’t only George who missed time, went 13-12 during the veteran forward’s absence. Though they fell into Play-In territory at 39-33, they’re just 1.5 games back of the Toronto Raptors for the fifth seed. Meaning with 10 games left, there’s time to get back into a guaranteed playoff spot.
When news of George’s suspension broke, the rose-colored glasses view was the time could be used for him to get his body right. Well, to hear George tell it, that time off did help his balky knee.
“I think I’m in a much better place physically,” he told reporters. “So, I’m, from a personal standpoint, really excited about that. These 25 games was just what I needed, I think, for my body to kind of heal, and be in a better place, and I’ve been feeling great. I’ve been feeling awesome on the court, and so I’m looking forward to putting it to the test now.”
One positive is that George was able to continue working out and practicing with the team during his suspension. Though he wasn’t allowed to participate in games, his teammates and coaches made sure he was still a part of things. George himself was able to stay in shape and get plenty of on-court work in.
Though he acknowledged there could be some rust initially, he should be all systems go.
“Obviously, I’ve done a ton of cardio, but you can never simulate a game,” he said. “So, I think more so than anything, it’s just gonna be the cardio that should come back fairly quick. But then just timing. Obviously, we try to simulate as much as possible game-like situations, but nothing’s like a game until you’re in it.”
George will be fully in it Wednesday night against the tanking Bulls.
And not a moment too soon for the Sixers.
Brewers acquire Jake Woodford in trade with Rays to fortify pitching staff
Just when it all seemed too easy, the Milwaukee Brewers shake things up. Entering the final exhibition game of the year before Opening Day on Thursday, the Brewers had 26 healthy players in camp. It seemed like the roster was set and there would be no more drama with the roster construction.
Then the Brewers made a trade.
Right before Pat Murphy’s media availability on Tuesday, the Brewers announced they had acquired RHP Jake Woodford from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor league pitcher K.C. Hunt and cash considerations. Outfielder Akil Baddoo was transferred to the 60-day IL to make 40-man roster space.
What Jake Woodford brings
Woodford throws five pitches, including three fastball variations: a sinker, cutter, and a traditional four-seam. He also has a sweeper and a changeup in his arsenal. Woodford has a career 5.10 ERA and his ERA was over 6.00 last year with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was in Rays camp on a minor league deal with a non-roster invite.
The 29-year-old righty is primarily sinker/sweeper against righties and four-seam/changeup against lefties.
“Happy to have him. He’s pitched in a number of different roles. He’s been a veteran in the league for a while. A guy we faced, obviously, with St. Louis. We have some history with him, and he’s an interesting arm that can play a valuable role in a number of different spots in our bullpen or potentially even at the front of games. So again, just at the point where we wanted to add some depth and he’s right-handed, and I think we’re obviously a little more skewed to the left-hand side, so we feel like he’s a really good fit for us.” Brewers PBO Matt Arnold told reporters.
The Brewers had just five right-handed relievers on their 40-man roster prior to this trade: Abner Uribe, Trevor Megill, Grant Anderson, Craig Yoho, and Easton McGee. Yoho is on the IL to start the season.
“Followed his career obviously in St. Louis. [Woodford] did a really nice job against us. He was a good player out of Tampa as an amateur. Got a big signing bonus and has been on our radar for a while,” Arnold added.
Woodford is out of minor league options, so now that he’s added to the 40-man, he must remain up with the big-league club. It remains to be seen if he’ll arrive in time for Opening Day. The Brewers have 72 hours to activate him after a trade, so they could wait until Friday to put him on the roster.
On the other side, the Brewers shipped out Hunt, who was ranked No. 48 on my Top 50 Brewers prospects list this spring. Hunt had a 4.45 ERA last year in Double-A Biloxi across 26 starts covering 121 1/3 IP. An undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State in 2023, Hunt exploded onto prospect radars in 2024 with a 2.03 ERA across three levels. He wasn’t quite able to maintain that success last year and with the sheer depth of starting pitching in the upper minors, Hunt became expendable depth.
“He’s certainly done a really good job. Obviously have to give up something to get something and you feel like just accelerating what K.C. Hunt was into what we believe is a guy who can contribute to our major league team right now was something we felt like made sense” Arnold said.
Blackhawks Star Connor Bedard Praises Islanders Rookie Matthew Schaefer: 'He's One Of The Faces Of Our Game Now'
ELMONT, NY -- Tuesday night marks the first time Chicago Blackhawks star and fellow No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard battles New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer.
Back on Dec. 30, an Islanders' 3-2 shootout win in which Schaefer recorded an assist, Bedard was out with an injury.
"It's insane," Bedard said of what Schaefer has accomplished so far in his first NHL season. "I think he's leading defensemen in goals, which is incredible. I think, especially for him -- last year, he played 17 [OHL] games -- he comes in and just lights the league on fire. It's fun to watch."
Is Bedard looking forward to going up against Schaefer for the first time?
"I'm excited to see him out there today," Bedard said. "I don't know how excited I am to be chasing him around. He can fly. But no...whenever you play a great player -- it's the NHL, you're playing a great player every night -- but for the first time to against something like that [it's fun]. As a competitor -- I'm sure he'd say the same -- it's always fun when you get to compete against some of the best in the league. And so I'm excited to go against him, and then all their other guys."
It was clear the effect that Bedard had at 18, breaking into the NHL. Like Bedard, it's clear Schaefer understands his impact.
"He's an ambassador for the game. I think you see how he approaches things, and he just knows the impact he has on people," Bedard said. "So that's cool. And it's really, really fun to watch what he does. And, for just someone to step in like that and do what he's doing, it's incredible.
"You're in a spot, and obviously, he's living out the dream that we're all lucky enough to get to do. And he's embraced it well. He just understands the impact he has on kids and hockey in general. I mean, he's one of the faces of our game now. It just looks like he's having fun with it and enjoying every day. So that's all you can really hope for."
Bedard, a forward, recorded 22 goals and 39 assists for 61 points in 68 games.
Schaefer, a defenseman, has recorded 22 goals with 29 assists for 51 points in 71 games.
Here's what Blackhawks Jeff Blashill had to say about Schaefer:
"[His season] has been unbelievable," Blashill told reporters. "Just watching him play, he's been an outstanding player for this team. It's one thing to be a really good player as a young player. But it's another thing to be a really good player and help your team be in the playoff battle, which he's done. They got other good players for sure, but he's been a significant factor. I forsee him continuing to be...this doesn't look like a flash in the pan. He looks like an everyday NHL player with a really high ceiling."
Dodgers opening day & ring ceremony national anthem & pregame details
The first series of the season for the Dodgers carries a celebratory nature, as a team coming off a championship, let alone two. Here are the details of all the pregame festivities for the first two days of the season, before games against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.
Opening day
Keith Williams Jr. sings the national anthem on Thursday, his first opening day at Dodger Stadium since 2023. Magic Johnson will through out the ceremonial first pitch. Opening day always has pomp and circumstance with every player and coach introduced and lining up along the foul lines, and this year has the additional tasks of raising the championship flag at Dodger Stadium and the 2025 World Series emblem along the base of the club level down the right field line.
Pregame festivities on Thursday begin at 4:45 p.m., with a 5:30 p.m. first pitch. NBC will exclusively televise the game with Jason Benetti alongside Orel Hershiser and Luis González on the call, and Clayton Kershaw joining Bob Costas on-site for the NBC Sports pregame show.
Dodger Stadium gates for both the parking lot and stadium open at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, three hours before the first pitch.
Friday ring ceremony
Brad Paisley sings the national anthem before Friday’s game, so watch out for potential extra innings, though let’s see if this particular quirk extends beyond the World Series.
The ring ceremony begins at 6:20 p.m. before the 7:10 p.m. game, and will all be televised by SportsNet LA. Actor Anthony Anderson will narrate the ring ceremony, and the USC marching band will also be a part of the festivities.
Tigers star prospect Kevin McGonigle makes Opening Day roster after incredible spring training
One of baseball’s most promising youngsters has punched his ticket to the big leagues.
Top prospect Kevin McGonigle cracked Detroit’s Opening Day roster following an impressive spring showing, the team announced Tuesday.
The 21-year-old shortstop, touted in his scouting report as “arguably the best hitting prospect of the 2020s,” entered spring training as baseball’s No. 2 prospect on MLB pipeline.
He left with a locker at Comerica Park.
McGonigle cemented his spot on the major league roster by hitting .250 with a .923 OPS, two home runs, 10 hits and eight runs across 20 exhibition games in Florida — and for good measure, he flashed the leather with several highlight-reel plays in the field.
McGonigle would breathe rarefied air if he starts for Detroit on Opening Day against the Padres in San Diego, joining Hall of Famers Ty Cobb, Al Kaline and Alan Trammell — among a handful of other revered stars — to start the franchise’s season opener before their 22nd birthday, according to MLB.com.
He’d also be the youngest member of Detroit’s Opening Day lineup since a 21-year-old Omar Infante started the 2003 season opener at shortstop.
Detroit selected McGonigle with the 37th pick in the 2023 draft out of high school, as part of a draft haul headlined by third overall pick Max Clark, who currently sits as MLB Pipeline’s No. 10 prospect.
The lefty-swinging infielder has rocketed up the minor league ladder, starting the 2025 campaign in Low-A Lakeland before surging to Double-A Erie, where he boasted a .919 OPS and 12 homers across 46 games with the SeaWolves.
He was awarded MVP of the 2025 Arizona Fall League after recording a 1.210 OPS with five bombs in 19 games.
The Tigers will bank on McGonigle’s potential as they attempt to shore up a glaring void at shortstop; the club ranked 22nd in wRC+ (89) and 24th in fWAR (1.4) at the position in 2025.
Spring Training GAME THREAD: The last one
Cleveland vs. Arizona, one last time
Martinez CF
Rocchio 2B
Manzardo 1B
Hoskins DH
Schneemann 3B
Fry C
Kayfus LF
Arias SS
Chourio RF
Messick P
Will UNC basketball fire Hubert Davis? Follow the latest news, updates
It's been over two years since North Carolina basketball won an NCAA Tournament game. Is a coaching change coming for one of the sport's most-recognizable brands?
Fifth-year Tar Heels coach Hubert Davis could be in trouble following North Carolina's loss to No. 11 seed VCU in the first round. UNC blew a 19-point lead in the loss, which is the sixth-largest deficit overcome in the history of March Madness.
Multiple reports have said North Carolina is weighing its options regarding Davis' future, with a decision to be made in the coming days. His weekly radio show scheduled for Monday, March 23, was postponed, swirling rumors even further.
“Every year at the end of the season, it’s important to evaluate all facets of the program and look for ways to improve,” North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham said March 21 in a statement. “The chancellor (Lee Roberts), Steve (Newmark) and I are doing that together now and will continue to have discussions over the coming days.”
Here's the latest on Davis as North Carolina, one of the top jobs in men's college basketball, decides its future. Follow for live updates:
Hubert Davis live updates: Will UNC basketball make coaching change?
This story will be updated live.
Seth Davis says no decision yet is 'not fair for anyone'
CBS Sports analyst Seth Davis posted Tuesday, March 24, on X that North Carolina has asked Davis if he wants to continue coaching, and that Davis said, "emphatically yes."
Not sure I've seen many situations like the one that is happening at North Carolina regarding Hubert Davis," Davis wrote. "... To let it go on for this long with no decision is not fair to anyone. At this point it would be very very difficult to bring him back. He would enter next season under a huge cloud.
"Usually the best strategy in this situation is to rip the Band-Aid off and make a decision one way or the other. To let it linger for this long is unnecessary and healthy. Here's hoping we get a decision on this one way or another very very soon."
Would Todd Golden or Nate Oats consider UNC job?
Would Florida's Todd Golden or Alabama's Nate Oats consider the North Carolina job, should it open? USA TODAY Network's Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams weigh if the leading SEC coaches would leave for the Tar Heels.
Possible Hubert Davis replacements if UNC basketball fires him
If UNC opts for a change, it should strongly consider looking outside of the family to replace Davis, after the succession plan of Roy Williams to Davis fizzled, writes USA TODAY Sports columnist Blake Toppmeyer. He suggest six names for the post, including three who have won national titles.
Hubert Davis radio show 'postponed'
Davis' weekly radio show set for Monday, March 23, was postponed, according to the Fayetteville Observer, part of the USA TODAY Network.
“We will communicate any future scheduling updates,” host Jones Angell wrote.
ESPN reports North Carolina 'in discussions' about future
ESPN's Pete Thamel reported March 21 that North Carolina was in discussion about Davis' future following its loss to VCU. ESPN said a decision was expected to be made in the coming days.
ESPN also reported Davis' departure wouldn't be termed as an "outright firing," due to his strong ties to the university, dating back to his time as both a player and assistant coach.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will UNC basketball fire Hubert Davis? Live updates as decision looms
Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training Gameday Thread, #32 vs. Guardians
Next time, it will count. Today, however? Expect a fairly laid-back game, with most of the regulars checking out after a couple of at-bats. Whether you will be able to tell the difference between that and last night’s two-hit shutout, is a valid question. But after today, we can hopefully breathe a sigh of relief at having got through spring without anything too bad in the way of injuries. There were some concerns, most notably Corbin Carroll’s broken hamate bone, but compared to some previous season, this hasn’t been too bad. The team looks basically likely to go into Opening Day with no further casualties, beyond the ones held over from last season.
Here’s your final pre-season line-up:
Ketel Marte was a late scratch from the originally posted line-up. I did momentarily worry I somehow jinxed the team with the paragraph above… But according to Alex Weiner, “Torey Lovullo said Ketel Marte was scratched due to soreness. No concern for Opening Day.” Phew. Today’s game is a Spanish language broadcast only, on La Campesina 101.9 FM and 860 AM hosted by Oscar Soria and Rodrigo Lopez, so I’ll be seeing if those Duolingo lessons paid off. After Michael Soroka, the only names listed are RHP Andrew Hoffmann and Juan Morillo, so I suspect we’ll be seeing some off-roster players working the later innings.
Rob Manfred believes Giants' Tony Vitello hire shows MLB's ‘evolution'
Rob Manfred believes Giants' Tony Vitello hire shows MLB's ‘evolution' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey made history this offseason, hiring an incredible college baseball personality with zero big league experience as San Francisco’s new manager.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred joined KNBR’s “Murph & Markus” on Tuesday morning to give his opinion on the Tony Vitello hire.
“I think the hiring of a college coach to be a big league manager is part of a larger evolution in the relationship between college baseball and MLB,” Manfred claimed.
Vitello, on Wednesday, will become the league’s first manager without any prior professional experience, but his preparation isn’t in question.
The Giants went 19-9 in spring training, even without some key pieces due to the World Baseball Classic. It’s challenging to gauge talent from spring training for several reasons, but the culture shift since Vitello’s arrival is hard to miss.
“The college programs … many of them are high quality,” Manfred continued. “They produce players that we draft in increasing numbers every year.”
There are many ties between Vitello and players within the Giants organization, including Drew Gilbert, who played under Vitello for three seasons at the University of Tennessee.
“I don’t think that there’s anything unusual about the development of someone who’s been tremendously successful at the college level getting a major league job,” Manfred concluded.
San Francisco is set to take on the New York Yankees on Wednesday night at Oracle Park to begin the 2026 MLB season. This entire year will be full of firsts for Vitello, but those around him are confident he has what it takes to get this team out of mediocrity and back into the playoffs.
Rangers Recall Adam Sýkora From AHL
The New York Rangers have recalled Adam Sýkora from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League.
Sýkora was selected by the Rangers in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, and he’s spent the past three seasons playing in the AHL.
The 21-year-old forward has recorded 12 goals, 17 assists, and 29 points in 62 games with the Wolf Pack this season.
To this point, Sýkora is still waiting to make his NHL debut.
“I know I’m a different player from those the New York Rangers have drafted,” Sýkora said in September. “So, that’s kind of my path — forecheck, backcheck, all the skating, hard work, that’s kind of my job that gets me here. And I want to put it all together to get to the next level. Defensive things, penalty kill, blocking shots and a team player, helping and supporting each other. Be alive on the bench and support the other guys here.”
It’s unclear if he will slot into the Rangers’ lineup on Wednesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In a corresponding move, the Rangers sent Connor Mackey back down to the AHL, opening the door for Drew Fortescue to make his NHL debut in Toronto.
Why Todd Golden, Nate Oats should (and shouldn't) consider UNC basketball
History matters less than ever before in college sports.
Consider the case of Indiana. Once a basketball power, the Hoosiers rarely make the NCAA Tournament anymore, while Indiana rules college football. That's an Indiana football program that was forever-a-doormat until two years ago.
Oh, and get a load of this: Nebraska basketball is in the Sweet 16. Nebraska football gives contract extensions for 7-6 seasons.
Coaching a blue-blood means subjecting yourself to the highest degree of pressure and expectations, with fewer advantages than those programs were once accustomed to enjoying.
Take this college basketball season.
Indiana missed the tournament, for the eighth time in the past 10 years. UCLA lost in Round 2, and Mick Cronin complained he needs more NIL money. NIL money isn’t the issue at Kentucky, but its expensive roster went bust, and the Wildcats got trounced in the second round. North Carolina lost in the first round for the second straight season, and Hubert Davis’ rump sits on a hot seat.
No. 1 Duke carries the torch for the blue-bloods. A more newly minted blue-blood, UConn, also remains in the tournament. Overall, though, these are not glory days for blue-bloods.
No coach wants to work for a program that resides in the poorhouse and can’t finance a roster, but you could make a compelling argument that a coach is better off at a nouveau riche program than a blue-blood. What do all those banners in the rafters really get you, nowadays?
And, still, coaching a blue-blood offers an intoxicating ego-stroke in an industry full of egomaniacs.
If North Carolina fires Davis — a decision on his fate has yet to be announced — the Tar Heels need only one A-list candidate to say yes to the pressure in exchange for being at a school where basketball reigns supreme.
On this edition of “SEC Football Unfiltered,” a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate the appeal of coaching a blue-blood and whether two of the SEC’s star coaches, Florida’s Todd Golden and Alabama’s Nate Oats, might consider leaving a stable job for a premier opportunity like North Carolina, where the pressure is high but so is the ceiling.
Oats and Golden are proven coaches in their prime. Oats’ Crimson Tide reached the Sweet 16 for a fourth straight year. They made the Final Four in 2024, beating UNC along the way.
Although Golden’s Gators suffered a surprising second-round loss to Iowa, his stock remains red-hot after last year’s national championship made him the youngest coach to win a title since Jim Valvano.
Would Todd Golden or Nate Oats consider leaving for UNC basketball?
Adams: A coach as successful as Golden or Oats doesn't think he'd fail at UNC. They probably think they’d crush it there and be the king of Chapel Hill — and, maybe, they would crush it there. They’re winners, and although UNC comes with a mountain of pressure, it also comes with a lot of resources. Talent is the name of the game, and UNC attracts top talent, even in an era where the newly rich programs can buy talent, too.
My only hesitation with leaving a good situation at Florida or Alabama in favor of UNC? Well, there's this: If you wait another year, perhaps you could have the Kentucky job. How's that for a blue-blood?
UNC must face Duke two or three or even four times a season. Why subject yourself to being compared to Duke, if you could instead be at Kentucky? The Wildcats have rivals, but nothing as intense as the intra-conference battle between Duke and UNC. Kentucky has shown it’ll spare no expense on its roster. It just needs a better coach. Come 2027, it might find itself in hot pursuit of one.
Toppmeyer: Golden and Oats have it quite good right where they’re at. They can have all of the success of a blue-blood, without about half of the pressure. It's the same reason why Curt Cignetti would've been a fool to leave Indiana for Penn State.
The football programs act as a heat shield for coaches at Alabama and Florida. If Oats’ team loses in the Sweet 16, he’ll get a satisfied thumbs up from Alabama fans, before they turn their attention to A-Day and demand a football national title from Kalen DeBoer.
Bottom line: So long as you can build a competitive roster, it’s not such a bad thing to be a successful basketball coach at a football school. Ask Rick Barnes.
Plus, the SEC is enjoying a basketball uprising. It led all conferences with 10 bids to the NCAA Tournament this season, after 14 bids last year and a national title from Golden’s Gators. Win 20 games as an SEC team, and you’re dancing.
Programs like UNC and Kentucky need coaches like Golden and Oats a lot more than those ace coaches need a blue-blood.
Which SEC school will be left standing in the Sweet 16?
The SEC advanced four teams into the Sweet 16, second only to the Big Ten’s six Sweet 16 teams. But, with the Gators eliminated, will any SEC teams be left standing in the Elite Eight?
Adams: Tennessee has the best chance to reach the Elite Eight, especially if Iowa State star Joshua Jefferson (ankle injury) doesn’t play in this Sweet 16 game. Arkansas is the hottest SEC team, but better to face Iowa State than No. 1 Arizona, which will play the Razorbacks.
Toppmeyer: Take Tennessee as the last SEC team standing in the Elite Eight. This looks like a winnable matchup for the Vols. Tennessee and Iowa State are blue-collar teams built on defense. Barnes has two straight Elite Eight appearances. Make it three in a row.
Where to listen to SEC Football Unfiltered
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. John Adams is the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, and check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UNC still a blueblood. Is that enough to lure Todd Golden or Nate Oats?
Former Los Angeles Kings Left Winger On Fire After Trade To New Team
It's been over two weeks since the NHL trade deadline, and the Los Angeles Kings made a handful of deals around the occasion. They made some tweaks, departing from right winger Corey Perry and adding center Scott Laughton through notable trades.
In addition, Kings GM Ken Holland traded away left winger Warren Foegele and a conditional 2026 third-round pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a 2026 second-rounder and third-rounder in the same year.
Since being shipped to Canada's capital city, Foegele has been on fire.
Foegele, 29, has made nine appearances for the Senators and is already contributing on a regular basis offensively. The Markham, Ont., native has five goals and six points for his new club.
He scored a goal in his debut for Ottawa against the Seattle Kraken on March 7. Not long after, in his fifth game for the Sens, he recorded his first multi-point game of the season, scoring a goal and an assist against the San Jose Sharks.
Now, Foegele is on a three-game point streak, registering a goal in each of his last three appearances. He's been a key contributor to the Senators' push to make the playoffs, as they are two points out of a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Two Former Kings Are Making An Impact In Their New HomesThe Los Angeles Kings may have added during trade season, but they also subtracted. Two former Kings have had a positive impact for their new teams since being dealt.Since he joined, Ottawa has gone on a 7-2-0 run, and it looks like the deal panned out well for the Senators and GM Steve Staios.
What makes his contributions even more impressive is that Foegele is averaging just 11:31 of ice time with the Senators, which is the lowest ice time he's ever averaged in his nine-year NHL career.
With the Kings, Foegele played 47 games, scoring seven goals and nine points. He's almost reached that total already for Ottawa.
It was a bit of a head-scratcher to see Foegele's production drop substantially, considering the personal bests he set last season. In 2024-25, the left winger recorded 24 goals, 22 assists, 46 points, and a team-high plus-36 rating.
He has dealt with some injuries this season and was forced into multiple stretches of absence throughout the year. Foegele also had his fair share of healthy scratches, and it became difficult for him to get into a rhythm with the Kings.
At some point, even Holland admitted that he needed to work the phones and find Foegele a new home because the team had too many forwards at the time. With the current absence of Kevin Fiala and Andrei Kuzmenko, it feels like Foegele's services could be useful once again.
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