Weekly Update March 24, 2025

Basketball – NBA: This week’s games. Standings.

Basketball – NCAAM: Rounds 1 & 2 of March Madness and its more like March Midness.

Basketball – NCAAW: Some highlights from the first two rounds. Still ongoing.

Golf: Hovland wins Valspar. TGL Semis.

Motorsports: Hamilton wins sprint. Lots of DQs in the full GP.

Olympic Sports: T&F Worlds. Skiing Von back on top. IOC president.

Quick Headlines: Dodgers win first game. Opening Day is this week. NCAAF. Softball. T&F. Foreman died.

Basketball-NBA:

• This week’s games:
  • On Monday the 76ers won the first half, leading the Rockets 78-57. Looked to be an easy win, especially with Grimes putting up 46 points. But the Rockets came back making up all the deficit in the 3Q. We went into OT and Houston kept their momentum into OT to win by 7. The Pacers and Timberwolves also went into OT. The up and down that MN had in this game took its tole and they would lose by 2. The Kings upset the Grizzlies by 10 despite Bane scoring 44 points. The Lakers beat the Spurs that night which was a rescheduled game from Jan 11^th which I’m sure San Antonio would’ve liked back at the original date with Wemby still active.

• • The Cavs had a bad 4Q scoring only 16 points which allowed the Clippers to beat then in LA by 13.

• • The Timberwolves would lose again on Wed to the Pelicans. The Spurs upset the Knicks 120-105 and that was with a 16 point 3Q. The Jazz beat the Wizards in a game that was basically a battle of the bottom teams. Utah would win by 16. Luka went off for the Lakers in the 1Q to help them beat the Nuggets 120-108. The Grizzlies lost again this time to the Trail Blazers by 16. The Cavs lost in back to back days! This one to the Kings who have taken down two better teams by Wed.

• • The Hornets got themselves an impressive upset over the Knicks 115-98. That was just their 18^th win on the season compared to NY’s 43. The Pacers saved an upset from happening in OT with the Nets. The Kings who had been on a roll this week fell to the Bulls on Thurs by 12. And to wrap up the night, the Bucks upset the Lakers who didn’t even manage to score 90 points.
  • Finally a good win for the Mavs – they would beat the Pistons on Friday by 6. The Cavs would loss their 4^th straight game. This one to the Suns. That streak would end when they played the Jazz on Sunday. But man they are just trying to give up their overall lead in the league. The Trail Blazers beat the Nuggets with a strong 2H showing. They would outscore DEN by 24 in the 2H. The Clippers destroyed the Grizzlies by 20 Fri night as well.
  • There were only 5 games on Sat. The Hawks would get the better of the Warriors by 9. The Bulls crushed the Lakers dropping 81 in the 2H to win 146-115. Sunday had more games but really just not a lot of upsets over the weekend. The Rockets would lose a close one to the Nuggets who had a good 3Q and would hold onto the win. Everything else went run of the mill.

• A PE investment group (led by a tech company MD) has agreed to buy the Boston Celtics for $6.1Bn, which is the most ever for a US franchise. It surpassed the Commanders sale of $6.05Bn in 2023. The most an NBA team had sold for the Suns for $4Bn in 2023 as well.
• The Cavaliers have clinched the Eastern division and the Celtics have secured their spot in the playoffs. As for the West, only the Thunder can say they for sure are in the playoffs. But the Pelicans and Jazz have already been eliminated. The only standings updates this week is that the Hornets and the Wizards have been eliminated in the East. Oh and thanks to the abysmal week by the Cavs, the Thunder have now taken the top spot with 59 wins on the season compared to CLE’s 57.

Basketball – NCAAM:

• March Madness – aka March Midness according to some announcers.
  • Round 1: No #1,2,3 or 4s lost in round 1. That has only happened 6xs in tournament history. It was also the highest point differentials for the 1-4 seeds ever in the tournament. What that translates to is boring! No player even hit 30 points.
  • That being said, the first game of the tournament was technically an upset with #9 Crieghton beating #8 Louisville who played only an hour from campus.

• • The biggest upset of Day 1 was #5 Clemson losing to #12 McNeese St. The Tigers started off slow only outing up 13 points in the 1H and McNeese led by 24 at one point. Clemson would fall just 2 points short. This is the Cowboys first NCAA tournament win ever! And their coach is on the way out (accepted the NC State job).
  • In one of the most commonly picked upsets, #11 Drake did indeed upset #6 Mizzou by 10.

• • #10 Arkansas upset #7 seed Kansas. This snaps their 17 tournament streak of making it out of round 1.

• • Day 2: only had 3 upsets #12 Colorado St beat #5 Memphis and they did in come back fashion, outscoring the Tigers by 13 in the 2H. #10 New Mexico beat #7 Marquette in both halves. 75-72 is the most common score which was the score of #8 Mississippi St vs #9 Baylor. Baylor would win this one and the Bulldogs have 6 straight tournament losses.

• • Other nuggets from Round 1: UNC lost in the first round for the 3x ever. St. Mary’s had only 22 points in the 1H but still came back to beat Vandy. Rick Pitino (St. John’s) and son Richard Pitino (NM) are the first father-son pair to make it past round 1. After the Clemson upset, there was only 5.7% brackets left. That is 583 perfect brackets left and only 1 completely wrong bracket (100% incorrect answers). The Big Ten was 8-0 after round 1 and together with the SEC, they make up half the field at 16 teams. This is also the first time the ACC only has 1 team left (Duke). Only 3 brackets left after day 3.

• Round 2:
  • The biggest upset of Round 2 was easily #10 Arkansas getting another win and this time beating #2 St. John’s. The Razorbacks would win in both halves. It was the 5^th time that these HCs have faced each other – they are 2 of the best in the sport. #6 BYU managed to hold on to beat #3 Wisconsin 91-89. #5 Michigan beat #4 Texas A&M as the Wolverines outscored the Aggies 56-40 in the final 20 min of the game.
  • The only upset on day 2 was #6 Ole Miss beating #3 Iowa St. The Rebels beat the Cyclones in both halves even with Curtis Jones scoring 26. This was the largest margin of victory by Ole Miss in tournament history.

• • Other nuggets: #1 Houston had a tough opponent in #8 Gonzaga who was going for their 9^th straight Sweet 16. They would fall short of their 10^th and the Cougs win 81-76. But #8 UConn gave #1 Florida a huge scare. The Gators squeak out a win 77-75. UConn had won 26 straight tournament games when leading at some point during the 2H. Until Florida. Purdue only didn’t have the lead for 31 seconds of their game against McNeese.

• • Sunday’s game of #12 Colorado St vs #4 Maryland was the best game of the tournament. It came down to the final play of the game. Colorado St hit a beautiful three to go up by 1 in the final 6 seconds. But after a TO, Maryland gives the ball to Queen (their freshman) who takes it to the basket for a layup which floats in just under the buzzer. However the argument you might’ve heard here is that he traveled. There has been a lot of buzz on each side. From what I gathered (not caring either way) it was a travel but most people are ok with not letting officiating decide the game as it was iffy enough. Maryland had been on the losing side of close calls all season so fitting they would get this one.

• After round 2, in the West, 1,2,3 and 4 are all still in. there are still 7 SEC teams and no mid majors or Cinderalla teams. All the schools left are power conference schools.
• It has been a big contention/hubbub since that Rick Pitino (St. John’s) took out his best player in the final 5 min despite the game being within one score. He was the Big East POY and he rode the bench. Seems to be that there might be a little tension there. He was not shooting well that day but still hands down he was your best player. Also both Pitino’s do not advance past the 1^st
• Texas fired their HC.

NCAAW:

• On the women’s side. Not a lot of upsets here either but that’s much more normal for this bracket. LSU crushed SDSt putting up 103 on them. The Tigers would also get to triple digits over Florida St the next round too. The biggest upset was the #10 Oregon who beat #7 Vanderbilt in the first round. They would also give the lady Blue Devils (#2 seed) a run for their money but they would lose.

Golf:

• PGA: Staying in Florida, the Valspar Championship had some big names vying for the title. Justin Thomas who barely made the cut on Friday, played himself into contention with a 65 on Saturday. Viktor Hovland also shared the lead going into the final round. Thomas took the lead early but Hovland’s finish of 3 birdies in 5 holes passed JT to win Hovland his 7^th PGA Tour title. The NOR last win was back to back weeks in the 2023 Tour Championship (and the week before’s BMW Championship).

Motorsports:

• F1: Lewis Hamilton won the sprint race for Ferrari on Saturday. In the main race, both Ferrari’s were DQ’d after the race was over. LeClerc finished 5^th and his car was under the minimum weight while Lewis Hamilton was a breach of technical regulations (he had finished 6^th). Alpine’s Gasly was also under weight and DQ’d. Despite all that, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri won the CHN GP, 9 seconds in front of his teammate Norris.

Olympic Sports:

• T&F: It was the Indoor World Championships this weekend. There were a lot of big names missing for the USA (and other countries) but you know who wasn’t? Grant Holloway. He became the first athlete to three-peat at a world championships with his win in the 60hurdles. He has only lost 1 race as a pro. The USA men swept the 400m. But on the flip side, for the first time since 2008, we did not have a single man on the podium on the 60m. LUX got their first medal at any worlds with bronze in the W60m. USA Shelby Houlihan got silver upon her return from a ban. She was banned after she ate a burrito tainted with a performance-enhancing drug from a food truck back in 2021.

• GYM: It was conference championships for women’s gymnastics this weekend. In a season that has been a lot stricter judging wise, the Florida Gators managed 3 perfect 10s in the 2^nd section of SECs. They got 2 on uneven bars and 1 on floor. Despite those perfect 10s, LSU came out on top with a score of 198.2. Oklahoma was in 2^nd with a score under 198 and a perfect 10 on floor then Florida. Utah took the title in the Big 12. Stanford took the ACCs. UCLA took the Big Ten title with a monster score of 198.45 – the highest ever at the conference meet. The Bruins had 3 perfect 10s, 2 on floor and 1 on Beam. Michigan St also got 1 10 on Beam.

• Skiing: Lindsey Vonn is back on the podium for the first time since 2018! She would get 2^nd after SUI Lara Gut-Behrami in the Super G this weekend. She is the oldest female skier to reach a podium by 6 years! This is her 138^th career WC podium. She just needs one more start to tie the record by a female with 409.

• It was a big day for women in Olympic sports. ZIM swimmer Kirsty Coventry was elected the 10^th President of the IOC. She is the first woman and first African to get the job in the 131 year existence of the organization. At only the age of 41, she will serve a minimum of 8 years and the max is 12, which was what Thomas Bach was at therefore the need for the vote. Coventry went to Auburn but swam for her home country of ZIM. She was the back to back Olympic gold medalist in the 200m Back in Athens and Beijing.

Some quick highlights:

• NCAAF: A former Michigan football coach has been charged with hacking into 150k student accounts for medical records and intimate photos. He allegedly uses internet research to gain access to social media, email and icloud storage. He then downloaded personal, ‘intimate photos that were never intended to be shared beyond intimate partners’ according to the attorney’s office in the case.
• Softball: #1 and undefeated Oklahoma took their first loss on the softball field to Mizzou this weekend. Winning run was at the plate batting for the sooners but they couldn’t get it done.
• T&F: a 15 year old in NZ is the youngest athlete to break the 4 min mile mark.
• Soccer: USMNT loses to Panama in qualifying game.
• George Foreman died on Friday at the age of 76.

What to watch this week

Baseball – MLB:

• Thurs 3/27
  • Brewers at Yankees @ 2pm on ESPN
  • Tigers at Dodgers @ 6pm on ESPN
• Sat 3/29
  • Twins at Cardinals @ 1:15pm on FS1
  • Mets at Astros – or – Braves at Padres @ 6:15pm on FOX
• Sun 3/30
  • Braves at Padres @ 6pm on ESPN

Baseball/Softball – NCAA:

• Mon 3/24
  • Softball: 16. Arkansas vs 7. Tennessee @ 6pm on SEC
• Wed 3/26
  • Softball: Cal vs 23. UVA @ 11am on ACC
  • Softball: 13. Oklahoma St vs 15. UGA @ 6pm on SEC
• Thurs 3/27
  • Softball: 13. Oklahoma St vs 15. UGA @ 12pm on SEC
• Fri 3/28
  • Baseball: 21 Wake Forest vs 11. VTech @12pm on ACC
  • Softball: 17. Stanford vs 14. Vtech @ 5pm on ACC+
  • Softball: 13. Oklahoma St vs GT @ 5pm on ACC
  • Softball: 10. South Carolina vs 3. LSU @ 5pm on SEC
  • Baseball: 11. Auburn vs 3. Georgia @ 5pm on SEC+
  • Baseball: 6. Clemson vs 25. Georgia Tech @ 5pm on ACC+
  • Softball: 2. Texas vs 19. Mississippi ST @ 6pm on SEC+
  • Softball: 15. UGA vs 24. Alabama @ 6pm on SEC+
  • Baseball: 9. Oklahoma vs 12. Alabama @ 6pm on SEC+
  • Baseball: 2. Arkansas vs 14. Vanderbilt @ 6pm on SEC+
  • Softball: 7. Tennessee vs 1. Oklahoma @ 6:30pm on SEC+
  • Baseball: 2. Arkansas vs 14. Vanderbilt @ 7pm on SEC
• Sat 3/29
  • Baseball: 20. Stanford vs UVA @ 12pm on ESPN2
  • Softball: 7. Tennessee vs 1. Oklahoma @ 1pm on ESPN
  • Softball: 18. Duke vs Louisville @ 1pm on ACC
  • Baseball: 9. Oklahoma vs 12. Alabama @ 1pm on SEC
  • Softball: 2. Texas vs 19. Mississippi ST @ 2pm on SEC+
  • Softball: 15. UGA vs 24. Alabama @ 2pm on SEC+
  • Baseball: 2. Arkansas vs 14. Vanderbilt @ 2pm on SEC+
  • Softball: 17. Stanford vs 14. Vtech @ 3pm on ACC
  • Baseball: 11. Auburn vs 3. Georgia @ 3pm on SEC
  • Baseball: 6. Clemson vs 25. Georgia Tech @ 3pm on ACC+
  • Softball: 10. South Carolina vs 3. LSU @ 6pm on SEC
• Sun 3/30
  • Softball: 4. Florida vs Auburn @ 11am on SEC
  • Softball: 17. Stanford vs 14. Vtech @ 11am on ACC+
  • Softball: 15. UGA vs 24. Alabama @ 11am on ESPN2
  • Baseball: 6. Clemson vs 25. Georgia Tech @ 12pm on ACC+
  • Baseball: 11. Auburn vs 3. Georgia @ 12pm on SEC+
  • Softball: 2. Texas vs 19. Mississippi ST @ 1pm on SEC+
  • Softball: 10. South Carolina vs 3. LSU @ 1pm on ESPN2
  • Softball: 7. Tennessee vs 1. Oklahoma @ 1pm on sec+
  • Baseball: 7. Texas vs Mizzou @ 1pm on SEC
  • Baseball: 2. Arkansas vs 14. Vanderbilt @ 1pm on SEC+
  • Baseball: 9. Oklahoma vs 12. Alabama @ 1pm on SEC+
  • Baseball: 1. Tennessee vs South Carolina @ 4pm on SEC
  • Baseball: Vtech vs 16. Wake Forest @ 4pm on ACC

Basketball – NBA:

• Tues 3/25
  • Warriors at Heat @ 6:30pm on TNT
  • Thunder at Kings @ 9pm on TNT
• Wed 3/26
  • Lakers at Pacers @ 6:30pm on ESPN
  • Celtics at Suns @ 9pm on ESPN

NCAAM: (only ranked teams and on normal TV)

• Thurs 3/27
  • Sweet 16: 6. BYU vs 2. Alabama @ 6:09pm on CBS
  • Sweet 16: 4. Maryland at 1. Florida @ 6:39pm on TBS
  • Sweet 16: 4. Arizona at 1. Duke @ 8:39pm on CBS
  • Sweet 16: 10. Arkansas at 3. Texas Tech @ 9:09pm on TBS
• Fri 3/28
  • Sweet 16: 6. Ole Miss at 2. Michigan St @ 6:09pm on CBS
  • Sweet 16: 3. Kentucky at 2. Tennessee @ 6:39pm on TBS
  • Sweet 16: 5. Michigan at 1. Auburn @ 8:39pm on CBS
  • Sweet 16: 4. Purdue at 1. Houston @ 9:09m on TBS
• Sat 3/29 – Elite 8
  • NCAAM D2 Championship game @ 2pm on CBS
• Sun 3/30 – Elite 8

NCAAW:

• Mon 3/24
  • 2^nd round: 7. Michigan St vs 2. NC St @ 11am on ESPN
  • 2^nd round: 8. Illinois at t1. Texas @ 1pm on ESPN
  • 2^nd round: 6. Iowa at 3. Oklahoma @ 3pm on ESPN
  • 2^nd round: 5. Alabama at 4. Maryland @ 4pm on ESPN
  • 2^nd round: 6. Florida St at 3. LSU @ 5pm on ESPN
  • 2^nd round: 6. West Virginia at 3. UNC @ 6pm on ESPN
  • 2^nd round: 10. South Dakota St at 2. UConn @ 7pm on ESPN
  • 2^nd round: 9. Mississippi St at 1 USC @ 9pm on ESPN
• Fri 3/28
  • Sweet 16: 5. Ole Miss vs 1. UCLA @ TBD on TBD
  • Sweet 16: 4. Maryland at 1. South Carolina @ TBD on TBD
  • Sweet 16: 3. LSU vs 2. NC ST @ TBD on TBD
  • Sweet 16: TBD (WV/UNC) at 2. Duke @ TBD on TBD
• Sat 3/29
  • Sweet 16: 3. Notre Dame at 2. TCU @ TBD on TBD
  • Sweet 16: 5. Tennessee at 1. Texas @ TBD on TBD
  • Sweet 16: 5. KSt vs (USC/Miss St) @ TBD on TBD
  • Sweet 16: 3. Oklahoma vs (UConn/SDSt) @ TBD on TBD
• Sun 3/30 – Elite 8
• Mon 3/31 – Elite 8

Football:

• Fri 3/28
  • UFL: Battlehawks vs Roughnecks @ 7pm on FOX
• Sat 3/29
  • UFL: Brahmas vs Renegades @ 3pm on FOX
• Sun 3/30
  • UFL: Panthers at Showboats @ 11am on ESPN
  • UFL: Stallions vs Defenders @ 2pm on ESPN

Golf:

• Mon 3/24
  • TGL: ATL vs NYGC @ 8pm on ESPN2
• Tues 3/25
  • TGL: ATL vs NYGC @ 7pm on ESPN
• Wed 3/26
  • TGL: ATL vs NYGC @ 8pm on ESPN
• Thurs 3/27
  • PGA: Texas Children’s Houston Open – Round 1 @ 3pm on Golf Channel
• Fri 3/28
  • PGA: Texas Children’s Houston Open – Round 2 @ 3pm on Golf Channel
• Sat 3/29
  • PGA: Texas Children’s Houston Open – Round 3
    • @ 12pm on Golf Channel
    • @ 2pm on NBC
• Sun 3/30
  • PGA: Texas Children’s Houston Open – Final Round
    • @ 12pm on Golf Channel
    • @ 2pm on NBC

Hockey:

• Mon 3/24
  • Canucks at Devils @ 6:30pm on hulu
• Wed 3/26
  • Devils at Blackhawks @ 6:30pm on TNT
  • Stars at Oilers @ 9pm on TNT
• Thurs 3/27
  • Capitals at Wild @ 6:30pm on hulu
  • Rangers at Avalanche @ 9pm on ESPN
• Sat 3/29
  • Bruins at Red Wings @ 7pm on ABC
• Sun 3/30
  • Sharks at Rangers @ 9pm on ESPN

Olympic Sports:

• Tues 3/25
  • Skiing: FIS Women’s GS 2^nd run @ 1pm on USA
• Wed 3/26
  • Skiing: FIS Men’s GS @ 1pm on USA
  • Figure Skating: World Figure Skating Championship – Women’s Short @ 2pm on USA
• Thurs 3/27
  • Skiing: FIS World Cup Women’s Slalom 2^nd run @ 1pm on USA
  • Figure Skating: World Figure Skating Championship
    • Men’s Short @ 2pm on USA
    • Pairs Free @ 7pm on USA
• Fri 3/28
  • Figure Skating: World Figure Skating Championship
    • Rhythm Dance @ 2pm on USA
    • Women’s Free @ 7pm on NBC
• Sat 3/29
  • Figure Skating: World Figure Skating Championship
    • Free Dance @ 2pm on USA
    • Men’s Free @ 7pm on NBC

Soccer:

• Mon 3/24
  • UEFA Nations: POR vs DEN @ 1:30am on FS1
  • UEFA World Cup Qualifying: ENG vs LAT @ 6pm on FS1
  • UEFA Nations: GER vs ITA @ 8pm on FS1
• Tues 3/25
  • CONCACAF Gold CupL TNT vs CUB @ 6pm on FS1
  • CONCACAF Gold Cup: CRC vs BLZ @ 8pm on FS1
  • UEFA World Cup Qualifying: ISR vs NOR @ 11pm on FS1