The final game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament has arrived, and the college basketball world will set its sights on Indianapolis on Monday night for a fantastic finale as No. 1 seed Michigan takes on No. 2 seed UConn for the national championship. With 70 combined wins on the season, both teams have been among the top picks to compete for a title throughout much of the season and now get 40 minutes to fulfill that destiny.
For Dusty May and Michigan, a win would be a warning sign to the sport of what’s to come from the Wolverines under his watch. A Michigan program operating at peak efficiency can be among the most disruptive forces in a college basketball landscape that can often get familiar with its main characters. But teams like Houston, Florida, Duke, Arizona, Kansas or Purdue aren’t the ones still playing, and you get the feeling looking at how Michigan has navigated this quick turnaround under may that it has already jumped up into a tier to be taken seriously on a regular basis. A win would also snap a 26-year title drought for the Big Ten, which has not seen a current member win it all since Michigan State in 2000 (interestingly enough, in Indianapolis).
But the one main character of college basketball who is still playing, and stands in the way of that break through for Michigan and the Big Ten, is UConn.
Dan Hurley is pursuing his third ring in four years and the program is on the cusp of claiming its seventh national championship since 1999. That would leave UConn with the third-most titles all-time trailing only UCLA (11) and Kentucky (8). And it should be noted that the Huskies have won all seven of their championships since UCLA won its most recent in 1995.
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Yet this UConn team which exemplifies elite performance in the NCAA Tournament finds itself as an underdog in the national title game, a stage where the Huskies have yet to lose. That speaks to the greatness of Michigan and how well-constructed, well-rounded and well-coached the Wolverines have been all season and in this tournament.
The health status of key players for both teams threatened to throw a wrench into the matchup. Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg was injured during the first half of the Wolverines’ national semifinal win against Arizona, but he returned to action and has indicated his plans to play in the title game after receiving treatment on his knee and ankle between games. UConn also has a major injury to note with Solo Ball suffering a foot injury in the win against Illinois. Ball was seen with a boot during media availability on Sunday, however neither player was listed on their school’s NCAA initial player availability report indicating thy will play in Monday’s game. For title contenders the phrase “next man up” becomes crucial to the pursuit of a title, but which team can get the most from its walking wounded or can supplement their production will have an edge in a game that could be decided at the margins.
Now that the stage is set let’s get into the picks. Since we have been in the habit of offering multiple picks from full tournament slates in this series, there are going to be multiple angles to entertain for this single game left in the 2025-26 season. But in addition to thoughts on the spread and the total, we have included more a traditional approach with straight up and against the spread selections via our Expert Picks panel.
The math says Michigan but the mood says UConn finds a way. The Huskies’ resilience through injuries and deficits throughout this tournament echoes the call of Dan Hurley for his teams to show the heart of a champion in the postseason. The Huskies are going to face a tough foe in Michigan’s front line, but they are coming into the game after facing another team with size in Illinois and passing the test. In fact, UConn’s tournament run has included three single-digit seeds from the Big Ten with Michigan being the fourth, and the Huskies had a strong showing defensively against all three teams. The key for UConn will be to get down into those final minutes within a couple of possessions, because if this pack of dogs smells blood they are going to be ready to deliver in crunch time. Michigan could win this thing by 10-15 points in a coronation moment for Dusty May and the Big Ten, but if it’s close I like the Huskies to not just cover the spread but close it out by cutting down nets.
As for the total points scored, the trends do favor lower-scoring games by the time we get to Monday night’s national championship. The under has gone 6-2 in the last eight national title games, which might be as much of a reflection on late-round fatigue as it is the football stadium setting of the Final Four. But here the reasoning is focused far more on the matchup, where as we mentioned earlier UConn has had some great game plans and execution three of its last four tournament opponents and Michigan has been absolutely stifling in its recent wins against Tennessee in the Elite Eight and Arizona in the Final Four. Any kind of shooting regression for UConn from 3-point range will lower output after the Huskies knocked down 12 3-pointers against Illinois, and of course any limitation for Yaxel Lendeborg lowers Michigan’s offensive ceiling as well. Picks: UConn ML +240, Under 144.5
Teenage rookie Cooper Flagg continued his superb run of form by scoring 45 points as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 134-128 on Sunday.
The 19-year-old had made history on Saturday when he became the first teenager to score 50 points in an NBA game – finishing with 51 points, including 24 in the fourth quarter, in a defeat by the Orlando Magic.
He followed up with a 45-point haul in the win over the injury-hit Lakers, adding nine assists and eight rebounds.
Flagg is the first rookie with back-to-back 40-point games since Allen Iverson in 1997, and is among the favourites to be named this season’s rookie of the year.
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The Mavericks started quickly against the Lakers, who were missing both the NBA’s leading scorer Luka Doncic and rising star Austin Reaves, and were 41-30 up at the end of the first quarter.
LeBron James, 41, led the Lakers with 30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds, while Luke Kennard had 15 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists.
PJ Washington scored 15 points for the Mavericks, Naji Marshall and Brandon Williams added 13 points, and Klay Thompson scored three three-pointers in his 11-point haul.
Lakers coach JJ Redick it was a “just a poor defensive night” for his side, adding: “We didn’t start the game the right way and just played catch-up the rest of the game.”
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The Lakers are third in the Western Conference, with the 12th-placed Mavericks already out of play-off contention.
The Toronto Blue Jays have been troubled by injuries to several key players at the start of the 2026 season. The list of injuries grew on Sunday night after outfielder Addison Barger’s exit from the series finale against the Chicago White Sox.
During the third inning of the game, Barger landed awkwardly as he ran through the first base for a close play. Barger stayed in the game for another at-bat in the sixth inning but was replaced in right field by Jesús Sánchez after the inning.
Fans reacted to the Blue Jays facing another injury concern.
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“Jeez this season is up in flames already.”
Jeez this season is up in flames already
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“Are we cursed?”
“Uncomfortable because he’s playing on a terrible team with a ridiculous payroll.”
Uncomfortable because he’s playing on a terrible team with a ridiculous payroll.
“Right now the way they’re playing they should remove everyone from the field. 🤨”
Right now the way they’re playing they should remove everyone from the field. 🤨
“I think the whole team has discomfort.”
@BlueJays I think the whole team has discomfort!
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Barger left the game due to discomfort in both ankles. He went 0-for-3 at the plate before his exit and the Blue Jays suffered a 3-0 defeat leading to a sweep by Chicago.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider updated on the outfielder’s injury after the series finale.
“He stepped a bit weird with both of them, one on the bag and one before,” Schneider said. “We taped him up and he tried to go. We’ll see how he is tomorrow. He’s about as tough as they come. Hopefully, he’s all right and it’s just a day or two, or maybe not even a day.”
Bargers is just 1-for-19 (.053) this season despite a strong showing in Spring Training last month. He hit 21 homers with a .756 OPS in 135 games last season.
Blue Jays manager fired warning shot ahead of Dodgers showdown
The Blue Jays have lost four consecutive games and are 4-5 for the season. They face the Los Angeles Dodgers next in a rematch of last year’s World Series. Blue Jays manager John Schneider warned his players ahead of the series opener against the defending champions.
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“We’ve got to get back to playing our baseball,” Schneider said. “It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, where you’re playing or what time you’re playing them, if you don’t play your baseball, good things don’t happen.”
The Dodgers have made a strong start to the season and are headed into the series after sweeping the Washington Nationals.
MONTREAL— Make no mistake about it; this was still a good day for the Montreal Canadiens, even if they spoiled their own party by dropping a stink bomb at the Bell Centre.
This beautiful hockey cathedral was begging to be turned into a madhouse on Sunday, but the Canadiens’ punchless performance against the New Jersey Devils turned it into a morgue for large portions of the game.
They were structured defensively, and not terribly leaky. But they were also uncharacteristically inept offensively, leading them to get shut out for just the third time this season and leaving Cole Caufield stuck on 49 goals.
His linemates and power-play cronies forced passes to him to get him to 50, and he flubbed his shots on the ones that made it through to him.
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The rest of this game boiled down to this being Montreal’s sixth contest in nine nights, coming off a perfect five-game road trip that ended Saturday and extended their longest winning streak in 10 years to eight games.
The 4-3 shootout win over these same Devils in New Jersey a night prior didn’t clinch the 100-point Canadiens a playoff spot, but the Detroit Red Wings losing to the Minnesota Wild Sunday afternoon did.
“It was great,” said captain Nick Suzuki. “Everyone was coming to the rink in a pretty good mood. It’s been our goal ever since we started camp to get back in the playoffs.”
With it accomplished, a new one was set: to chase down the Atlantic Division-leading Tampa Bay Lightning.
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The pursuit just got delayed by a night.
Still, you don’t get the sense the Canadiens will treat it as a one-off after they barely swerved to win their last two games before finally crashing in this 3-0 loss. They had what happened in proper perspective afterwards and they’re determined to make the appropriate adjustments upon their return from a well-earned day off.
This day ended on a sour note, but it was still a good day because the Canadiens had their playoff ticket punched.
And that had much more to do with them and everything they did in the lead-up to this day than it did a game between the Wild and Wings in Michigan.
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The Canadiens raised their already-high standard to another level with this streak.
Now they intend to hold themselves to that.
“The challenge right now is can we keep finding consistency in that,” said coach Martin St. Louis. “To me, if you have consistency in that, I think our good is good enough to keep playing hockey in April or May.”
If that seems outlandish because Sunday’s game played out more like a game between the 2001 Canadiens and Devils than the current-day editions of both teams, keep in mind the Canadiens weren’t all bad.
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Aside from the stray passes and misfired shots, the Canadiens defended well and hard. They also threw 27 hits — and some haymakers.
“I think everyone’s kind of taken that role and tried to do it,” said Kaiden Guhle, and he was right about that.
Josh Anderson, who defended his own massive, late-game hit on Jack Hughes by fighting Brenden Dillon, led that charge as he always does. Several others, like Zach Bolduc, Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble, were expectedly right there with him.
But so was Joe Veleno, who didn’t come to the Canadiens as a banger but had a game-high six hits to add to the 143 he’d thrown through his first 57 games (third-most on the team this season).
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Defending hard in the neutral zone and defensive zone kept the Devils to just 20 shots Sunday, and also played a huge part in the Canadiens winning those eight games before this inevitable loss.
It would be reaching to suggest Sunday’s flat offensive performance was a sign they’re resting on their laurels.
“I like where our standards are right now and how we’ve improved in different departments of our game, and we’ve got to stay on top of it,” said St. Louis. “We can’t just be satisfied because that part of our game is good now. We’ve got to stay on top of it. I’ve said it before: whatever part of the game, it’s never going to stay the same. It’s going to get worse or better. You’ve got to talk about it, and that’s what we’re doing.”
The Canadiens will discuss just playing the game and allowing Caufield’s 50th goal to come to him like the other 49 have.
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“The guys are searching for him a lot, and I think it affects the continuity of play,” said St. Louis. “I’m very confident he’s going to score 50. I’d have liked for it to have happened tonight for many reasons, so we could move on to other things, so we could’ve given that to the crowd. It would’ve been fun to get that. I’ve lived stuff like that, and it’s normal.”
Tuesday will be one of five more opportunities Caufield and the Canadiens will have to get back to what they’ve been doing so well all season.
They dropped beneath the Buffalo Sabres, but they can still finish ahead of them to earn home-ice advantage in a first-round series. They’ve still got a crack at finishing first in the division. The Carolina Hurricanes are only four points up in first place in the Eastern Conference.
All three teams own the tiebreaker (regulation wins), but that won’t stop the Canadiens from gunning for them.
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Maybe they’ll fall short, but they’re unlikely to fall as flat as they did against the Devils Sunday.
“This is the best time of the year, whether you’re fighting to get in or you’re trying to get ready for the playoffs and just playing the right way,” said Anderson. “We’re still fighting for home ice, so obviously every game matters for us. Every night you’ve got to be on it.”
It still came on a good day, and hope is still high that better ones lie ahead.
AS Monaco beat Marseille (2-1) in Ligue 1 matchday 28. Thanks to this victory, Monaco (5th) have drawn level with Marseille (4th).
Tadej Pogacar has won his third Tour of Flanders, his fourth consecutive Monument victory. Demi Vollering won the women’s race. Union Bordeaux-Bègles will face Stade Toulousain in the Champions Cup. French players have excelled in the NBA. Gaël Monfils has qualified for the second round in Monte Carlo.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 18: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with teammates after making a three pointer in the fourth quarter of the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas. 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 Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
LeBron James has reacted to the injuries of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, with the Los Angeles Lakers now facing the final stretch of the season without both players.
Dončić is dealing with a hamstring injury, while Reaves has been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season with an oblique issue.
James said:
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“It was a shot to the heart and to the chest and the main frame with Luka, and we got that news kind of quick.”
“I woke up from my nap yesterday and then saw that news, I was like … (expletive).”
The Lakers are expected to rely heavily on James, who recorded 30 points and 15 assists in their 134-128 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
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Coach JJ Redick said:
“I think simplicity wins. It´s nothing too crazy. But it´s just being really simple with the menu and hopefully over the next five games, we can really figure out what works for this group.”
The injuries come at a point, with the Lakers already in the playoffs but still fighting for position in the Western Conference.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) lines up under center during third-quarter action, scanning the defense and preparing to initiate the play as the offense works through a drive Aug 10, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, against the Las Vegas Raiders during preseason game action. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings’ rumor mill never takes days or weeks off, and in fact, the noise gets louder as the draft approaches. That just so happens to be 18 days from now.
Minnesota’s latest rumor roundup touches McCarthy, Murray, and a possible Brandel shift on the offensive line.
So, to keep you in the loop, here’s the second batch of Vikings rumors for the first weekend in April.
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Latest Chatter Points to Key Decisions for Minnesota’s Offense
The Purple Rumor Mill for April 5th, 2026.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy drops back and delivers an early throw, settling into the offense and setting tempo Jan 4, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The first-quarter sequence showed Minnesota aiming for rhythm in a pivotal divisional clash against Green Bay as McCarthy operated within structure. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Rumor: J.J. McCarthy could be traded to the Jets in a deal centered around a 2nd-Rounder.
Pro Football Network‘s Josh Weil published a few McCarthy trade ideas, and for the Jets, he explained, “New York trades a 2026 second-round pick (No. 44 overall) to Minnesota for McCarthy and a 2026 third-round pick (No. 97 overall). Will the reunion with Geno Smith result in success for the Jets? Maybe, but with an aging quarterback who has had his share of injuries, bringing in a backup with more upside than Brady Cook can make an injury not devastating for the Jets.”
“They would be able to focus on other positions with their higher draft picks and still bring in a hungry McCarthy, who could very well win the starting job over Smith.”
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McCarthy has raised no fuss about Murray’s arrival, and to be shipped out, McCarthy must likely ask for a ticket.
Weil also dropped a McCarthy trade theory to Cleveland: “Cleveland trades a 2026 third-round pick (No. 70 overall) and a 2026 fifth-round pick (No. 149 overall) to Minnesota for McCarthy. While the Browns picked a pair of quarterbacks in last year’s draft and still have Deshaun Watson under contract, it is clear they are looking for someone to come in and run away with the job.”
“It seems like the Browns didn’t want to invest a first-round pick in the position, but getting a first-round quarterback at pennies on the dollar in terms of draft stock may make them buyers for McCarthy. McCarthy’s QB Impact Score last season was 64.5, resulting in a D grade. While this is a far cry from where his expectations are, he still cleared Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel by a wide margin in that category.”
Generally speaking, the Vikings probably won’t trade McCarthy.
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Rumor: Kyler Murray is the Vikings’ QB1 in 2026; Kevin O’Connell spilled the beans.
O’Connell chatted with KFAN this week and mentioned his offense in 2026: “I call it the Justin Jefferson program. If they’re playing man coverage, they’re absolutely not playing Justin 1 on 1… what that means if you’re going to try and play those coverages, and have a spy for Kyler Murray, or for that matter any of our other QB’s, you’re leaving yourself a 3 man rush.”
“So, you have to ask yourself, what do you have to take away? If the answer is Justin Jefferson or Jordan Addison, there’s going to be some opportunity.”
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray takes the field for warmups with SoFi Stadium reflected in his visor, capturing a unique pregame moment Jan 3, 2021, in Inglewood, California. Murray prepared for a matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, showcasing focus and presence before kickoff in a high-profile NFC West contest. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
O’Connell’s comments left no doubt: he is building the offense around Murray as the starting quarterback and planning for September with Murray in mind. Defensive coordinators must now contend with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Murray’s mobility — a combination sure to cause headaches.
Coaches rarely speak this way about backup quarterbacks. As QB4, Max Brosmer received no extensive analysis on Tuesday, which is understandable. He’s not a starter.
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O’Connell may not have intended to reveal his hand, but his plan is evident. While the Vikings will still hold a quarterback competition in training camp, Murray enters the summer as the clear frontrunner.
Rumor: Blake Brandel is the odds-on favorite to start Week 1 at center.
Until this week, no one really knew the Vikings’ plan at center. O’Connell changed that a little bit.
He said to reporters, “It is great that we feel that good about Blake’s versatility, but ultimately we want to do what’s best for Blake to ascend and reach his highest potential at one position or have the flexibility still to play multiple. What his offseason looks like, what his training camp looks like and what his work flow looks like leading into the season, we want to have him more than likely at that center spot and build on some things that he did last year.”
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“It’s a position that’s got some really unique names in the draft, depending on where you may be looking to take one. There’s some guys with experience, there’s some guys with tremendous upside and then some guys that have that flex above the neck of really the smarts and the command that it takes to play center at the National Football League level. We’ll continue to work through it.”
Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Blake Brandel moves through pregame warmups, preparing for depth duties and special teams work Sep 12, 2021, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The lineman went through drills alongside teammates ahead of kickoff, focusing on readiness and technique before facing the Bengals. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert added, “O’Connell said the Vikings plan to make center the permanent position for longtime backup Blake Brandel, making him the early front-runner for the job that was vacated by Ryan Kelly’s retirement.”
From an early April standpoint, the starting center job is Brandel’s. A rookie will have to outshine him at training camp.
The three-day competition in the rural town of Stawell featured more than 700 competitors and offered total prize money of A$155,000 (£81,000).
Jamaican Asafa Powell, Britain’s Linford Christie and Australian great Cathy Freeman are among the global champions to compete at the event since it was first held in 1878.
Richardson’s partner and fellow American sprinter Christian Coleman, holder of the indoor 60m world record, contested the men’s event.
The former 100m world champion was eliminated in the semi-finals, where he finished fifth in 12.48 seconds.
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The men’s event was won by Australian 21-year-old Olufemi Komolafe in 11.93 off a five-metre start – starting behind all but one of his competitors, with runner-up Jake Ireland starting at 4.5m.
Spaun’s clubs remain nearly exactly as they were at Oakmont 9 months ago, with one minor exception, as Spaun opted for a 7-wood this week instead of the 5-wood he used at Oakmont. Both clubs are TaylorMade Qi10s with Mitsubishi Diamana PD shafts, so it’s simply a course-dependent adjustment for Spaun.
What has changed are his sponsors. While his main endorsement contract with Cleveland/Srixon covers his ZXi irons, Cleveland wedges and Srixon balls, Spaun has a brand new partnership with L.A.B. Golf, just announced this week.
.@labgolfputters is making it official with World No. 13 J.J. Spaun.
Spaun won the U.S. Open last year gaming a L.A.B. DF3, punctuated by that 64-footer on 18 and the now-iconic putter toss.
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“I switched to L.A.B. and had an amazing season, including a U.S. Open win. I love… pic.twitter.com/uAhr9sPnO8
“I switched to L.A.B. and had an amazing season, including a U.S. Open win. I love working with the L.A.B. guys,” Spaun said in the announcement. “The fact is, these guys know things about putters and putting that nobody else does. The margins out here are so small, and I want every advantage I can get. L.A.B. is that advantage. The golfers who do their homework will figure it out.”
Spaun was the first player ever to win a major championship with a Lie Angle Balanced, “zero torque” or low-torque or putter last June. He capped it off with a memorable 64-foot bomb on the 72nd green and tossed his L.A.B. Golf DF3 putter in the air.
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Like at Oakmont, Spaun again put the Valero away by driving the 71st green, but this time, he drilled the 9-foot eagle putt to go ahead by a shot at 17 under, a total no one could match on a windy, cold and wet day at TPC San Antonio.
But where Spaun really did his damage this week was with his irons, as he was second in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, picking up 6.7 shots.
He has a unique set of Srixon ZXi irons, gaming the players’ distance ZXi5 model for his 4-iron and the more compact ZXi7 in the 5-PW.
The unusual part is that Spaun’s iron set doesn’t have the typical half-inch length and half-degree lie increments that most players use. Instead, Spaun’s short irons are standard length, while his mid and long irons are slightly shorter than standard. Meanwhile, his lie angles jump by a degree for the 6-7-8-irons.
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Spaun isn’t a unicorn for this, but it’s still rare on Tour. Pros and OEM reps spend hours and hours testing clubs to make sure each one is dialed for the individual player. That’s exactly what the Srixon team has done with Spaun.
Keep reading below for more on Spaun’s detailed specs.
J.J. Spaun’s winning clubs at the 2026 Valero Texas Open
GT3 – Speed-Tuned Distance & Control
GT3 offers Titleist’s boldest combination of power and personalization. With a speed-tuned design that allows you to precisely match performance to your most frequent contact location, you can make your biggest drives even bigger while taking total control over flight and shaping.
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A breakthrough in internal weighting unlocks longer drives and enhanced directional control in GT3. The Adjustable CG Track now sits closer to the face for more dynamic CG control, while additional discretionary mass is pushed to the back of the club to maintain optimal stability through impact.
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GT3 features a new raised tail contour that represents a dramatic shift in driver aerodynamics. Previously impossible to execute due to design constraints, this advanced shaping results in a driver that swings faster while still providing optimal CG control.
TaylorMade Fairways have dominated on Tour for over a decade because of their unique performance recipe, which enables maximum distance and versatility.
The Qi4D fairway is designed for golfers who want the most advanced technology while still prioritizing versatility and control with amazing distance.
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Utilizing a single Trajectory Adjustment System weight (8g x1) provides the golfer a more mass efficient way to adjust flight, spin and swing weight.
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Wedges: Cleveland RTX Zipcore Tour Rack (50), RTZ Tour Rack (54), RTX 6 Tour Rack (60) Lofts/Grinds: 50-10 Mid, 54-12 Full, 60-6 Low Lie: 1˚ Flat Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
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Cleveland RTZ Full-Face Custom Wedge
All-new RTZ Wedges are made with Z-Alloy, a completely new steel formula that enables a zero-compromise design approach for incredible feel, better durability, and more consistency for our best performing tour Wedges yet. Plus, there’s an all-new ADAPT grind featuring full-face grooves, to give RTZ Wedges more versatility than ever before.
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UltiZip’s sharper grooves cut through grass and debris at contact, while deeper grooves help make space for grass, sand, dirt, or water to clear the impact zone, giving RTZ Wedges stronger, more consistent spin from the fairway, rough, or bunker.
Ever since we launched our first putter, Directed Force, golfers have been asking if we could make it less weird. DF3 is that putter.
DF3 still does everything golfers love about the original. It stays square by itself. It’s still irrationally forgiving on mishits. But there’s a lot less to think about.
The DF3 is entirely CNC milled from 6061 aluminum, with 8 screws on the bottom made of steel or tungsten in various densities to precisely target swing weight and lie angle balance each putter.
Z-STAR SeriesWhether you’re chasing major championships or your next personal best, the all-new Z-STAR series is the choice for serious players everywhere. Featuring reformulated cores and covers across the line, this generation of Z-STAR golf balls delivers greater distance, optimized spin, and tour-level stopping power around the green.
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With a blend of greenside control and long-game distance, the new Z-STAR ♦ DIAMOND also delivers the unique benefit of increased spin on long and mid Iron shots.
Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine (6) goes through pregame warmups, moving across the field and preparing for defensive responsibilities as teammates cycle through drills Aug 20, 2022, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, ahead of a preseason matchup against the San Francisco 49ers with roster spots and roles under evaluation. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
One week ago, we brought you the best draft picks in Minnesota Vikings history, a list headlined by Fran Tarkenton, which should surprise no one. You can read that here. This time, the naughty list is up for review, with the next draft just 18 days away.
A handful of Vikings draft swings aged terribly, leaving long-term scars on the franchise.
The list has a newcomer, sadly, now that the dust has settled, and he checked in at No. 3 — Lewis Cine.
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First-Round Whiffs Still Haunt Minnesota’s Draft History
From bad to worse, these are the worst draft picks in Vikings history.
Minnesota Vikings running back D.J. Dozier carries the ball during postseason action, showcasing his role in the offense Jan 13, 1988, at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Wild Card matchup saw Minnesota dominate the Saints, with Dozier contributing to a decisive victory in a high-energy playoff environment. Mandatory Credit: MPS-USA TODAY Sports
5. D.J. Dozier
Drafting Dozier with the 14th pick in 1987 represented a significant investment, as the Vikings envisioned him as the centerpiece of a run-oriented offense.
But Dozier never lived up to those expectations. In 37 games, he totaled just 691 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns, with his best season being his rookie year, in which he gained only 257 yards. He struggled to establish a consistent role and realize his potential.
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After a brief stint in Detroit, Dozier was out of the league by age 26. For a Top-15 pick at a crucial position (back then, anyway), the Vikings received next to nothing for the long term.
4. Erasmus James
Picked 18th overall in 2005 — that’s where the Vikings draft this year — James was expected to become a dominant force on the Vikings’ defensive line. He possessed the necessary skills, and the opportunity was there for him to succeed.
Unfortunately, injuries rattled his career. In 23 games with Minnesota, James started 12, recording 38 tackles and 5 sacks before the team moved on in 2008. A subsequent stint in Washington did not improve his fortunes. Not one bit.
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James’s career stalled prematurely, making him another 1st-Round pick that failed to deliver long-term value for the Vikings. Minnesota has only drafted one Round 1 EDGE defender since: Dallas Turner.
3. Lewis Cine
Cine’s tenure in Minnesota quickly soured. After only 10 defensive snaps, he suffered a severe leg injury in London during his rookie year, which dramatically altered his career trajectory.
Although he returned in 2023, he struggled to find a role, and the Vikings released him the following year. He either never fully recovered from the injury or just plain stunk. You pick.
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Cine later joined a Super Bowl-winning team in Philadelphia, but his impact was negligible. While injuries are an unfortunate part of the game, Cine’s time with the Vikings stands out as one of the most disappointing first-round stories in franchise history.
He was also cut from a UFL roster not long ago. Brutal.
Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine speaks with a local reporter during training camp, addressing his development and roster outlook Aug 21, 2024, in Eagan, Minnesota. The former first-round pick worked to solidify his role while navigating a competitive depth chart and continued evaluation during summer practices. Mandatory Credit: FOX9
Minnesota Sports Fan‘sEric Strack wrote about Cine a couple of months ago, “Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s biggest draft miss came during his very first swing — when he traded down 20 spots from No. 12 overall to No. 32 overall — passing on (S) Kyle Hamilton and (WR) Jameson Williams, in favor of (S) Lewis Cine, who’s rookie deal was worth $11.5 million. We all know the story, from there. Cine broke his leg during his first preseason as a Viking.”
“And when he finally got on the field one year later, not only was the hard-hitting Georgia safety lacking first round talent … but he didn’t even belong in the NFL. Before the start of the 2024 regular season, Lewis Cine was waived by the Minnesota Vikings. After he was kicked around between a few different NFL practice squads the past couple years, Cine was forced to settle for a UFL contract with the DC Defenders on January 22, 2026.”
Cine’s football career could be over.
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“Not even two weeks later… the 2022 first round pick has been cut from the DC roster. And unless he’s willing to play overseas, it’s possible Lewis Cine may now be forced to look for jobs outside of playing professional football,” Strack concluded.
2. Leo Hayden
The Vikings’ selection of Hayden in the 1st Round of the 1971 draft never gained traction.
Despite participating in the preseason, he never played a regular-season game for Minnesota. He eventually landed in St. Louis, where he rushed for 11 yards before retiring at age 25.
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The Vikings quickly rebounded by acquiring Chuck Foreman soon after, but the Hayden pick remains a significant miss that never had a chance.
1. Dimitrius Underwood
Underwood’s situation unraveled before it started. Drafted in Round 1 in 1999, he abruptly left training camp in August and never played a single snap for the Vikings.
Former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dimitrius Underwood is shown in a portrait-style image, reflecting on his time connected to the franchise during his NFL career. The photo captures Underwood in a composed setting, representing a player whose tenure with Minnesota ended abruptly during the 1999 season. Mandatory Credit: MLive.com
He briefly appeared with Dallas, but his career failed to launch. Underwood faced off-field challenges, including legal issues and later discussions surrounding his mental health, which were not well understood or tolerated at the time.
From a football standpoint, the Vikings gained nothing from this pick, making it one of the most sudden and disappointing 1st-Round busts in team history.
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Imagine if Donovan Jackson just never made it through the summer of 2025 and vanished. That was Underwood a quarter century ago.
DOHA, QATAR FEBRUARY 16:
Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece is seen during a practice session with Carlos Alcaraz of Spain watched closely by his father Apostolos Tsitsipas, ahead of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on February 16, 2026 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Stefanos Tsitsipas has reacted strongly to comments made by coach Goran Ivanišević, who described him as the most “poorly prepared player” he had seen.
Speaking about the situation, Tsitsipas made it clear he did not agree with how it was handled.
“I didn’t see any point in it. If it was a way of him pushing me into working harder and getting my shit together, it was definitely not the right tactic. I was really hurt.”
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He also said the comments came at the wrong time, especially given his condition.
“I never expected that a coach could do that to me, and the worst thing is what he said was not true. I was not fit because I had been injured. I hadn’t been practicing properly for over two weeks. It was like he kicked me when I was already down.”
The remarks have drawn attention to the relationship between the player and the coach, with Tsitsipas openly expressing disappointment about how the criticism was delivered.
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