Mar 5, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; New York Mets catcher Ben Rortvedt (77) speaks to pitcher Justin Hagenman (47) against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Meet the Mets
Yesterday the Mets placed Justin Hagenman on the 60-day injured list with a rib fracture. In a corresponding move, the Mets claimed familiar face Dicky Lovelady off waivers from the Nationals and added him to the roster.
David Stearns is demonstrating that he has learned lessons from the failures of 2025, writes Laura Albanese of Newsday.
Mark Vientos’ numbers this spring—both in Mets camp and with Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic—have not been pretty. But he’s not stressed about it.
Phillies ace Zack Wheeler continues to progress in his rehab and today’s milestone (facing live hitting for the first time) came with his family in attendance.
Kyle Stowers, who had been rehabbing a hamstring strain, started in left field and batted leadoff for the Marlins in yesterday’s Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.
Around Major League Baseball
Wilyer Abreu’s sixth inning three-run homer lifted Venezuela to a stunning 8-5 victory over Japan, handing the defending champions their worst ever result in a World Baseball Classic.
Italy staved off Puerto Rico 8-6 to advance to the semi-finals in the World Baseball Classic.
Team USA’s World Baseball Classic hopes now lay in the hands of ace Paul Skenes, who faces off against the fearsome Dominican Republic lineup tonight.
Since we’re in a World Baseball Classic year this year, we’ll take a look back at the 2009 World Baseball Classic when on March 15, South Korea pummeled Mexico 8-2 partially at the expense of former Mets Oliver Perez, Elmer Dessens, and Luis Ayala.
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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 15: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks is guarded by Moses Moody #4 of the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Chase Center on January 15, 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Knicks (43*-25) host the Golden State Warriors (32-34) tonight at Madison Square Garden. Tipoff is at 8 p.m., the game is on NBC. The Knicks are fighting to hold their spot in the East’s top three and remain a game and a half behind Boston, while the Warriors are clinging to a play-in position on the wrong side of .500. Over their last ten games, the Knicks have gone 6-4, while Golden State has won just three.
The teams last met on January 15, 2026, at Chase Center. The Warriors won, 126-113. Jimmy Butler III led everybody with 32 points on 14-for-22 shooting, adding eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. Stephen Curry finished with 27 points and a team-high seven assists, while Moses Moody buried seven three-pointers for 21 points. For New York, playing without an injured Jalen Brunson, Deuce McBride and OG Anunoby scored 25 points apiece, and Karl-Anthony Towns grabbed 20 rebounds to go with 17 points.
The Warriors rank 15th in offensive rating and 14th for defense. They score 115.2 points per game on 46% shooting and 36% from deep, rank third in assists and second in steals, but give away the rock more than 15 times per game.
Curry was leading the NBA in three-pointers made per game (4.5) and averaging 27.2 points before going down with right knee pain in late January. Butler tore his ACL on January 19 and is done for the year. In their absence, Brandin Podziemski has averaged 16.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists over his last 12 starts. Draymond Green averaged 8.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists before his back flared up. Gui Santos has averaged 6.8 points per game and has been given a starting role out of necessity.
Based on their last game against Minnesota, the Warriors’ likely starters tonight are Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton (1.5 SPG), Santos, Will Richard, and maybe Gary Payton II.
The Dubs will be severely depleted against the Knicks. “We’re going through it,” coach Steve Kerr said at NBA.com. “We’re about as beaten up as any team I can ever remember.” Their injury report has Green, Al Horford, Seth Curry, Porzingis, Moody, and Melton all ruled OUT, while Quinten Post is questionable with an ankle sprain. Curry remains sidelined with a knee injury expected to keep him out at least another 10 days, and Butler is out for the season after ACL surgery.
For New York, Miles McBride remains OUT, while Josh Hart (left knee soreness), Towns (knee), Jeremy Sochan (illness), Tyler Kolek, Pacome Dadiet, Ariel Hukporti, and Trey Jemison are all listed as questionable.
Prediction
ESPN gives New York an 82% win probability tonight. That tracks. Given the limited numbers of players available and their lack of Curry and Green, all indications are that they will be pushovers.
The Knicks, meanwhile, have won two straight unconvincing games against cellar dwellers. New York should blow this open early and let the bench crew ride it home with extended minutes. In recent years, Golden State has had their number, winning seven of their last ten head-to-head meetings, including three straight. New York will snap that streak tonight with a 12-point victory. We’ll forgive you for switching over to the Oscars at halftime.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (43*-25) vs Golden State Warriors (32-34) Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026 Time: 8 PM ET Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC TV: NBC / Peacock Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
* Should be one more, but NBA Cup wins disappear like farts.
Mar 14, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Kyle Tucker against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
On the surface, Kyle Tucker has struggled at the plate when only accounting for his batting average (.200, 3-15), but he has demonstrated great patience at the plate.
Tucker has only appeared in eight games so far this spring, as he missed a generous amount of time to tend to his wife for the birth of their newborn son. He demonstrated his “dad strength” on Friday by launching his first home run in a Dodgers uniform, but his value hasn’t come from his bat; it’s from his vision.
Tucker has walked six times compared to only two strikeouts. Combine those free passes with a hit by pitch, and Tucker has reached base in nearly half of his 22 plate appearances, good for a .455 on-base percentage. And that is exactly what Dave Roberts expects out of Tucker; to get on base at a consistent rate and set the table for the rest of the star hitters to follow, writes Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
“For me, I just see him as a guy if he gets on base, however he gets on base, that’s the biggest – that’s something we’re looking for and something we’re counting on,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of the role he envisions for Kyle Tucker. “Having Mookie (Betts) and Freddie (Freeman) behind him and Will (Smith) – if he’s a guy who gets on base at a high, high clip, then everything else will kind of fall into place.”
Links
Although Kiké Hernández was unable to participate in this year’s World Baseball Classic for Team Puerto Rico, he remarked on participating in the tournament is more significant than playing in the World Series, per Jack Vita of the Los Angeles Times.
“I said it feels bigger,” Hernández said. “I didn’t say it’s bigger. Atmosphere, crowd, you’re representing your country. You’re not representing a city. You don’t always choose who you play for. Sometimes that’s out of your control and you know, when you’re representing your country, you’re playing along with your homies. Sometimes you’re playing along with people that you grew up with. Your people back home are rooting for you, at times.”
Sonja Chen of MLB.com breaks down what to expect from the Dodgers as they enter their final week of Cactus League play, with one subject in particular to monitor being the competition for the starting second base job to begin the season. Chen notes that it’s a two-horse race between Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland, with the former clearly leading the way.
Kim went 6-for-13 (.462) in four Cactus League games, but he was only 1-for-12 with a home run in the Classic. Freeland has shown some impressive plate discipline, but perhaps a tad too much. He’s drawn 10 walks but hit only 4-for-31 (.129) in 14 games. As Roberts sees it, the competition “hasn’t changed a whole lot” since Kim left.
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Feb 22, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns center Khaman Maluach (10) defends against Portland Trail Blazers forward Kris Murray (24) in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
I have to admit, I am not much of a cook. Oh, I can keep myself fed and alive all right. I would just be eating a lot of spaghetti a lot of the time. But I am getting better every day. Every time I cook, I learn a little bit more about why this dish should have paprika and that dish should have smoked paprika.
My wife, in contrast, is an excellent cook and has taught me all that I know about cooking. She and I come from different backgrounds, however. She started cooking at a much younger age than I did. My parents didn’t teach me how to cook when I was younger, and I joined the Army after I graduated high school. I said my wedding vows before I ever had a kitchen of my own to learn in.
I have all of the tools I need to become a great cook someday. My vision works well enough to read a cookbook. The internet is full of vast quantities of knowledge that I can lean on. I have a desire to get better and the opportunity to do so. Most importantly, I have an experienced teacher who knows what she is doing. The only reason I am not a great cook already is because of the amount of time I have been cooking.
I submit to you that Khaman Maluach will be a good cook someday. He has all the tools he needs to be great. God sent the game of basketball for people like Khaman Maluach, with a 7’1” height and a 7’7” wingspan. All he needs is time.
This season, he hasn’t gotten much playing time at the NBA level. Before Mark Williams’ foot injury, the only real minutes he got in competitive games were in the G League. Since the Mark Williams injury was announced on March 5th, things have looked…rough for Khaman Maluach. He has had a game with 5 blocks and another with 9 rebounds, but he has also had a game in which, in 15 minutes of game time, he recorded neither a block nor a rebound.
We are seeing why Jordan Ott hasn’t had confidence in him to get real minutes in real games before he was required to. But before you go smashing the “He’s a bust!” button, let’s look at some other rookies in recent memory that got almost no playing time in their rookie years but went on to be productive players.
Ivica Zubac
I know this might sound crazy, but I think Ivica Zubac is a great comparison for Khaman Maluach, and could be the best outcome for the Suns’ young center. Zubac was a 19-year-old rookie among a cast of young players who were yet to establish themselves as fixtures in the NBA. Much like Maluach, his per-36 numbers as a rookie made him look like he could be a productive center with enough minutes, but the eye test told you that he had a way to go.
I think if Maluach was getting the sixteen minutes per game that Zubac got in his rookie year, their numbers may look almost identical. Fortunately for Suns fans, Maluach is playing on a better team than Zubac was in 2017, leaving fewer minutes open for the development of teenage prospects.
Today, Zubac is a really solid starting center. He was second team all-defense in 2024-2025 and was traded to the Indiana Pacers to be their Myles Turner replacement next year as they attempt to go back to the NBA Finals.
The per-36 numbers for these two are even more interesting. Maluach averages 11.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per-36. In his rookie year, Zubac averaged 16.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Maluach isn’t as polished a scorer as Zubac was in his rookie year, but it can be argued that he already does the dirty work better.
I like Zubac a lot. I would love to have him on my favorite team. If Maluach becomes Zubac, I will be ecstatic with his development. It is worth noting that Maluach is just a little bit bigger than Zubac and has displayed more athleticism. I believe this can lead to a higher defensive upside than the Pacers center has.
Rudy Gobert
I invite you to join me in la-la land as I compare the Phoenix Suns’ struggling rookie center with one of the greatest defensive centers in NBA history. But I ask you, why shouldn’t I? Look at the rookie numbers for Rudy Gobert compared to Maluach:
Now, I cannot say I was locked into Utah Jazz games in 2014, as I was busy trying to pass eighth-grade algebra. But what I will say is that Rudy Gobert is no special athlete, and in his rookie year, nobody would have guessed he would go on to win four DPOYs. Everyone knows that he is completely deficient on offense, and the Timberwolves star has never jumped out of any gym.
What has made Rudy Gobert great is the fact that he is 7’ 1” and in the right place at the right time. Gobert is smart and has been used well by his coaches. When you marry these two ideas, you get a massive obstacle positioned in the right place to deter a lot of shots.
Gobert came into the league at 21 years old. By the time Maluach is 21 years old, I think he can be as good as 21 year old Gobert. I think he will probably be better. He might already be better.
The per-36 comparison is interesting here as well. As a reminder, Maluach averages 11.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per-36. Gobert averaged 8.6 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks. That puts rookie Maluach between Zubac and Gobert. Man Man is a better defensive player than Zubac, but a little worse on the offensive end. Compared to Gobert, he is a little better on offense but a little worse on defense.
Jordan Ott is a great coach. If Maluach works hard to learn as much as he can, if he continues to build his body up, and if his coaching staff continues to be really good at their jobs, Khaman Maluach has all the tools he needs to be Rudy Gobert.
Reed Sheppard
I want to leave you with the example that inspired my optimism about Maluach. Reed Sheppard is an odd comparison, I know. Two more different players may be hard to find. Sheppard is a small point guard. Maluach is a massive center. The only real comparison is that they were both top-10 picks (Sheppard went #3 to Houston) who didn’t have inspiring rookie seasons.
In fact, Reed Sheppard’s rookie year was a disaster. In a season where the Rockets put themselves back on the map in the post-Harden era, Sheppard could be found in the G-League or watching from the bench. When he did get in the game, it didn’t look good. An abysmal 35.1% shooting percentage is not what you want to see out of a rookie guard.
But this season, things changed. Sheppard is averaging 13.4 points and 3.2 assists on 42.8%/38.8%/80.5% splits. Is that a breakout star? No. Is it a 21-year-old finding his footing and turning into a viable NBA player? Yes.
This is the sort of sophomore season I am hoping to see out of Maluach. Maybe someday he will be a star, but next season I just want to see a viable backup center.
Khaman Maluach
Maluach has played great in the G-League this season. Does that mean he will turn into Rudy Gobert or Ivica Zubac? Of course not. He cannot pass the NBA test in the G-League, but failing in the G-League would’ve told us that he wasn’t ready for the NBA test.
Playing well in the G doesn’t mean everything, but it does mean something. Remember, Collin “Russell Westbrook” Gillespie once averaged 21 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds in the G-League.
Maluach can turn into a great player. Development doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some guys come into the league and dominate immediately. Others, like the three guys discussed, need a little more time. Give Maluach that time and watch as he grows.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Tanner Gordon #29 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch to the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 27, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Scottsdale, Ariz. — Tanner Gordon is in his third spring training with the Colorado Rockies and is in the mix for the fifth starter spot alongside Chase Dollander, Ryan Feltner and Antonio Senzatela. Gordon had a remarkable 2025 campaign and is looking to build on that in 2026.
“[There’s] a lot of good energy around the clubhouse and good energy in the hallways,” Gordon said. “Obviously, with a new regime, there’s always going to be a new taste to everything. So it’s been good. [The] energy levels are really high.”
Like many other pitchers, Gordon is working on some new pitches. A few weeks ago, he mentioned he was working on a two-seam fastball.
“It’s going (well),” he said. “I try to throw it in catch play as much as I can. It’s a one-seamer, technically, but it still moves the same way as a two-seamer. I’m just trying to mess with it as much as I possibly can.”
Gordon is also working to refine the pitches already in his arsenal, namely, “the slider, the cutter, mixing up a different changeup grip, so it almost has two different shapes.”
Since this has been something new pitching coach Alon Leichman has preached this spring, it’s not surprising that Gordon is also expanding his pitch mix. And so far, Gordon is liking the new staff and what they bring to the table.
“I think they’re great,” he said. “I think they bring a lot of knowledge to us, and definitely different viewpoints from what we’ve had in the past.
“And they’re able to relay more advanced things and make it easy for us to understand,” he continued. “Nobody wants to be out on the field thinking about a million things or be thinking about some super complex idea. So they simplify things and just make it easy for us (so) we can just go out there and play.”
Leichman has also passed along a new philosophy for the pitching staff.
“He just wants us to fill up the strike zone as much as we possibly can,” Gordon said. “3-2 strikes, and then go for the kill when we have two strikes, so it takes a lot of thinking off our plate.
“As a starter, you go through the lineup a few times,” he continued, “so you kind of have to start having to pitch the second and third time through, but just be on the attack the whole time. And I’ve thought of it that way, but it wasn’t my whole philosophy going into it.”
While the players are exploring expanded arsenals, Leichman has also experimented with calling pitches from the dugout. Some pitchers, like Ryan Feltner, are all for it. Gordon isn’t quite sure yet, but acknowledged, “What he’s said makes sense.”
“He has the scouting report right in front of him. He can look at it in real time and call what he wants,” he said.
“Then there’s also the game aspect of you being in the game and feeling out what you want to throw,” Gordon continued. “And there are probably going to be some times where, say, he calls a pitch and I don’t feel like that’s the right pitch for me. I don’t feel comfortable throwing that pitch. I want to throw this pitch. Then I’ll just call it off and throw the pitch I want to throw. And that’s what a lot of the guys talk about, too. I’m not leaning to one side of it.”
Gordon is also leaning on the veteran pitchers for support on and off the field.
“I worked out with [Kyle] Freeland all offseason here in Scottsdale,” he said. “And then when [Michael] Lorenzen came in, he’s super easy to talk to. He’s an open book. He’s helped me a ton, not even with baseball but also off the field – what he does for recovery, all that kind of stuff, and his mindset on that.”
But most of all, he’s finishing up camp with the goal to “remain consistent and control what [he] can control.”
“Obviously, there’s a bunch of new starters that we signed,” he said. “So keep the blinders on and have fun, enjoy spring training but also know that I have a job to do and we as a whole organization have a job to do moving forward.”
What storylines are you watching closest in the final weeks of spring training? Who do you think will be on the Opening Day roster? Let us know in the comments!
Thanks very much to those of you who said kind things. You are appreciated. I’m staying off the boards for now, or I’d say so directly.
Another game with no TV. Jonathon Long legitimized the lineup. Carson Kelly manned first base. Moises Ballesteros was behind the dish. Ah, Spring Training.
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MIAMI — They started to trudge of the clubhouse at 1:23 a.m. Sunday, their heads down, eyes glazed, mostly staring straight ahead.
The large contingent of reporters, perhaps 100 in all, waited behind a rope in the mixed zone in the corridor of loanDepot Park, and at 1:31 a.m., Shohei Ohtani came out of the door and stopped to talk.
It was a strange sensation for Ohtani, a feeling he knew that was inevitable, but he wasn’t prepared for it right now.
The pain was raw.
For the first time in years, after winning two World Series titles and two MVPs with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani finally lost.
Japan, the three-time and defending WBC champion, who had won 11 consecutive games since 2017, was eliminated.
Ohtani, the game's biggest global star, was left answering questions while he could hear Venezuela still celebrating down the hall.
“All I can say is that it’s really frustrating," Ohtani said. “It was the kind of game where we had chances to win. It wasn’t like we were completely overwhelmed from start to finish. I think there were definitely moments where we had opportunities to win. …
“We showed what we do well, but in the end, they overpowered us."
Ohtani once again had a phenomenal showing, hitting .462 with three homers and seven RBI in 13 at-bats, producing a .611 on-base percentage and 1.231 slugging percentage, with his only two strikeouts coming Saturday.
He was the one who responded immediately to Ronald Acuńa Jr.’s leadoff homer off Yoshinobu Yamamoto with a homer of his own in the first inning. Yet, unlike the 2023 WBC when he clinched Japan’s title by striking out Angels teammate Mike Trout, he ended this game by hitting a lazy pop-up to shortstop Ezequiel Tovar.
Japan’s WBC reign expired and there will be a new champion, with the USA, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Italy still alive in the tournament.
Ohtani, wearing a gray suit with headphones around his neck, clutching a baseball glove behind his back, talked about that empty feeling.
“Of course it was a wonderful experience," he said, “but if you don’t win it all, then in a sense it’s a failure. That’s probably what the result comes down to.
“Everyone was working only toward winning the championship: the manager, the staff, the people behind the scenes. Everyone was aiming for that. So, it’s very disappointing for it to end like this."
Maybe it would have been different if he could have pitched in the WBC. Japan’s bullpen couldn’t stop Venezuela, turning a 5-2 lead in the fifth inning into an 7-5 deficit one inning later.
“We didn’t have an option for Ohtani to pitch from the middle of the game," Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata said, “so I don't think I would have known what would have happened. But, of course, I would have wanted him to play.
“But I didn't have a choice.’’
The Dodgers and Ohtani decided before the WBC that he would be strictly used as a DH and not pitch. It wasn’t worth the risk while preparing for his first full season as a pitcher since undergoing elbow surgery in 2023.
So Ibata was left uncomfortably answering questions about why he pulled Yoshinobu Yamamto before 80 pitches, Japan’s bullpen struggles, its inability to score in 6 ⅓ innings against Venezuela’s bullpen, and how it was possible to cough up a 5-2 lead.
“After we scored five,’’ Ohtani said, “I thought they showed a lot of grit on the mound. They were excellent."
The victory not only vaulted Venezuela into the WBC semifinals for the first time, but allowed them to qualify for the 2028 Olympics.
“My country right now is celebrating,’’ Venezuela manager Omar Lopez said. “It's extremely happy. It's on the streets. They're drinking right now, and that makes me happier than anybody else in this world, because this is the only thing that I can do. This is the only thing that I can do for my country.
"That's the only thing that I'm going to take back home. And 20 years from now, I'll remember I made my country happy at least for one or two days. That's all I need."
Who knows, maybe the two teams will meet again at the 2028 Olympics at Dodger Stadium, where Japan can have a little payback.
“In international competition, of course you want another chance,’’ Ohtani said, “whether you call it revenge or a new challenge. I don’t know in what form I myself will be able to play next time, but when that opportunity comes, I want to focus on it again."
Ohtani knows there are plenty of great players still on their way from Japan, and by the time the Olympics rolls around, they could return to being that super power.
“Even with many young players on the roster," he said, “I got the sense that the overall level – both pitching and hitting – is continuing to rise. I feel that every year.
“There are a lot of players I’m excited about for the future. And with new players coming in as well, I’d be happy if the overall level of baseball continues to improve."
Japanese officials cut off further questions. It was time to leave. The bus was waiting to take the team back to the hotel, where they had planned to stay until after the championship game Tuesday night, and not be packing their bags to leave town Sunday.
Ohtani will head back to Arizona to rejoin his Dodgers teammates, likely start in at least one spring training game, and then be ready for the 2026 season. There’s the World Series flag ceremony on Opening Day March 26 at Dodger Stadium, a ring ceremony March 27, and he could be making his season debut that weekend against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
He says he’ll look ahead, knowing there’s nothing he can do about the past.
He’s got another World Series championship to win, and a long grueling season ahead to erase the sting of the WBC.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 14: Ronald Acuña Jr. #21 of Team Venezuela rounds the bases after his home run against Team Venezuela in the first inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park on March 14, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well the pitching has been an injury mess this spring, but it must be said that in general, pretty much everyone who has stayed healthy on the pitching and hitting side have performed at or above expectation so far. If this team’s offense can really get going again and the bullpen is elite as it has the chance to be, the lack of starting pitching depth to start the season won’t hurt as badly, particularly if Chris Sale and Spencer Strider are healthy and humming. That’s a lot of ifs, but this team does still have significant talent.
SB Nation’s CBB expert Mike Rutherford and resident bracketologist Chris Dobbertean will answer all your questions this week and help guide you to bracket glory! Drop in SB Nation’s March Madness Feed all week long and we’ll have both on hand! (All times ET)
March Madness will be officially underway in just a few hours when the full 68-team NCAA Tournament bracket is released.
There are a handful of teams that are considered "locks" for the 68-team field that will get underway on Tuesday, March 17 with the first set of First Four games in Dayton. There are also a handful of teams that have already secured their spot in the field by way of winning their respective conference tournaments.
But as the countdown to the Selection Sunday bracket reveal show on CBS at 6 p.m. ET continues to tick down, there are some final bracket prognostications and debates ongoing about the bubble, which perhaps is as loaded as ever from past years.
Though one never knows what exactly takes place in these conversations, especially those a part of the selection committee, one can almost be certain that NET rankings and Quad 1 records will be brought up at some point during them.
But what exactly are quadrant wins, and how do they impact the NET rankings?
Here's what you need to know about the NCAA's NET rankings and more ahead of Selection Sunday:
What is the NET? Explaining NCAA ranking system
Created ahead of the 2018-19 men's basketball season by the NCAA, the NET rankings system is a data-driven sorting system used by the selection committee when evaluating teams' resumes for the 68-team field. It's widely considered the most important statistical tool in helping the committee make its decisions, but it also isn't the only thing they use.
It is first released in December and then is updated throughout the year. It resets each college basketball season, just as teams construct their rosters on a year-to-year basis, and does not include any past information or statistics.
Team Value Index: A results-based measure that rewards teams for beating quality opponents, with extra weight given to road and neutral-site wins.
Adjusted Net Efficiency: The difference between a team's offensive efficiency (points per possession) and defensive efficiency (opponents' points per possession), adjusted for opponent strength and game location.
There are three key factors not used in NET rankings: Game Date, Winning Percentage, and Scoring Margin. While scoring margin isn't factored into a team's NET rankings, their per-possession efficiency is. This means that teams benefit most from maximizing offensive efficiency and maximizing defensive efficiency.
In addition, a road win weighs more than a neutral site win for teams, while neutral site wins hold more weight than home wins for teams with their NET rankings. This, of course, all factors into a team's Quad 1 (Quad 2, Quad 3, and Quad 4) record.
A Quad 1 win is the crown jewel, prized possession for college basketball teams to secure over the season, as it impacts their NET rankings and projected NCAA Tournament seeding.
It is defined by location and opponent rank (not necessarily at the time of the game): a game at home vs. a team ranked 1-30 in the NET, a game at a neutral site vs. a team ranked 1-50, and a game on the road vs. a team ranked 1-75 in the NET.
As the case is for the other quadrants, Quad 1 games and records are flexible throughout the season.
Quad wins system explained
Perhaps the biggest sorting tool in the NET is a team's record vs. Quad 1 opponents. The better a team's record in Quad 1 games, the better the odds are for a team to make the 68-team field. On the other hand, if a team loses to a Quad 3 or a Quad 4 opponent, especially late in the season, that can be detrimental to their NCAA resume.
But what determines a Quad 1 game from a Quad 2 or a Quad 4? Well, two factors ultimately determine that for wins and losses:
The opponent's ranking in the NET
Whether a team faced their opponent at home, on the road or at a neutral site
Here is a breakdown of what differentiates a victory from a Quad 1 through Quad 4 win in men's college basketball per NCAA.com:
Quadrant 1: Home 1-30, Neutral 1-50, Away 1-75
Quadrant 2: Home 31-75, Neutral 51-100, Away 76-135
Quadrant 3: Home 76-160, Neutral 101-200, Away 135-240
Quadrant 4: Home 161-353, Neutral 201-353, Away 241-353
There is also some flexibility in Quad wins, depending on how the season a team's record against Quad 1 opponents — just like Quad 2, Quad 3 and Quad 4 opponents — can also change throughout the season. For example, if a team beats a Quad 2 team in January but that team becomes a Quad 1 team heading into the postseason, that becomes a Quad 1 win for that team. Similarly, if a Quad 1 team drops to a Quad 2 team or lower, that win would be removed from their Quad 1 record.
NET rankings on Selection Sunday
Here's a list of the top 16 teams in the country per the NCAA's NET rankings, which theoretically should result in the teams that will be seeded 1-4 in their respective regions come the bracket reveal show on Selection Sunday:
Ranking reflective of games through Saturday, March 14
Duke
Michigan
Arizona
Florida
Houston
Gonzaga
Iowa State
Illinois
Purdue
UConn
Michigan State
Virginia
Nebraska
Vanderbilt
Louisville
Arkansas
Alabama
Texas Tech
Tennessee
St. John's
Best Quad 1 records entering Selection Sunday
Duke leads the country with 16 Quad 1 wins this season. Here's a breakdown of which teams in the country have the best Quad 1 records entering Selection Sunday, per the NCAA:
Records reflective of games through Friday, March 14:
1. Duke: 16-2
T2. Michigan: 15-2
T2. Arizona: 15-2
4. Florida: 12-5
5. Houston: 10-5
T6. Kansas: 9-9
T6. Purdue: 9-8
T6. Michigan State: 9-6
T6. Nebraska: 9-6
T6. Vanderbilt: 9-6
What time is Selection Sunday?
Date: Sunday, March 15
Time: 6 p.m. ET
The full 68-team bracket for the men's NCAA Tournament will be revealed at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 15, assuming there are no outstanding conference tournament games still taking place.
The Philadelphia Flyers have only one post-NHL trade deadline call-up remaining, and it is becoming increasingly clear which prospect they are going to use it on come the final days of the season.
For as long as they remain maddeningly inconsistent, and incapable of winning multiple games in regulation, the Flyers are playoff longshots at best.
At the time of this writing, the Flyers are six points out of a playoff spot with 16 games remaining, and tiebreakers won't be kind to them since they have the second-fewest regulation wins in the Eastern Conference (20) and the fewest regulation and overtime wins (ROW, 23) in the conference.
With that all in mind, the Flyers are overwhelmingly likely to bring in one more prospect for a look at the end of the season, and that is going to end up being none other than David Jiricek, their prized trade acquisition in the Bobby Brink swap deal on trade deadline day.
Jiricek, 22, is already thriving in his new environment with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, having quickly racked up a goal, three assists, and four points in just three games.
Each of his three assists -- 5-on-5, 6-on-5, and power play -- came in the Phantoms' 4-3 dramatic comeback overtime win against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday night, and Jiricek's only goal with the Phantoms thus far also came on the power play.
The Flyers and their dreaded 32nd-ranked power play can use all the help they can get as they continue to helplessly fail with their playoff hopes on the line.
Notably, Jiricek has already produced half of the offense he had all season coming into his new NHL home.
In 49 games between the Minnesota Wild and Iowa Wild, Jiricek managed only two goals, eight assists, and 10 points and had a -15 rating.
So far with the Phantoms? It's a small sample size, but Jiricek is holding strong defensively with a neutral +0 rating while doing a little bit of everything at the other end of the ice.
In the last week, right-shot veteran Noah Juulsen ceded his place in the lineup to the diminutive Emil Andrae, who has rewarded head coach Rick Tocchet with points in consecutive contests.
If the Flyers continue that theme as their playoff hopes wane, Jiricek could quickly find himself jumping into the NHL lineup in place of a veteran like Nick Seeler or Rasmus Ristolainen.
It would be unwise to label Jiricek a future first-pairing defenseman already, especially until his agility and four-way mobility improves, but his talent is undeniable and is immediately jumping off the page for the Flyers organization.
The Boston University Terriers men's hockey team made Chicago Blackhawks prospect Sacha Boisvert a healthy scratch on Wednesday night in their Hockey East first-round matchup against Vermont.
BU won that game, so they moved on to Saturday's quarterfinal round, where they were matched up against UConn. The Terriers lost the game 5-3, ending their 2025-26 season with a whimper.
Boisvert took his spot back in the lineup for the loss, but that decision won't go forward without dialogue surrounding it.
Regardless, Boisvert, who the Blackhawks made a first-round pick (18th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft, is free to sign his first pro contract now that his NCAA season is complete.
Although another year of college may do his development some good, the expectation is that he will turn pro. Eventually, time with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs is likely, but he could finish out this year in the NHL with the Blackhawks.
Boisver's potentially final college season ends with 3 goals, 14 assists, and 17 points in 26 games. Injuries and inconsistencies made it a very disappointing year for him, especially after being one of the best freshmen in the nation one year prior as a member of the University of North Dakota.
There are expected to be some work visa issues when he first signs his contract with Chicago, but he could get pen to paper before the weekend is even over.
If that's the case, Tuesday or Thursday against the Minnesota Wild start looking like potential days for his NHL debut. Friday night against the Colorado Avalanche is also a possibility.
There will be eyes on Boisvert to see how he competes once he reaches the NHL level. If he brings his A-effort every night, what does that look like on all three zones? It won't be long now until some of that is learned, but full development will take multiple years.
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The Spurs have been active this past week on Instagram. Between Jaylen Brown’s ejection, losing to the Nuggets, the team photo shoot, and then knotting up the series with the Charlotte Hornets, the Silver & Black have also been posting a lot from their player interview series.
This installment asks the guys what day they with to relive if they could repeat any from their childhood.
Devin Vassell took a laid back approach and determined he’d enjoy kicking it with his friends during the time in his life he referred to as “simpler.”
Victor Wembanyama, the consummate competitor, chose a day when he was eleven and won a big tournament.
Jordan McLaughlin was nostalgic for his birthday, and in particular the parties his parents threw for him.
Keldon Johnson also took a familial approach and could see himself riding bikes or playing outdoors basketball with his brothers.
The Spurs went 5-1 on their homestand and now head out for two back-to-back games in California. First up, the Clippers on Monday night followed by the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday evening.
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Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 14: Wilyer Abreu #16 of team Venezuela hits a home run during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Quarterfinals game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team Japan at loanDepot park on Saturday, March 14, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
After the Dominican Republic and the US both punched their tickets to the WBC semifinals on Friday night, Saturday saw the following matchups: Puerto Rico vs. Italy, and Venezuela vs. Japan. Here’s how the games played out.
Quarterfinals Game 3: Italy 8, Puerto Rico 6
Even though Puerto Rico’s 2026 WBC campaign was marred by insurance issues before it had even started, they nevertheless earned their spot in the quarterfinals with an impressive 3-1 record in a very competitive Pool A. Their spunk was on full display Friday night against Italy as they nearly overcame a six-run deficit. However, their comeback attempt fell just short, and it’s hard not to wonder how things might have played out differently if Francisco Lindor and/or Carlos Correa had been in the lineup.
It’s also important to give credit where credit is due. Italy’s lineup put up a hitting clinic, generating constant traffic on the bases by drawing walks and capitalizing on seemingly every RISP situation. Meanwhile, manager Francisco Cervelli’s proactive managing paid dividends, as the bullpen shut the Puerto Ricans down in the middle innings after an early hook for starter Sam Aldegheri. Although it got dicey towards the end, a gutsy performance from erstwhile Yankee Greg Weissert got Team Italy over the finish line.
Puerto Rico drew first blood with a Willi Castro leadoff homer, nearly tearing off the roof of Daikin Park. Seriously, the hype generated from these WBC crowds is nothing short of spine-tingling.
However, Italy came right back and then some in the bottom of the first. After Sam Antonacci and Jakob Marsee reached via walks, Vinnie Pasquantino continued his recent tear with an RBI single to knot things at 1-1.
Dominic Canzone and Jac Caglianone chipped in with singles of their own, each driving in a run. With two men on base, an Andrew Fischer walk loaded the bases for Best Name in the WBC contender J.J. D’Orazio, who lifted a sacrifice fly to right to make the score 4-1 Italy.
It seemed like it might be smooth sailing for Italy, but starter Sam Aldegheri could not deliver. After starting off the top of the second by getting Emmanuel Rivera to pop out, the Angels prospect allowed back-to-back walks to Heliot Ramos and Eddie Rosario before hitting Matthew Lugo to load the bases. Cervelli called on Alek Jacob to put out the fire, but his very first pitch connected with Martín Maldonado’s thigh, netting Puerto Rico their second run of the game. However, Jacob then retired Willi Castro and Darell Hernaiz to preserve Italy’s lead.
The score would stay 4-2 Italy until the bottom of the fourth. Despite starting the inning with two strikeouts from Thomas Saggese and Jakob Marsee, Italy refused to let the frame end. Pasquantino, Canzone, and Caglianone drew three straight walks to fill up the bases, setting the stage for Andrew Fischer. The Brewers’ 2025 first-round pick drove a ball to right field which looked like a bases-clearing double off the wall, but before it could fulfill its destiny, an overzealous fan in the bleachers reached down and snagged it.
Friends, if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, just keep your hands to yourself. It’s the best thing to do for everyone involved.
The umpires ruled that two runs were to score, potentially costing Team Italy a run and souring the vibes of what should have been an exciting moment. Fortunately for them (and for the aforementioned fan), J.J. D’Orazio washed the bad feeling away like a refreshing digestivo, hammering an automatic double to right field to make it 8-2 Italy.
The score would remain unchanged for the next three innings, thanks largely to a heroic relief performance from Italy right-hander Dylan DeLucia. Having entered the game in the third, DeLucia blanked Puerto Rico for four, count ‘em, four innings, allowing just two hits and walking no one while striking out three. He was relieved by Dan Altavilla in the seventh, who pitched around a leadoff walk and a Pasquantino error to post a scoreless frame.
Matt Festa came on for the eighth inning, seeking to continue the trend; however, Puerto Rico greeted him with a gutsy rally. Carlos Cortes led off with a single, and Emmanuel Rivera and Heliot Ramos each drew walks, loading the bases. Having failed to record a single out, Festa exited the game, and Joe La Sorsa was summoned to defuse the situation. La Sorsa managed to induce a groundball from Eddie Rosario, which scored a run but also allowed Italy to get a force out to second base. But he then proceeded to plunk Bryan Torres and throw a wild pitch to Christian Vázquez, allowing Puerto Rico’s fourth run of the game and putting runners on second and third.
Vázquez proceeded to poke a grounder into right field, continuing Puerto Rico’s unlikely comeback and sending their faithful into a frenzy.
However, that would be it for Puerto Rico’s rally. Greg Weissert entered the game for Italy and stemmed the tide, escaping the frame with a two-run lead. With the score now 8-6 Italy, Edwin Díaz came on for Puerto Rico to ensure that the game stayed within reach. Although a HBP to Sam Antonacci and a walk to Pasquantino made things dicey, ultimately Díaz was up to the task, striking out Canzone to end the frame.
Weissert stayed on for the ninth, and although Cortes led off the inning with a single, Weissert retired the next three batters in order to seal the deal for Italy. The teammate-kissing, espresso-swigging squad’s magical run continues, and I’m excited to see what they can pull off next.
In what was arguably the most evenly matched showdown of the quarterfinals, Venezuela flexed their muscles en route to a 8-5 victory over the defending champions Japan, overcoming a shaky start from Ranger Suarez to make their way into the semifinals and clearing the path for a tremendous final.
Many predicted this game to be one of the best games of the tournament, and it wasted no time in living up to its promise. On just the second pitch of the night, the always electric Ronald Acuña Jr. tattooed an uncharacteristic meatball from 2025 World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, sending it into the right-field stands for Venezuela’s first run. You’ll want to hear the crowd reaction for this one:
However, not to be outdone, Shohei Ohtani responded in typical fashion, stroking a 2-1 hanging slider from Ranger Suarez 427 feet to right field to even the score.
If you’re not following the WBC, you’re missing out on some pretty compelling baseball, folks.
Venezuela continued to showcase their dangerous lineup in the second, earning a 2-1 lead via consecutive doubles from Ezequiel Tovar and Gleyber Torres. Wilyer Abreu kept the line going with a walk, but Yamamoto dug deep and denied Venezuela any further damage, retiring the next three batters to end the inning.
Yamamoto clearly did not have his best stuff or his usual pristine command, but he battled hard, working around a leadoff double from Maikel Garcia to post a scoreless top of the third. Japan’s lineup would reward him handsomely in their half of the inning. After Sosuke Genda led off with a walk, manager Hirokazu Ibata made sabermetricians around the globe wince by electing to have Kenya Wakatsuki lay down a sacrifice bunt, which he successfully did. With first base now open, Puerto Rico skipper Yadier Molina had Suarez intentionally walk Ohtani, choosing to roll the dice with Teruaki Sato instead.
Sato, who led the Central League in homers and RBI last year with the Hanshin Tigers, showed exactly why he’s one of the most feared hitters in NPB, scorching a grounder down the right-field line for a double, scoring Genda. Japan had evened the score yet again, 2-2.
Enter Shota Morishita, fellow Hanshin Tiger, who started the game on the bench but came in to replace Seiya Suzuki, who injured his knee on a stolen base attempt in the third. Morishita nearly dropped to one knee swinging at a 2-2 changeup in the bottom of the zone, but he managed to get the barrel on it, sending it flying into the left field stands for a three-run dinger. Just like that, it was 5-2, Japan.
It seemed like a crushing blow for Venezuela, but they did not take it sitting down. Although Yamamoto set them down in order in the fourth, they would not let Japan’s bullpen enjoy the same success. Chihiro Sumida entered in the fifth and promptly walked the normally free-swinging Jackson Chourio on five pitches. Acuña struck out, but Maikel Garcia cashed in, clobbering a two-run homer to left field to make it 5-4 Japan.
Venezuela would deliver another haymaker in the sixth. Facing Hiromi Itoh, recipient of the 2025 Eiji Sawamura Award (Japan’s Cy Young), Tovar and Torres began the frame with back-to-back singles. Abreu then unloaded on a 91-mph middle-middle meatball, parking it into the second deck in right field. Venezuela had turned the game on its head, now leading 7-5 on the strength of the Red Sox outfielder.
On the other side of the ball, Venezuela’s bullpen, considered by many to be their weakest link, stifled the Japanese offense. From the fourth inning onward, relievers Emmanuel De Jesus, José Buttó, Angel Zerpa, Andrés Machado, and Daniel Palencia were unhittable, holding Japan to just three knocks and a walk, while striking out a combined eight batters. Slowly but surely, they recorded out after out, denying the Japanese fans any hope of a comeback. By the time that Venezuela was gifted an eighth run due to a botched pickoff attempt from Atsuki Taneichi in the top of the eighth, the game felt all but over.
In the previous WBC, Team Japan’s run ended with Ohtani on the mound, throwing a perfect 3-2 sweeper to induce a championship-clinching whiff from Mike Trout. As fate would have it, Ohtani was the last batter up for the 2026 squad. However, as great as he is, Ohtani can’t score three runs all by himself. Palencia gave him the pitch he wanted—a 2-1 fastball middle-in, right in his wheelhouse—but he just got under the Cubs closer’s offering, and the resulting pop fly was secured by Ezequiel Tovar.
Venezuela faced a tall task in facing Japan, but they passed the test with flying colors, led by an absolutely electric offensive performance and clutch pitching from their bullpen. If they keep this up, I really can’t see why they shouldn’t win the whole darn thing. Though Japan’s loss certainly stings, I’ll be following this Venezuela squad with great interest for the rest of the WBC.
Next up tonight? Paul Skenes and Team USA against old friend Luis Severino and the Dominican Republic, both with loaded lineups behind them and a WBC Championship Game appearance on the line. Buckle up for 8pm ET on FS1.
Ohtani began the World Baseball Classic in Tokyo for Team Japan with a double on the first pitch he saw and then, one inning later, a grand slam … of course he did.
It continued with an espresso shot ...
The hitters of lovable Team Italy celebrated home runs with shots of Italian espresso in a dugout dripping with cheek kisses and caffeine.
After hitting three homers against Mexico, Italy’s Vinnie Pasquantino told Fox that he was, “beaned up.”
Truly, this blip of a tournament has been beaned up, a glorious 10 days of deafening cheers and eye-blacked tears, fans dressed like discount popes and bald eagles, TV ratings through the roof, baseball at its October best … in the middle of spring training?
Italy's Jac Caglianone takes a shot of espresso as he celebrates with teammate Vinnie Pasquantino after hitting a solo home run against the U.S. during the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday in Houston. (Kenneth Richmond / Getty Images)
What a thing! What a treat!
All hail the WBC, 20 years old and all grown up, its sixth incarnation stealing the stage in a sweet spot during NBA doldrums and before March Madness.
Have you watched any of it? Have you been energized by all of it? It’s been like two weeks of All-Star games, only the players are serious. It’s been like when baseball was part of the Olympics, only the players are all truly the best in the world.
In the middle of the most boring part of the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues, it’s like a Superhero League. Two weeks before opening day, it’s like the final week of a pennant race.
It’s competitive, and it’s crazy, and Friday’s quarterfinals were filled with both.
There was giant Vladimir Guerrero Jr. going airborne to score a run for the Dominican Republic against Korea, and then leaping up and pumping his fist as if he had just won the World Series.
There was Juan Soto flying home to score an inning later, his head-first dive celebrated by Soto doing a swim move in the dugout.
Then there was Team USA’s David Bednar, screaming along with the chanting crowd as he worked out of a seventh-inning jam in a win over Canada.
In a tournament filled with equal parts emotion and edginess, Team USA now plays the Dominican Republic Sunday in Miami in a semifinal that could be the most-watched game of this season before the season starts.
Paul Skenes versus a lineup so deep Julio Rodriguez bats seventh? A team led by Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper versus a team featuring Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr?
Dominican Republic's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. dives past South Korea catcher Park Dong-won to score on a double by Junior Caminero during the World Baseball Classic on Friday in Miami. (Lynne Sladky / Associated Press)
“I expect it to be one of the best games of all time,” said Team USA Manager Mark DeRosa.
No, the WBC isn’t as big as the World Series. One notable player said it’s even bigger.
“The Classic kind of feels above the World Series,” Kiké Hernández told reporters earlier this spring. “Maybe it’s because of what we have on the chest,”
Hernández, who didn’t play for his home country Puerto Rico because he is recovering from elbow surgery, nonetheless showed up in San Juan for the pool-play games.
He was so excited when Puerto Rico beat Panama on a walk-off home run, he texted Dodgers baseball president Andrew Friedman and asked if he could accompany the team to Houston for the knockout round. Friedman of course said yes.
Before this spring, I had watched exactly one WBC at-bat. The entire deal felt cheesy and contrived. American players didn’t appear to care. American players would rather lounge through the final days of spring training in occasional games and on countless golf courses
Other countries loved it. Other countries caused a ruckus. The fan experience was highlighted by a memorable and deafening 2009 final at Dodger Stadium featured a Japan victory over South Korea in a game that many observers said was the loudest they ever attended.
Not me. Didn’t care. I pretty much ignored the whole thing until stumbling upon that one at-bat, the final out in the 2023 title game, that stunning dramatic strikeout of Mike Trout by then-Angel teammate Ohtani to give Japan the title.
Ohtani threw his cap and glove in a rare show of emotion, setting off a wild and sincere celebration as my ignorant self finally realized, "Hey, this is a thing."
Three years later, the American players have agreed, stacking the roster with stars like Judge and Harper, kids like Pete Crow-Armstrong, vets like Kyle Schwarber and Big Dumpers named Cal Raleigh, all transforming this occasional baseball oddity into must-see TV.
You know how one can tell it’s real American baseball? The team spent its first week mired in social media drama and a second-guessing controversy.
American right fielder Aaron Judge celebrates his team's win over Canada during a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game on Friday in Houston. (David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
Tarik Skubal, the game’s best pitcher, found himself defending his patriotism after leaving the tournament early to better prepare for his opening day start with the Detroit Tigers.
First, he admitted he was surprised at how bad he felt about abandoning Team USA. That seemed to be a theme in a clubhouse that has been stunned at how much this matters.
“I totally misread how I would feel,” he said.
Then, he seemed genuinely hurt that people think he is turning his back on the flag.
“It’s just not fair,” he told the Athletic, later adding, “If they know me, though, and they know me on a personal level and they know what my peers think of me, I don't think it's fair to say those things."
Also finding himself in hot water was USA manager Mark DeRosa, who nearly allowed his team to be eliminated in pool play because he didn’t know the rules.
When Team USA played Italy on Tuesday night, DeRosa rested most of his starters, nearly used retired Clayton Kershaw and basically managed the game as if he thought they didn’t need to win to guarantee advancement to the next round.
Guess what? They needed to win. But they didn’t win, losing 8-6 in a shocking upset. So they were forced to sweat out the Italy-Mexico game on Wednesday, where another Italian upset allowed them to back into the quarterfinals.
DeRosa claimed he knew the rules all along, which he clearly did not.
Before the game against Italy, in an interview on the MLB Network, he said, “Our ticket’s punched to the quarterfinals.”
After the game, DeRosa claimed he just, “misspoke”
And then Thursday he told the media, “I was well aware that we had to win the game.”
The 16-year journeyman clearly messed up, and then tried to cover up, and here’s guessing even if Team USA wins this tournament, he won’t be managing them in the 2028 Olympics or in any future WBC events.
Meanwhile, one American player had a dissenting view about the status of this tournament, Harper offering a tired argument.
“Obviously, the WBC has been great, but it’s not the Olympics, right?” he told reporters. “That’s no disrespect to the WBC or anything, but everybody knows that when the Olympics are on, everybody’s watching. It doesn’t matter what sport it is; it could be the most random sport, and it’s got all the fans watching it.”
Wrong. Here’s guessing more fans will be watching Sunday night in a matchup for the ages. Then, imagine if Team USA wins and plays Japan on Tuesday night for the championship?
With the sport headed toward a seemingly inevitable work stoppage this winter, this could be the sweet beginnings of a long farewell. Soak it in. Enjoy the buzz. Get all beaned up. March madness indeed.
Aug 15, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) pitches against Washington Nationals outfielder Robert Hassell III (57) during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Another spring victory, which is great, but we’re here for the showdown tonight in Miami.
United States vs. Dominican Republic, Paul Skenes vs. possibly the best lineup ever assembled. If you’re not excited by this matchup, I’m know sure you have a pulse.
SB Nation’s CBB expert Mike Rutherford and resident bracketologist Chris Dobbertean will answer all your questions this week and help guide you to bracket glory! Drop in SB Nation’s March Madness Feed all week long and we’ll have both on hand! (All times ET)
