WrestleMania weekend is set.

WWE’s two-day spectacle is less than two weeks away, and the schedules for night one and night two were announced on ESPN on Tuesday, April 7. While matches have been forming ever since the Royal Rumble, it was unknown whether it would take place on Saturday, April 18 or Sunday, April 19. Now, we know who will be in the ring on which night.

There are 13 matches scheduled to take place at the time of announcement, and while there could be more revealed as we get closer to the biggest night in wrestling, here is the WrestleMania 42 schedule:

WrestleMania 42 match card on night one

There will be seven matches on Saturday, April 18. While the match order isn’t finalized, it was confirmed the first two matches will be Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre, as well as the six-man tag team match involving iShowSpeed and Logan Paul as the first hour of the show will air on ESPN2.

The main event is the Undisputed WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.

Here is the full lineup for night one:

• Unsanctioned match: Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre (on ESPN2 first hour)
• iShowSpeed, Logan Paul and Austin Theory vs. LA Knight, Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso (on ESPN2 first hour)
• Gunther vs. Seth Rollins
• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship fatal four-way match: Nia Jax and Lash Legend (c) vs. The Bella Twins vs. Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair vs. Lyra Valkyria and Bayley
• Women’s Intercontinental Championship match: AJ Lee (c) vs. Becky Lynch
• Women’s World Championship match: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv Morgan
• Undisputed WWE Championship match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton

WrestleMania 42 match card on night two

Six matches are schedule for Sunday, April 19. The first two matches will air on ESPN, and it will feature Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi and the Intercontinental Championship ladder match.

The main event of the night is the World Heavyweight Championship match featuring CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns.

Here is the full lineup for night two:

• Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar (on ESPN first hour)
• Intercontinental Championship ladder match: Penta (c) vs. Je’Von Evans vs. JD McDonagh vs. Dragon Lee vs. Rusev vs. Rey Mysterio (on ESPN first hour)
• Demon Finn Bálor vs. Dominik Mysterio
• United States Championship match: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Trick Williams
• WWE Women’s Championship match: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
• World Heavyweight Championship match: CM Punk (c) vs. Roman Reigns

When is WrestleMania 42?

WrestleMania 42 is on April 18-19 from Las Vegas. Both nights begin at 6 p.m. ET and will stream on ESPN.

The nets have been cut down in Indianapolis with Michigan defeating Connecticut to win the national title and close the book on the men’s college basketball season. After a short breath, it’s already time to start looking ahead to the 2026-27 campaign and determine which teams are the contenders to play in the Final Four in Detroit next April.

There’s a lot in flux before we get to the start of the season in November, making the predictions for next season challenging. The biggest factor to weigh is the impact of the transfer portal, which officially opens Tuesday, April 7. However, we already know many of the major players moving places. There’s also the matter of the uncertain futures for several candidates for the NBA draft. In those instances, we’ve assumed upper echelon will depart but left open the door for others to stay.

We’ve done our best to put all information together and release our too-early Top 25 ranking with a heavy dose of power schools dominating.

1. Michigan State

Despite losing twin big men Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper, this could be a special season for the Spartans if – as expected – it brings back point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. and forward Coen Carr. Those give them two standouts to build around. Michigan State will also have great depth with most of this year’s rotation back in the fold. Tom Izzo will add in a very impressive recruiting class that ranks second nationally.

2. Duke

While player of the year Cameron Boozer departs, The Blue Devils will again have a significant infusion of freshman talent with guard Deron Rippey Jr. and forward Cameron Williams projected to be immediate impact players. Should veterans Caleb Foster, Cayden Boozer and Dame Sarr decide to forego the draft, this has the makings of one of the best teams in the nation.

3. Michigan

The Wolverines will lose Yaxel Lendeborg and should also see forward Morez Johnson Jr. and center Aday Mara enter the NBA draft. The focus of the team’s production will shift to a backcourt built around Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney. Michigan coach Dusty May has signed an elite recruiting class headlined by forwards Quinn Costello and Lincoln Cosby and will again hit the transfer portal aggressively.

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4. Florida

The key question for the Gators is whether Alex Condon will return for another season. He stands to be one of the top players in the SEC and would have Rueben Chinyelu alongside him up front. Boogie Fland and Urban Klavzar are confirmed returner and bring scoring punch and experience in the backcourt. A couple of transfer adds puts Florida back in title contention.

5. Arizona

The departures of most of the key players from a team that dominated the Big 12 will be hard to replace. That’s the negative. The positive is there’s enough role players due back and some key arrivals already slated to join the program. The frontcourt could be formidable with Ivan Kharchenkov and Motiejus Krivas having eligibility. Dwayne Aristode will be expected to lead the backcourt in his sophomore season, and he’ll be joined by five-star freshman Caleb Holt.

6. Illinois

This could be another Final Four team next season if things fall right. The frontcourt looks to be in great shape with David Mirkovic poised to be back with the Ivisic brothers. Andrej Stojakovic will lead the backcourt with Quentin Coleman, a late addition to the recruiting class, a potential immediate contributor after Keaton Wagler’s departure. Expect Brad Underwood bring in more pieces from the transfer portal or overseas to make Illinois a contender again.

7. Alabama

The legal situation of Aden Holloway looms over his status for next season. Should Holloway return, the Crimson Tide have plenty of potential firepower to play their up-tempo style. Amari Allen averaged double figures, while London Jamison stands to have a bigger role in his second seasons in the program. Keitenn Bristow and Jalil Bethea both failed to make an impact after their arrivals from the portal, but development from both would be a major boost.

8. Houston

The Cougars have been a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the last four tournaments, illustrating the high standards of the program under Kelvin Sampson. There will be retooling through the portal with most of the key components from this past season departing. Veteran forward Joseph Tugler should be the leader of the group and could be joined by Chris Cenac, who is weighing a draft decision. Bigger roles are expected for Mercy Miller and Chase McCarty. Incoming prep center Arafan Diane will be asked to contribute right away.

9. Arkansas

The Razorbacks will be aiming higher after a pair of Sweet 16 appearances. While the departure of Darius Acuff Jr. will leave a major void, John Calipari is bringing in freshman guards Jordan Smith Jr. and JJ Andrews. More will be asked of veterans Billy Richmond III and Malique Ewin, but they are both capable of providing scoring punch.

10. Virginia

The Cavaliers were one of the country’s biggest surprises in Ryan Odom’s first season and stand to bring back several of their key pieces. Thijs De Ridder was first-team all-ACC in his first season with the program, and Sam Lewis and Chance Mallory will have bigger roles. It should be another season at the top of the conference.

11. Gonzaga

It’ll be a new look for the Bulldogs with the team moving into the Pac-12 that will provide greater conference competition with several of the best teams from the Mountain West also arriving. Gonzaga benefits from several mainstays returning with big man Braden Huff expected to be at full strength after missing the final stretch of the season due to a knee injury and rising sophomores Mario Saint-Supery and Davis Fogle looking to make big jumps in production. A strong recruiting class led by Jack Kayil from Germany and Luca Foster will also keep Mark Few’s team in the mix for a top seed in the tournament.

12. Connecticut

Guards Braylon Mullins and Solo Ball could enter the NBA draft. If not, though, UConn will have one of the best backcourts in the country. Silas Demery and Jayden Ross were return after contributing to the team that fell one game short of a national title. There will be a need for a new interior presence with Tarris Reed Jr. graduating, and Alex Karaban’s departure leaves a huge void. But the Huskies will add more wing scoring with freshmen Colben Landrew and Junior County.

13. Iowa State

It will be a year of transition for the Cyclones with mainstays Tamin Lipsey and Jordan Jefferson among the players moving on. Milan Momcilovic, the team’s leading scorer, is expected to explore his NBA draft options, and his return would be a massive boost. T.J. Otzelberger will be aggressive in the portal, but he has holdovers Killyan Toure, Blake Buchanan and Jamarion Batemon to build around.

14. St. John’s

Few teams will be as active in the portal with standouts Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins out of eligibility. The backcourt should bring back experience and depth with Dylan Darling, Oziyah Sellers, Ian Jackson and Joson Sanon, though this group will need to be better from 3-point range. The biggest source of optimism comes from coach Rick Pitino and his track record of tournament success.

15. BYU

Incoming freshman Bruce Branch III isn’t as heralded as AJ Dybantsa was, but he’s a massive piece for the Cougars, who will be hoping to avoid the injury bug that slowed their expected NCAA Tournament run. Robert Wright will be an elite scorer with Branch. The big question for coach Kevin Young is bringing in some size to address departures in the frontcourt.

16. Purdue

The Boilermakers move on without the trio of Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn. No returning player scored more than guard C.J. Cox’s 8.5 points per game. Look for Purdue to lean on a recruiting class that ranks seventh nationally while blending in transfers such as former Princeton forward Caden Pierce. Coach Matt Painter has won at least 24 games in each of the past five years and will contend to do so again despite the reworked roster.

17. Miami (Fla.)

Like his ACC counterpart Ryan Odom, Jai Lucas did one of the best jobs of first-year coaches with the program making a 19-win improvement. The Hurricanes are looking to go further than just making the NCAA Tournament with Shelton Henderson and Dante Allen expected to the top scoring options. Lucas will again hit the portal but he secured an elite recruit by convincing incoming freshman Caleb Gaskins to stay home in South Florida.

18. Nebraska

To capitalize on this year’s success, Nebraska has to retain Pryce Sandfort and Braden Frager while dipping into the portal to find a new starting point guard. The Cornhuskers will bring back some size up front but will need a healthy season from former All-MAC pick Ugnius Jaruševičius. Incoming freshmen Colin Rice and Jacob Lanier could make an immediate impact.

19. Iowa

After a magical Elite Eight run, Iowa looks to maintain that momentum under second-year coach Ben McCollum while losing top scorer Bennett Stirtz. The Hawkeyes will be aggressive in the portal to find a guard to join holdovers Kael Combs, Isaia Howard and Tate Sage, and also to find a center to play alongside projected returnees Alvaro Folgueiras, Cam Manyawu and Cooper Koch.

20. Kansas

One key returner is confirmed with Bill Self deciding to stay on the bench amid health issues. There will be less drama without Darryn Peterson around, and the role of standout freshman should be handled by incoming recruit Taylen Kinney. Bryson Tiller was slated for a bigger role in the frontcourt after the surprising departure of Flory Bidunga. But it appears Tiller and guard Elmarko Jackson also may be leaving.

21. Tennessee

The elusive first Final Four remains the goal but getting back to the Elite Eight for the fourth year in a row will require Rick Barnes to bring in major additions through the portal. One already in the books is Tyler Lundblade from Belmont, who brings needed shooting range. Ralph Scott and Manny Green are two freshmen that need to have a big impact.

22. North Carolina

One big question was answered with the hiring of Michael Malone. It’s unclear how bringing in an NBA title-winning coach without experience as college head coach will shake out. But let’s assume for now that most of their returning pieces stay in place. Luka Bogavac and Jarin Stevenson are good building blocks that return for their senior season, and key recruits Dylan Ming and Maximo Adams could contribute right away. Expect there to be major moves in the portal with Chapel Hill still remaining a desired destination.

23. Louisville

Louisville has gone 51-19 in Pat Kelsey’s two years and should remain an ACC contender despite losing some key pieces, including Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell. While there’s work to be done in the portal, the Cardinals bring back guard Adrian Wooley and former G-League guard London Johnson.

24. Wisconsin

With guard John Blackwell entering the portal, look for the Badgers to be active in adding depth and shooting to the wing rotation. What Wisconsin has is an experienced frontline led by Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp, which should lead to a different look on offense. But the pieces are in place for another top-six finish in the Big Ten.

25. VCU

The Rams were poised to have five of their top six scorers return before the announcement that Terrence Hill Jr. was departing. Even with the bad news, Phil Martelli Jr. has a solid foundation to build upon after a 28-win season. Look for guard Nyk Lewis to emerge in his sophomore season with forward Lazar Djokovic providing scoring inside . Sammy Jackson, a top-50 recruit, should be a huge addition to the lineup.

INDIANAPOLIS — You wouldn’t think Michigan would be all smiles at halftime.

Yes, it had a four-point lead over Connecticut in the national championship game, but it was an unattractive four-point lead. It was arguably the worst first-half performance of the season. Not only did the Wolverines fail to make a single 3-pointer in the first half – the only time that’s happened this season – but there were no makes outside of the paint. 

An awful first 20 minutes, but the Wolverines weren’t just staying positive, they were beaming in happiness.

Why?

“It can’t get any worse,” Michigan guard Nimari Burnett told USA TODAY Sports.

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True, but it’s not like the second half was any better. Michigan struggled offensively for all 40 minutes. The 69 points were Michigan’s third lowest of the season. It was the worst 3-point shooting night of the season. 

Actually, it was the worst shooting performance of the season, period.

UConn needed to make Michigan look ugly to win. It did that – and it still lost. 

So, how did the Wolverines do it?

Because of one thing hiding in plain sight; while Michigan was lighting up the scoreboard with its prolific offense all tournament long, it made everyone forget one thing: they are just as good on defense.

“When one side lets us down, the other side picks it up,” Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg said.

The Wolverines made sure to remind everybody on Monday, resulting in a national championship as those halftime smiles carried over to after the buzzer sounded and Lucas Oil Stadium rained maize and blue confetti.

It’s not like Michigan’s defensive prowess wasn’t there for all to see. Three players – Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara – were Big Ten all-defensive players, with Mara the conference defensive player of the year.

That’s why teams’ defensive shooting percentage of 38.4% and average of 6.1 blocks per game were each the second best mark in the country, and it was on full display in the NCAA Tournament. 

The reason why Michigan won its first five tournament games by an average of 21.6 points per game wasn’t just because it was scoring at least 90 points, but because it harassed opposing offenses every night.

No team shot above 45% against the Wolverines, and the collective opponent shooting percentage from those games? A whopping 37.9%. The defense got better in the tournament.

“The statistics, it speaks for itself,” Burnett said. “I feel like we’re the best defensive team in the country.”

Bennett and company did prove it. UConn shot a season-worst 31% from the field. A team that was top 10 in assists with more than 18 per game had just nine, the only time it was held to single digits.

Despite making nine three pointers, UConn missed 24 attempts. Shots were constantly getting contested by the the Wolverines’ quickness to the ball. Even with the looks UConn wanted, not many of them were wide open.

It didn’t get any easier near the basket. Six shots inside the paint got swatted away, making it tough for the Huskies to prevail even with their own defensive toughness.

“It’s hard to have a level of disappointment where literally it just came down to we just didn’t make enough shots in the basket,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “To be able to keep that team under 40% from the field – 38% – this team has destroyed everyone they’ve faced in this tournament.”

For all of its defensive success, Michigan still had to find a way to score, and it did so in an uncharacteristic way.

If there was one thing Michigan wasn’t good at, it was free throws. The Wolverines entered the night 109th in the country with a 74.3% mark from the charity stripe. They drew fouls, resulting in 28 free throw attempts.

How many makes? How about 25 for an 89.3% clip.

All of it proving to be just enough to get the biggest win of the season.

“We started off really, really bad offensively, our defense was the reason why we won most of those games, today is the same thing,” Lendeborg said. “We had to dig deep.”

While it wasn’t pretty by any means, how Michigan won showed there is nothing to doubt about this title. Since the statement it made at the Player’s Era tournament, Michigan had been a relentless machine on both sides of the ball, churning blowout after blowout, no matter who was on the other side.

Even when it isn’t able to do that, instead of falling apart like most teams could, the Wolverines opted to hone in on one of its many strengths and ride it toward a win.

“They’re legit. They definitely deserved to win the national championship. They’re clearly the best team in the country this year,” Hurley said.

UConn wanted a slugfest, and it’s exactly what it got. Michigan coach Dusty May actually admitted the Huskies “had a masterful game plan to beat us.” All of it pointed to a third national title in four years to cement Hurley’s dynasty.

Little did UConn and the rest of the country realize Michigan had been throwing it down all season, and it didn’t need another offensive surge to do that. The defense carried Michigan just as much to this point, and in the end, it proved defense wins championships.

“Obviously, it’s a big stage, but we deserve to be here,” Burnett said. “We deserve this moment.”

It’s the final week of the NBA regular season, meaning it’s crunch time for teams battling for playoff positioning. And there are big battles across both conferences, with just a handful of games left before the postseason begins with the NBA Play-In Tournament on April 14.

Only one thing is certain at this point: the Detroit Pistons have locked up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. But there are a few games on the Monday, April 6 slate that could play a key role in determining who lands where on the playoff bracket.

The night began with a crucial matchup in Atlanta, pitting the New York Knicks, the current No. 3 seed in the East, against the red-hot Hawks, who currently hold the No. 5 seed. The San Antonio Spurs, who still have a chance to catch the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top seed in the West, hosted the Philadelphia 76ers, who are trying to hang on to the sixth seed in the East. The night concluded with a Northest division matchup between the Denver Nuggets, seeking to move into a top-three seed, and the Portland Trail Blazers, who sit in the No. 9 seed.

Here are the current brackets for the playoffs and the Play-In Tournament, the NBA standings and the results for games of Monday, April 6:

NBA schedule for Monday, April 6

All time Eastern

• New York Knicks 108, Atlanta Hawks 105
• Orlando Magic 123, Detroit Pistons 107
• Cleveland Cavaliers 142, Memphis Grizzlies 126
• San Antonio Spurs 115, Philadelphia 76ers 102
• Denver Nuggets 137, Portland Trail Blazers 132 (OT)

NBA standings

All 20 teams – 10 in each conference – that will participate in the postseason have been determined. Here are their records through games on Monday, April 6, and what each of those teams has clinched so far (x-clinched playoff berth; d-clinched division; y-clinched conference):

Eastern Conference

• (1) y-Detroit Pistons: 57-22
• (2) x-Boston Celtics: 53-25 (3.5 GB)
• (3) x-New York Knicks: 51-28 (6 GB)
• (4) x-Cleveland Cavaliers: 50-29 (7 GB)
• (5) Atlanta Hawks: 45-34 (12 GB)
• (6) Toronto Raptors: 43-35 (14 GB)
• (6) Philadelphia 76ers: 43-36 (14 GB)
• (8) Charlotte Hornets: 43-36 (14 GB)
• (9) Orlando Magic: 43-36 (14 GB)
• (10) Miami Heat: 41-37 (15.5 GB)

Western Conference

• (1) d-Oklahoma City Thunder: 62-16
• (2) d-San Antonio Spurs: 60-19 (2.5 GB)
• (3) x-Denver Nuggets: 51-28 (11.5 GB)
• (4) d-Los Angeles Lakers: 50-28 (12 GB)
• (5) x-Houston Rockets: 49-29 (13 GB)
• (6) Minnesota Timberwolves: 46-32 (16 GB)
• (7) Phoenix Suns: 43-35 (19 GB)
• (8) Los Angeles Clippers: 40-38 (22 GB)
• (9) Portland Trail Blazers: 40-39 (22.5 GB)
• (10) Golden State Warriors: 36-42 (26 GB)

NBA playoffs bracket

(Through games on Monday, April 6)

Eastern Conference

• (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Play-In Winner
• (4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
• (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Toronto Raptors
• (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner

Western Conference

• (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner
• (4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets
• (3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
• (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Play-In Winner

NBA Play-In Tournament

(Through games on Monday, April 6)

Eastern Conference

• (7) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Charlotte Hornets
• (9) Orlando Magic vs. (10) Miami Heat

Western Conference

• (7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) LA Clippers
• (9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors

When do the NBA playoffs begin?

• The NBA Play-In Tournament begins on Tuesday, April 14 and runs through Friday, April 17.
• The NBA playoffs start Saturday, April 18 and feature eight teams in each conference after teams are eliminated in the Play-In Tournament.
• Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3.

Which NBA teams have been eliminated from the playoffs?

Eastern Conference

• Brooklyn Nets
• Chicago Bulls
• Indiana Pacers
• Milwaukee Bucks
• Washington Wizards

Western Conference

• Dallas Mavericks
• Memphis Grizzlies
• New Orleans Pelicans
• Sacramento Kings
• Utah Jazz

The NCAA men’s basketball championship game between the Michigan Wolverines and UConn Huskies will feature several players projected as first-round picks in the 2026 NBA Draft.

While top picks including AJ Dybantsa as well as Cameron Boozer and Darryn Peterson were eliminated earlier during March Madness, the Final Four saw several star-studded prospects participate. Arizona freshmen Brayden Burries and Koa Peat as well as Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler were one win short of an appearance in the title game, but several other future NBA players will play for a chance to cut down the nets.

In addition for a chance at a championship trophy, the title game between Michigan and UConn is also a wonderful opportunity to put on one more show in front of scouts during the Big Dance.

Note: Some highly-ranked players not included here who could potentially return to college include Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor), Alijah Arenas (USC), Meleek Thomas (Arkansas), Ebuka Okorie (Stanford) and Flory Bidunga (Kansas). But if these players decide to declare and stay in the draft, they could potentially warrant first-round consideration as well.

Our draft order is based on ESPN’s projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa

• TEAM: BYU
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Massachusetts
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Wizards have the second-worst offense in the NBA and could instantly inject life into their offense by selecting AJ Dybantsa, the NCAA scoring champion and Julius Erving Award winner. He emphasized that point during his one game for BYU in March Madness, putting up 35 points and 10 rebounds. The Big 12 Rookie of the Year led the nation in unassisted points scored (680) by a wide margin this season, per CBB Analytics. The emerging star also had 40 points against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament on March 10 and averaged 28.8 points per game over his final 17 appearances. 

2. Indiana Pacers: Cameron Boozer 

• TEAM: Duke
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Florida
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 18

Duke freshman Cameron Boozer was dominant during his first NCAA season, earning national collegiate player of the year. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, rival teams believe Boozer would be the “preferred selection” for the Pacers because of his “potential fit” alongside Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac. The ACC Player of the Year isn’t a human highlight reel, but he offers consistency and a diverse, impactful skill set. More importantly, he can bring a culture of winning after multiple championships in high school and an elite Duke team that made it to the Sweet 16 before a heartbreaking last-second loss.

3. Brooklyn Nets: Darryn Peterson

• TEAM: Kansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 19

While he is no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. The Nets have the worst offense in the NBA and could change the course of the franchise by selecting Peterson. It is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season. 

4. Utah Jazz: Kingston Flemings 

• TEAM: Houston
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Texas
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 19

While most project North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson at No. 4 overall, he may not fit in Utah’s crowded frontcourt. Meanwhile, the Jazz currently have the worst defensive rating in the Western Conference and could potentially improve that by selecting Houston freshman Kingston Flemings. The All-Big 12 guard has several games when he has recorded at least three steals, notching eight against Arizona State earlier this season. He scored 42 points against No. 11 Texas Tech on Jan. 24. He helped lead Houston to the Sweet 16, and with highs as high as his were this season, it will not take long for him to hear his name called on draft night.   

5. Sacramento Kings: Caleb Wilson

• TEAM: North Carolina
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Georgia
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Kings need the best player available, and that is North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson, who unfortunately missed the NCAA Tournament with a broken thumb. Wilson, who also suffered a hand fracture earlier in the season, did more than enough to earn this placement, though. According to Bart Torvik, before the injury the All-ACC big man led the nation with 67 dunks recorded. He was also the only player under 20 years old to reach thresholds of 2.5 percent for both block and steal percentage while also notching a defensive rebound percentage above 20.0 percent.

6. Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans): Darius Acuff Jr. 

• TEAM: Arkansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Michigan
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Hawks could use a guard like Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. after trading away Trae Young, using a first-round pick they received from the Pelicans. En route to the Sweet 16, the SEC Player of the Year proved he is one of the most enticing offensive prospects in recent memory. Acuff Jr. led the nation for points created (1,394) either by himself or through an assist, per CBB Analytics. He led freshmen for field goals made in transition (72) and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists (17) as well. He has significant defensive deficiencies but playing alongside Dyson Daniels would help cover that problem. 

7. Dallas Mavericks: Keaton Wagler 

• TEAM: Illinois
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Kansas
• HEIGHT: 6-6
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Mavericks have the worst offensive rating in the Western Conference and could benefit from a player like Illinois standout Keaton Wagler. The 19-year-old guard played a crucial role to help the Fighting Illini earn a spot in the Final Four, where he recorded 20 points and 8 rebounds against UConn in the national semifinals. The freshman also dropped 25 points in the Elite Eight. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, shooting 39.7 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman. while connecting on as many as nine 3-pointers in a game. The Big Ten Rookie of the Year has athletic limitations but is a cerebral basketball player who is also averaging 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season. 

8. Memphis Grizzlies: Yaxel Lendeborg

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: New Jersey
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 23

The Grizzlies could add to their rebuilding core after trading away Jaren Jackson Jr. by selecting Yaxel Lendeborg, who has shown on his way to the men’s collegiate national championship game that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Big Ten Player of the Year offers a bit of everything on both sides of the ball and has silenced skeptics who were unsure how his game would scale after transferring from mid-major UAB to high-major Michigan. The Grizzlies have drafted players with similar trajectories like Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward.

9. Chicago Bulls: Brayden Burries 

• TEAM: Arizona
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: California
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Arizona freshman Brayden Burries was an exciting prospect to watch during the Big Dance, making it all the way to the Final Four and dropping 23 points against Arkansas. He had two breakout games in January, which helped solidify his draft stock. But the All-Big 12 guard continued to display his tantalizing talent, scoring 31 points with seven rebounds and five steals against Colorado on March 7 and 20 points with 12 rebounds and five assists during a victory against No. 14 Kansas on Feb. 28. He has proven productivity, and he is able to defend, relocate, move the ball and make 3-pointers off the dribble. Burries would make a great pick for whatever new executives take over the front office for the Bulls.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Mikel Brown Jr. 

• TEAM: Louisville
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Florida
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Milwaukee Bucks need to simply draft the best player available with whatever pick they have and will likely keep Louisville floor general Mikel Brown Jr. highlighted on their big board. The All-ACC guard has deep shooting range and was among the freshmen leaders in 3-pointers made from beyond 25 feet (27) this year, per CBB Analytics. Brown was averaging 29.2 points per game over his last five appearances, including 45 points against NC State on Feb. 9, while hitting 10 shots from beyond the arc, before an injury on Feb. 28 forced him to miss March Madness.

11. Golden State Warriors: Labaron Philon 

• TEAM: Alabama
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Alabama
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Warriors could still use more reliable players in the backcourt and could find a fairly compelling player in Alabama sophomore Labaron Philon. Even though the All-SEC guard was not playing at 100 percent during March Madness due to injury issues, he played well in the tournament, recording 35 points during a loss against Michigan. He also notched 29 points in his first game and 12 assists in his second. The guard averaged 22.0 points per game, and he improved his 3-point shooting from 31.5 percent as a freshman to 39.9 percent as a sophomore, while also managing 5.0 assists per game in the process.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Hannes Steinbach

• TEAM: Washington
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Germany
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• DRAFT AGE: 20

After winning the 2025 NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder are projected to add even more lottery-caliber talent in the 2026 NBA Draft. They could use it to potentially replace Isaiah Hartenstein by drafting a younger German big man: Hannes Steinbach. While his team missed the tournament, the All-Big Ten post is an instinctive rebounder with great hands, including an absurd 24 rebounds against USC on March 4. Additionally, the center is one of the more prolific pick-and-roll finishers in college basketball. He shined during the FIBA U19 World Cup, and scouts love that he is a smart basketball player who can make great reads.

13. Portland Trail Blazers: Nate Ament 

• TEAM: Tennessee
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Virginia
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• DRAFT AGE: 19

After a relatively slow and inefficient start to the season, Tennessee freshman Nate Ament started to realize some of his lofty expectations. The freshman averaged 21.6 points per game, while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers, during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. The All-SEC forward then had 27 points (4-of-6 on 3-pointers) with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal against Auburn on March 12. He was not as efficient during March Madness, but it will only take one team to fall in love with Ament, and that team is almost certainly picking in the lottery.

14. Miami Heat: Koa Peat 

• TEAM: Arizona
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Arizona
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Miami Heat have drafted several prospects known for their athleticism, which means a player like Arizona forward Koa Peat will probably have some appeal to the organization. Peat is an ideal match for this franchise given his versatility as a playmaking forward. Arizona played at a significantly faster pace (3.9 extra possessions) when Peat was on the floor relative to when he was not, per CBB Analytics, which would fit very well with Miami’s fastest-paced offense in the NBA. The All-Big 12 forward just needs a jumper to carve out regular minutes as a high-impact pro. 

15. Charlotte Hornets: Braylon Mullins 

• TEAM: Connecticut
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Indiana
• HEIGHT: 6-6
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Braylon Mullins, a five-star recruit and former McDonald’s All-American, was a breakout star in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament after hitting one of the most improbable 3-pointers in March Madness history. Mullins continued to show a winning mentality, helping the Huskies earn a spot in the national championship game. The Big East All-Freshman wing shot 40.7 percent on 3-pointers during his first 18 games in the starting lineup. He is a useful off-ball threat, which gives him an immediately practical role at the next level. 

16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic): Joshua Jefferson 

• TEAM: Iowa State
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Nevada
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 22

A few years ago, research indicated that the Grizzlies tend to value a few statistical similarities in their draftees: Efficient shot selection, added value beyond scoring and defensive playmaking. For the second year in a row, the Iowa State forward was an impactful dribble-pass-shoot forward who met many of the qualifications that led Memphis to find players who spent many years on their roster. The All-Big 12 forward got injured during the first round of the tournament, but Iowa State still earned a spot in the Sweet 16.

17. Toronto Raptors: Bennett Stirtz 

• TEAM: Iowa
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Missouri
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 22

The Raptors could use another guard and should have Bennett Stirtz on their priority list. After transferring from Division II to a mid-major and then to a high-major program, he is at the top of the class in creating his own shot off the dribble in isolation or the pick-and-roll. The All-Big Ten guard can also finish plays from dribble handoffs. His play during March Madness, which included 24 points against Illinois and 20 points against Nebraska, earned a spot in the Elite Eight. The Raptors play at a slow pace, which would translate well for Stirtz, who did the same at Iowa. 

18. Charlotte Hornets (via Suns): Jayden Quaintance

• TEAM: Kentucky
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 18

Jayden Quaintance recorded just one start during his sophomore campaign as he recovered from a torn ACL, meniscus and fractured knee. The big man is still one of the youngest players in this class, but he has shown flashes during his time at Arizona State and Kentucky. When healthy, he is arguably the most talented defender in this draft class and could help a team that desperately needs frontcourt help, like the Hornets. But health may cause some concern for evaluators.

19. Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers): Karim López

• TEAM: International (Australia)
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Mexico
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Thunder have drafted multiple players from Australia’s NBL, including Josh Giddey. They could dip into this well again by selecting Karim López with their pick from the Philadelphia 76ers. While the Mexican-born forward still needs some development, he is physically gifted and widely seen as the top prospect from this class currently playing overseas. He exploded for 32 points (11-of-13 FG) with eight rebounds, two blocks and one steal against Melbourne on Jan. 30. Even if he is a draft-and-stash player, that is ideal for a team with a rotation as crowded as the Thunder.

20. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks): Aday Mara 

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Spain
• HEIGHT: 7-3
• DRAFT AGE: 21

After leading his team to the NCAA championship game, Michigan center Aday Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempted 20.9 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near lowest among all NCAA players. He can also pass well, finding some awesome outlet looks in transition and at the rim. Especially in short spurts, Mara would make an excellent backup to Victor Wembanyama. 

21. Detroit Pistons (via Timberwolves): Christian Anderson 

• TEAM: Texas Tech
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Georgia
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• DRAFT AGE: 20

While they are one of the best teams in the league this season, the Pistons are still struggling from the perimeter and could use more talented 3-point shooters on their roster. A simple fix would be drafting Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson, who had the most unassisted 3-pointers (61) among high-major players, per CBB Analytics. After moving from the two-guard to point guard, the All-Big 12 Most Improved Player recorded more than twice as many assists per 100 possessions as a sophomore compared to when he was a freshman. 

22. New York Knicks: Chris Cenac Jr. 

• TEAM: Houston
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Louisiana
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• DRAFT AGE: 19

It was an up-and-down season for former five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American Chris Cenac Jr. at Houston. While he still remains a candidate to return to college and improve his draft stock for the 2027 NBA Draft, Cenac Jr. got hot at the perfect time. During his first game in the Big Dance, the big man recorded a season-high 18 rebounds, while also knocking down a 3-pointer and grabbing a steal. Then in the Round of 32, he showed off more scoring with some impressive cuts to the basket, dropping 17 points against Texas A&M. He was quieter in the Sweet 16 but still managed 10 rebounds. 

23. Denver Nuggets: Thomas Haugh 

• TEAM: Florida
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Pennsylvania
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 22

After winning a national championship with Florida last season, Thomas Haugh was instantly regarded as one of the most interesting players who elected to return to college. The All-SEC forward had one of the top motors in the NCAA this season before an early elimination from March Madness. While he did not score efficiently in a set offense this year, he does not need the ball in his hands very often to make a difference on the floor for his team. He can serve as a glue guy for a contending team looking to win an NBA title like the Nuggets. 

24. Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers): Patrick Ngongba II

• TEAM: Duke
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Virginia
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Many teams could use a big man like Patrick Ngongba II, who is an above-average passer for his position. His assist rate is the highest among underclassmen listed at 6-foot-11 or taller, per Bart Torvik, and he is at the top of his game when passing to a driving perimeter player. The big man, who helped Duke earn a spot in the Elite Eight, is a big-bodied prospect who can carve out space as one of the more prolific cutters in college basketball. He is on an encouraging development track, displaying legitimate year-over-year improvement from his freshman to sophomore campaign.

25. Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets): Allen Graves 

• TEAM: Santa Clara
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Louisiana
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 20

One of the most under-the-radar prospects in all of college basketball this season was Santa Clara freshman Allen Graves, who was nearly a March Madness hero. It was hard not to notice the WCC Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year after he scored 30 points with 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals Feb. 7 against Washington State. The only players under 21 years old who currently held a higher box plus-minus, via Bart Torvik, were Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson.

26. Los Angeles Lakers: Morez Johnson Jr.

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Illinois
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best two-way players in the NCAA. He is a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season, leading his team to an appearance in the NCAA championship game, and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois. Johnson’s shooting form at the free throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should find minutes at the next level.

27. Boston Celtics: Cameron Carr 

• TEAM: Baylor
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Minnesota
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 21

One of the players who improved his draft stock the most this season was Baylor junior Cameron Carr. The All-Big 12 wing brings athleticism and shooting and, per Bart Torvik, he was the only player to make at least 40 field goals that were dunks and more than 60 field goals that were 3-pointers this season. Baylor outscored opponents by an additional 28.5 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor relative to when he was not, via CBB Analytics, which ranked as the fourth-most of any high-major player in the NCAA. 

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons): Tyler Tanner 

• TEAM: Vanderbilt
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Tennessee
• HEIGHT: 6-0
• DRAFT AGE: 20

It is unusual to find a 6-foot sophomore projected in the first round of a mock draft, but if there were ever a player who has earned that kind of praise should he decide to turn pro after this season, it’s Tyler Tanner. Despite his size, the All-SEC guard found meaningful ways to contribute on both sides of the floor. He can score efficiently, dunk, block shots, steal the ball, and he is more than serviceable as a floor general capable of earning rotation minutes for a team like the Timberwolves. Tanner could also return to school but should earn serious first-round buzz if he turns pro.  

29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs): Dailyn Swain  

• TEAM: Texas
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• DRAFT AGE: 21

After transferring from Xavier to Texas during the offseason and then leading his team to the Sweet 16, Dailyn Swain became one of the more intriguing breakout players in college basketball. The All-SEC forward is versatile and contributed a little bit of everything for the Longhorns on both sides of the ball, scoring well both in the paint and on fastbreaks. Another element that is notably compelling is that Swain is efficient one-on-one in isolation against his defenders. 

30. Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder): Amari Allen 

• TEAM: Alabama
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Wisconsin
• HEIGHT: 6-7
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Alabama’s Amari Allen is a 6-foot-7 freshman who averaged 12.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists with 1.7 “stocks” (combined steals and blocks), while shooting 39.5 percent on 3-pointers on 4.8 shots per game for the Crimson Tide during SEC conference play. The SEC All-Freshman wing is a good connective piece who plays hard, cares about winning and knows how to make the right play. Despite a weak showing against Michigan in the Sweet 16, he is still someone who could earn fringe first-round consideration. 

The loudest roar of the weekend probably came when Konnor Griffin cracked an RBI double in his first major league at-bat. Yet for the Pittsburgh Pirates, silence has been golden.

Arguably the game’s most downtrodden franchise the past three decades, the Pirates have roared from the gates in 2026, winning six of their first nine games and soaring 12 spots in USA TODAY Sports’ MLB power rankings.

And in sweeping the Baltimore Orioles in their home-opening series, the Pirates got deftly-pitched games from Mitch Keller and Braxton Ashcraft, 4 ⅓ scoreless relief innings in a 10-inning walk-off and a three-run homer from free agent slugger Ryan O’Hearn, his third of the year.

Imagine that: A sweep of a good team, and Paul Skenes had nothing to do with it.

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

• Mookie Betts’ oblique strain means lots of run for Miguel Rojas on his farewell tour.

2. New York Yankees (+3)

• This guy is trouble: Cam Schlittler hasn’t allowed a run in his first 11 ⅔ innings.

3. Milwaukee Brewers (+7)

• Third team’s the charm? Kyle Harrison with 14 punchouts in his first two starts.

4. New York Mets (+3)

• Lindor’s not hitting, Soto’s ailing, Bichette’s adjusting – and they’re 6-4.

5. Philadelphia Phillies (-3)

• As Zack Wheeler builds up in the minor leagues, Taijuan Walker’s giving up rockets in games that count.

6. Houston Astros (+6)

• A great start spurred by red-hot Yordan Alvarez, but ace Hunter Brown’s shoulder ailment very concerning.

7. Seattle Mariners (-4)

• Cal Raleigh is 5-for-38 with a 52.6% strikeout rate.

8. Toronto Blue Jays (-4)

• Just a bummer that Cody Ponce’s return from Korea derailed by ACL tear after seven outs

9. Chicago Cubs (-3)

• OK so maybe Milwaukee will be a problem again.

10. Detroit Tigers (-2)

• Justin Verlander battling a bum hip and the age (43) on his driver’s license.

11. Cincinnati Reds (+5)

• Chase Burns: One earned run in 12 innings pitched.

12. Pittsburgh Pirates (+12)

• The starting rotation has yet to give up a home run.

13. Cleveland Guardians (+6)

• Sure, Chase DeLauter is nice but of course the pitching (3.48 ERA, fourth in AL) has been absurd.

14. Atlanta Braves (+7)

• Drake Baldwin tied for NL lead with four home runs.

15. Miami Marlins (+7)

• Get used to these fellows as they won’t be going away soon.

16. Boston Red Sox (-7)

• 2-7 and Roman Anthony’s defense wedges him at DH. Not a great start.

17. San Diego Padres (-6)

• Jackson Merrill looking more like his rookie self.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)

• Zac Gallen outdueled Tarik Skubal and that’s probably a good sign for the rest of the year.

19. Kansas City Royals (-2)

• “I’m going to set a million alarms to make sure I’m up,” says rookie Carter Jensen after oversleeping leads to benching.

20. Texas Rangers (-6)

• Jake Burger hopes seeing red leads to better results.

21. Baltimore Orioles (-6)

• Chris Bassitt rocked for 10 earned runs in first two starts.

22. Tampa Bay Rays (-2)

• The Trop is open for business once again.

23. Los Angeles Angels (+3)

• They’re up three spots this week – one for every one of Jo Adell’s home run robberies.

24. St. Louis Cardinals (-1)

• Other than Dustin May’s struggles, a fine start so far.

25. San Francisco Giants (-12)

• First ejection? Tony Vitello got that out of the way.

26. Athletics (-1)

• Nick Kurtz (4-for-27, no homers) not quite picking up where he left off in Yolo County.

27. Minnesota Twins (-)

• Byron Buxton hits 10 years of major league service.

28. Chicago White Sox (-)

• Just swept the Blue Jays! Convincing? Not quite.

29. Colorado Rockies (+1)

• Mickey Moniak lights up the Phillies for two home runs.

30. Washington Nationals (-1)

• Hard to do: Miles Mikolas gives up Nationals-record 11 earned runs in one start.

• An autopsy report found Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder had a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit when he died in a car crash.
• His family has started the Dominiq Ponder 722 Foundation to promote responsible decision-making among young people.
• The foundation aims to provide scholarships, raise community awareness, and support children’s hospitals.

Colorado backup quarterback Dominiq Ponder had double the legal limit of alcohol in his system when he crashed his car and died in single-car accident in Boulder County March 1, according to an autopsy report obtained by USA TODAY Sports April 6.

The report states Ponder’s blood-alcohol content was 0.167 g/100 mL, more than twice the legal limit for driving under the influence in Colorado. His family hopes it can serve as a lesson for young people to make responsible decisions. They have started a foundation in honor of Ponder to promote awareness. Ponder was 23.

“If anything good can come from this loss, it’s the conversations it can start about responsible decision-making, supporting young adults, and making good choices even in ordinary moments,” Ponder’s mother, Catrina Hughes, told USA TODAY Sports. “A big part of his legacy will be to encourage young people to please make responsible choices and to have the courage to step in for their friends when one of them isn’t thinking clearly for themselves. Kids need to know that it’s OK to step in, take keys, call a ride, call a parent, speak up, do anything you can do, one small decision can save a life. Don’t be afraid even if it’s uncomfortable. A difficult conversation is easier than a lifetime of loss.”

The Boulder County Coroner’s report states Ponder’s cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries in an accident. “The deceased was a restrained driver involved in a single vehicle collision at a high rate of speed,” the report states.

Ponder lost control of his 2023 Tesla while negotiating a right-hand curve, burst through a guardrail, hit an electrical pole and rolled at least once, according to the Colorado State Patrol. The crash happened about 3 a.m. on the day before Ponder’s team opened spring football practice March 2.

The March 2 practice was going to be Ponder’s first wearing jersey No. 7, a number he earned after previously wearing No. 22. That is the name of the foundation being started in his honor – The Dominiq Ponder 722 Foundation. The GoFundMe page for it says funds raised will go directly toward scholarships for student-athletes who demonstrate resilience and character, community awareness initiatives about responsible decision-making and support for children’s hospitals.

Ponder was a popular backup quarterback at Colorado known for his big personality and smile. Colorado coach Deion Sanders delivered a eulogy about him and said he was “full of life, full of respect, hustle and hard work and integrity.”

Colorado plans to honor him with a jersey patch this season. The Buffaloes end the spring football season April 11 with an intrasquad scrimmage in Boulder.

“He was a determined student-athlete, a leader, and someone with a huge heart who fiercely loved his family, his teammates, and the game of football,” his mother said.

She hopes this news about his death will help raise awareness about choices.

“Hopefully someone will learn from this and we can save some lives.”

The Colorado athletic department also issued a statement April 6 and noted that it continues to provide support resources to those impacted by Ponder’s death, including counseling services for his teammates, coaches, and staff.

“CU Athletics remains deeply saddened by the loss of Dominiq Ponder,” the statement said. “Our thoughts continue to be with his family, his friends, and his CU football family as we all continue to process this unimaginable loss.”

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

(This story was updated to add new information.)

INDIANAPOLIS — Starting guards Solo Ball and Silas Demary Jr. were each whistled for two quick fouls in Connecticut’s 69-63 loss to Michigan in the national championship game of the men’s NCAA Tournament, changing the complexion of a matchup the Huskies hoped could be won on the perimeter.

Nursing a foot injury suffered in the national semifinal against Illinois, Ball finished with 11 points in 16 minutes. Demary lasted just 21 minutes, scoring one bucket before being called for his fifth foul with just over a minute to play.

“I just thought that the first-half foul trouble, really, I thought we were positioned if we didn’t have that foul trouble to potentially go into halftime with a lead,” coach Dan Hurley said.

Forward Tarris Reed Jr. had 13 points and 14 rebounds but was bothered by the defense of Michigan’s Aday Mara and made just 4 of 12 attempts from the field, his worst shooting performance since missing all three shots in a regular-season matchup against Illinois late November. Guard Braylon Mullins had 11 points on 4 of 17 shooting and made 3 of 10 attempts from 3-point range.

The main reason UConn stayed close with Michigan was the same reason UConn was here in the first place: Playing in the final game of his college career, senior forward Alex Karaban had a team-high 17 points and 11 rebounds while adding two assists and two steals.

“So it hurts right now. It hurts a lot right now,” he said.

Crucially, Karaban played all 40 minutes, continuing to serve as the Huskies’ steadying force in his final March Madness experience.

“For coach to play me 40 minutes, I can’t thank him enough,” Karaban said. “That’s all I wanted. That’s all I wanted, is to give everything I got, leave everything I’ve got out there and try to do everything to help us win.”

LOOKING AHEAD: Our too-early men’s basketball Top 25 for next season

Said Hurley, “Let me play him into the ground one more time, just one more 40-minute game for Alex. Let me just play that guy into the ground one more night like I have throughout his career. He deserved to play 40 minutes.”

The most fitting way for Karaban to end his career would have been as a three-time national champion, joining his part on back-to-back winners in 2023 and 2024 and placing him in elite, UCLA-only territory among college players with three rings.

“Obviously. for us it’s tough,” said Hurley. “Again, we did not come here for watches, we came here for rings.”

But there’s something apt about the way this ended, too. Since his redshirt freshman season, when he played a complementary role on a loaded roster, Karaban has been the glue that held the Huskies together — the key cog that helped the program breathe rarefied air in reaching three championship games in four years.

“I might cry up here just talking about just the impact he’s had, in the locker room, throughout every single practice, every single game,” Ball said. “He’s just always there, and he’s the same person every single day. He doesn’t change. Incredibly smart, great guy off the court. I’m going to miss this guy so much.”

Karaban’s performance in the second half helped UConn shake off multiple double-digit deficits and hang tight with an opponent expected to leave the Huskies in the dust after dismantling Arizona in the national semifinals.

After the Wolverines took their largest lead of the game at 43-35 six minutes into the second half, Karaban corralled an offensive rebound and put back the layup to stem Michigan’s momentum. With Michigan ahead 58-48 at the five-minute mark, Karaban found Mullins for a 3-pointer that set up a frantic final stretch.

Later, with 2:30 remaining, Karaban hit a 3-pointer of his own to cut Michigan’s advantage to 62-56. While his effort would come up short — and wasn’t perfect, with a pair of missed free throws with just over six minutes to go and a missed 3-pointer with 17 seconds left — Karaban nearly willed UConn across the finish line.

“Yeah, you know, blessed that I’ve been able to wear this jersey for the longest amount of time possible, the max amount, the max amount of minutes, the max amount of games this season. I came back ultimately to win, fell short,” he said.

Win or lose on Monday night, Karaban’s place in program history is secure. He is already the first active player to be inducted into the program’s hall of fame. He holds career marks for wins (126), games played (150), games started (149) and minutes played (4,909). He finished his career with a blistering 18-2 mark in the NCAA tournament, including a 5-1 mark in the Final Four.

This is a place that has put out a lengthy list of college basketball’s best individual players in the past three decades. While not the program’s best overall player and not the Huskies’ best NBA prospect, Karaban leaves with an even more important title: the most important player in UConn history.

“He’s put UConn in that rarefied place in college basketball,” Hurley said. This guy changed my life, the staff’s lives, the joy he’s brought to the university, the fan base.

“His decision to come to UConn has made us … Florida won the national championship last year. I’ll probably get in trouble for this. Michigan won the national championship this year. But he’s helped to make UConn, I think, right now, we’re probably the premier program in college basketball right now, having been to three out of four national championship games, having won two of them.”

That’s a small comfort after coming so close to a third ring. But Karaban took solace in the legacy he leaves behind: Already a blueblood, UConn has become something much more — a potential dynasty, if Hurley can keep this up — thanks to the senior’s four years as the program’s irreplaceable piece.

“I’m just reminding myself right now that when I came into UConn how much I’ve grown, and I’m ultimately leaving UConn in a better place right now from where I started,” he said. “I gave it everything I got. I gave it my heart. I gave everything. All I thought about was UConn basketball every single day.

“Now that I’m leaving, and for UConn to be one of the best brands in college basketball and to be at the top, I left it better than when it started. I’m most proud of that.”

The Buffalo Sabres are back in the NHL playoffs, ending a league-record postseason drought of 14 seasons.

All they had to do was change the messenger.

The Sabres clinched their first playoff berth since 2010-11 with the Detroit Red Wings’ loss in the afternoon on Saturday, April 4.

It was looking like the streak could hit 15 when Buffalo sat in last place in the Eastern Conference on Dec. 8. The Sabres won three in a row to get back to .500, then fired general manager Kevyn Adams on Dec. 15 and promoted Jarmo Kekalainen to the position.

The team took off, extending its winning streak to 10 games. Entering Saturday, Buffalo has gone 32-8-4 under the former Columbus Blue Jackets GM. The Sabres have their first 100-point season since 2009-10 and are looking for their first division title since that season.

Kevyn Adams’ tenure

Adams, the general manager since 2020-21, brought in some of the players on this team, such as Alex Tuch, Josh Norris, Jason Zucker, Bowen Byram, Ryan McLeod and Josh Doan. He also traded away Jack Eichel (after a dispute over what type of neck surgery he should have), Sam Reinhart, Dylan Cozens and J.J. Peterka. Eichel and Reinhart won Stanley Cup titles after their trades.

Adams drew some criticism last season when he explained the difficulty of drawing free agents to Buffalo and why players often include the city on their no-trade lists.

“We don’t have palm trees,” he told reporters. “We have taxes in New York.”

Adams last season brought back coach Lindy Ruff, who had been coach of the 2010-11 playoff team. But the Sabres continued their pattern of early-season swoons — 0-10-3 this time — and finished 12 points out of a playoff spot.

Buffalo traded No. 2 scorer Peterka to Utah in the offseason and opened the season 0-3. Fans began chanting for Adams’ firing and it finally happened in December.

Jarmo Kekalainen’s tenure

Teams often get a bump from a coaching change, but a front office change can also have an impact because a general manager can decide a player’s future.

Kekalainen noted that his focus was going to be on work ethic, saying the team had lost some games by being outworked.

“You’ve got to work, you’ve got to compete and you’ve got to be relentless,” he said after being named general manager. “That’s what I want the identity of the Buffalo Sabres to be.”

He added that he “firmly” believed that Sabres could be a playoff team.

Kekalainen had been hired as a senior adviser in May. He had been aggressive in Columbus, hanging on to pending free agents Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin and adding to a team that shockingly swept the No. 1 overall Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round in 2019.

After he was promoted in Buffalo, he revamped the front office and held on to Ruff. He gave a contract extension to Doan, who was acquired in the Peterka trade. But with the team surging, there was little need to change the players.

The general manager made moves at the deadline to beef up the team’s depth. He traded for Colton Parayko, but it fell through when the defenseman declined to waive his no-trade clause. He pivoted to add big, rugged defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn. He also added Sam Carrick, who’s strong on faceoffs, and depth forward Tanner Pearson.

A sign that the Sabres were for real was when they defeated the Lightning 8-7 in a game that featured tons of goals and penalty minutes.

What’s next for the Sabres?

They will try to win the Atlantic Division title and still have a chance to be the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

There isn’t a lot of playoff experience in this core because of the long drought. However, Schenn and Pearson are former Stanley Cup winners and McLeod has been to the Final. Tuch has played 66 postseason games and Zucker has played 52.

And Ruff has coached 101 playoff games, winning 57. He took the Sabres to the 1999 Final.

Who has the longest playoff drought?

The Detroit Red Wings are at nine seasons, the Anaheim Ducks are at seven and the San Jose Sharks are at six. But heading into Saturday’s game, the Ducks are second in the Pacific Division, the Sharks hold the second wild-card spot in the West and the Red Wings sit one spot below the playoff line in the East.

The Chicago Blackhawks have been eliminated, and their playoff drought is at six seasons.

INDIANAPOLIS – Rodney Tention couldn’t help but notice the similarities.

The former Arizona assistant returned to Tucson in February to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the program’s last Final Four team, and during the trip, coach Tommy Lloyd invited the group to practice.

“It reminded us of the group that we had,” Tention told USA TODAY Sports.

That sentiment continued to resonate the more they were around the 2025-26 team. The alumni watched them play, talked to them and importantly, got to see how they interact in a locker room. Everything was so similar to the 2000-01 team, they couldn’t help but let Lloyd know.

“We all said it,” Tention said. “I think this is the group that can break through.”

How right they were. This year’s group was, in fact, the one to break through. 

Arizona is back to the Final Four for the first time since that 2001 team. It ended decades of heartbreak for a program that had proven its relevancy, but couldn’t punctuate it with the most sought destination in the sport. 

It felt like there was a hex over the Wildcats. Despite having loaded teams capable of reaching the Final Four, they just didn’t. NBA All-Stars and champions like Andre Iguodala, Aaron Gordon and Channing Frye. High draft picks like Deandre Ayton and Derrick Williams to name a few. They all contributed to Arizona having the sixth-most wins since 2003.

So, what was wrong? Those that have witnessed all those teams try to get back to the Final Four said they just got unlucky.

“It’s hard,” Tention said. “At some point you’ve got to have a little bit of luck on your way. That’s all to it. Balls just got to bounce your way on that one certain day.”

The Wildcats surely had some things go wrong. A 15-point blown lead against Illinois in 2005, running into scorching Kemba Walker in 2011 and tough battles against Wisconsin in 2014 and 2015 are just some of those moments.

All of those games are some March Madness classics, just on the wrong side of history.

“You have shots and moments that happened that you’re just a part of basketball history,” said 2001 starter Richard Jefferson. “There was never any, ‘Oh, there’s some sort of issue.’ It was just like, ‘Yo, we just had a stretch where certain things haven’t gone our way.’”

When asked how the 2001 team made the Final Four, members all had the same message: It was a deep rotation that didn’t try to play hero ball, but emphasized defense. A well-rounded, oiled machine.

It’s easy to forget how stacked that 2001 team was. Jefferson, Gilbert Arenas, Jason Gardner, Michael Wright and Loren Woods were starters while Luke Walton came off the bench. A loaded team that very much resembles the current iteration. 

Both teams were in the top 15 in scoring, defensive field goal percentage and rebound margin. Being high percentage shooters helped each unit be in the top five in scoring margin.

The similarities don’t end there. That team had six players who averaged 20 minutes per game, this one has seven. Five guys who averaged double figure scoring, so does this season’s. 

“I don’t really think they really care who gets the points in the game,” Tention said. “That’s what makes them so dangerous. You don’t know who you gameplan against.”

No one may know that better than Jason Gardner, a sophomore guard on the 2001 team and now director of player relations for the Wildcats. He said the mixture of upperclassman leadership and talented freshmen create the special sauce, and they brought the intensity that was needed.

“I definitely think we’re a little bit more physical than maybe we have been in the past and I think it’s kind of really helped us kind of carry over this year,” Gardner said.

Jefferson notices comparisons in some of the guys he played with, notably with Jaden Bradley, who reminds him of standout Jason Terry from the 1997 national title team.

He also loves Koa Peat, an Arizona kid that knows what the program means to the state and decided to stay home.

It’s not lost on this year’s team the road was paved by those successful squads in the late 20th century, built on the legacy of Lute Olson. Former players and coaches said Lloyd has made an effort to involve them in the program, allowing them to watch and interact with the team so they can truly understand what it means to “Bear Down.”

“It’s really important that we include those guys in everything and they feel like owners of our program because they are owners. They’re 100% owners and they’re great dudes,” Lloyd said. “It’s been one of the coolest things for me to experience: developing relationships with them and having them tell me their stories because their stories are Arizona basketball stories.”

That’s why after Arizona defeated Purdue in the Elite Eight to punch their ticket to Indianapolis, Lloyd shouted out Olson to the large fan presence in San Jose, and why he mentioned postgame how his job was set up to succeed because of those building blocks.

“It’s really pretty gratifying, to be honest,” said Jim Rosborough, Olson’s right-hand man who spent 27 seasons with him, including 18 at Arizona. “(Lloyd’s) been one to recognize what went on before him, that he’s not the inventor of the wheel, but he’s kind of kept the wheel turning.”

All of it makes for one of the most highly anticipated weekends in recent memory. For as large of a brand as Arizona is, Tucson prides itself on a small-town vibe that rallies around its program.

“People live and die with Wildcat sports,” Tention said. Look at how the reception when the team arrived back home in the wee hours after winning the West Region, taking over the local airport. It actually goes beyond Pima County, as Rosborough mentioned, “it’s hard to be in the state of Arizona and not know about this team,” and it doesn’t get much bigger than this.

“To bring this back to the city of something that we were so close numerous times, I think is awesome,” Gardner added.

However, Jefferson sees the 2026 Final Four as more than just for the community and state. Not only did Arizona break the 25-year drought and is going for its second national championship in program history, but it’s also trying to break a drought out West. The 1997 title team is the last from the West Coast to win it all.

“We are in a position where we’re carrying an entire Mid-West-West Coast,” Jefferson said. “They really have half of the country that wants to prove that UCLA, Arizona, Oregon, all of these schools that have been dominant over years, can still win a national championship.”

You’d be a fool to think Arizona is satisfied with just making the Final Four again. This team has its eyes set on cutting down those nets inside Lucas Oil Stadium.

“It’s not like where it feels like we’re back on the mountaintop. It just feels like we have performed up to our standard in the biggest moment,” Jefferson said. “Arizona is not one of those schools that’s like, ‘Hey, we made it to the Final Four. We’re lucky. We’re happy.’ No, we’re one of those schools that say, ‘Hey, we’re proud of you, we’re proud of ourselves, we’re proud of what you guys have done. Now go finish the job.’”

If that happens, you can bet all of Tucson will be shut down, all the way from Flowing Wells to Saguaro National Park, with fans crazed like the javelinas that roam the desert. If it doesn’t happen, it will still be a celebrated squad that will live in Wildcat lore as the ones that finally got Arizona back where it belongs.

Like the teams before them laid the blueprint, the Wildcats hope this one remodels for another reign in the Sonoran Desert.

“Arizona is one of the strongest brands in all of collegiate sports,” Jefferson said. “At the same point in time, they’re awake right now.”