You’re no doubt familiar with the phrase: Defense never rusts.

So while the Jayson Tatum fan club uses his long absence as an excuse for the rim-chipping step-backs, the crowd-pleasing passes into the audience and the dribble out of bounds off his bloated ankle, there’ll be nothing but the naked truth about his defense within seconds of when he steps back onto the court.

Tatum is the most overhyped player in the history of the NBA. Don’t believe me? I have a stat to prove it.

Three NBA All-Stars suffered Achilles tears last year. All are plotting a comeback.

Since the injury, Tyrese Haliburton has gotten – by my unofficial count – 96 updates posted on social media.

Damian Lillard, who made himself available to the media masses at the All-Star Game and then, incredibly, went out and won the 3-Point Shootout, has warranted 126 updates.

Tatum has had 158 … yesterday alone. His total (this changes by the minute): 7,966.

And I’m not counting the five-part documentary on the incredible story of an athlete making a miraculous comeback from an Achilles injury. Apparently it’s never been done before.

As Tatum’s return to game action gets closer, the saga gets even more ridiculous.

You gotta know the NBA, which has driven the Tatum hype machine from Day 1, wants their Golden Boy to return next Tuesday against the Spurs. Why? Because it’s a nationally televised game on NBC, the league’s cash cow.

But Tatum went to Duke, remember? He’s not dumb enough to take that path.

He’d rather make a triumphant return in a game in which, well, a triumph is more likely … like Friday night against the hapless Mavericks. It’s his kind of stat-padding opponent.

Plus, it’s at home, which makes sense, and comes at the perfect time … Two days after the Celtics were drubbed by the Hornets, demonstrating – despite the shiny record – that the club desperately needs him back.

It would make the perfect theater. Likely accompanied by a green carpet.

That first dribble between the legs. Wow. Waited 10 months for this. Worth every minute.

That 11th dribble between the legs on the same possession. Incredible. He’s still got it.

That assist to Jaylen Brown. Classic teammate. Forget for a moment that Payton Pritchard has done this 70 times already this season.

And that 3-pointer. He’s back! It came on his fifth ill-advised 24-footer of the night, but the broadcasters have already cautioned seven times that he’s rusty.

We’ll give him that. But whenever he returns, a well-rested Tatum should be on top of his game defensively. He’s made this perfectly clear in the twice-a-day videos he’s directed.

And this is a potential problem.

You see, while Tatum has fooled people into thinking he’s more than an Olympic Team 12th man by putting up impressive numbers in points, rebounds and assists, you can do that by shooting a lot, standing next to the basket on defense and committing a lot of turnovers.

But there’s no defending his defense.

It’s remarkable how often Tatum is cited as an outstanding defender. Heck, over the course of his career, he’s gotten almost as many All-Defensive Team votes as Brown.

That speaks to the myth of Jayson Tatum as much as anything.

Watch Brown play defense. Complete lock-down guy at multiple positions. Look at what he did to Luka Doncic in the 2024 Finals.

The Celtics won that title on the defensive end of the court. Fortunately, seven of the 11 voters for Finals MVP saw that and went with Brown.

Tatum got the other four votes … surely not for shooting 26% on 3-pointers as he almost single-handedly kept the Mavericks in the series.

As the broadcasters reminded us multiple times: It was his blanket defense on Mavericks big men Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II that won the series for the Celtics, failing to note that two stiffs with a combined shooting range of 18 inches went 28-for-39 in the five games.

You want to learn a little something about Tatum that’s not covered in his documentary? Focus on his defense in his return.

First, note who he’s guarding. He routinely gets assigned to the other team’s weakest forward or center while Brown actually guards a guy with a heartbeat.

Is that what you do with an elite defender?

Because his guy is no threat, he gets an opportunity to hang around the hoop while Brown and his hard-working mates induce bad shot after bad shot. Tatum has 4,293 career rebounds; his cumulative jump for those boards has totaled 4,292 inches.

And then watch as an opponent attacks the rim. Ole’. After all, he can’t afford to get in foul trouble.

The master plan: This allows him to grab the ball out of the net and inbound it to someone sure to pass it back immediately, so Tatum can begin his dribbling act.

You can stop watching at that point. He will be, after all, rusty offensively.

But on defense, he won’t be rusty at all. Just – as usual – exposed.

As India get ready for the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, a debate has started over the team’s opening combination. Questions are being raised about whether the side should continue with Abhishek Sharma despite his run of low scores or bring in Rinku Singh for the title clash.

With the trophy at stake, the discussion has spread among fans and experts.

Abhishek’s numbers in the tournament have drawn attention. In seven matches, the left-hander has scored 0, 0, 0, 15, 55, 10 and 9, making a total of 89 runs at an average of 12.71.

Except for a half-century against Zimbabwe, he has not managed to score consistently, leading to questions over whether India should persist with him in the final.

The debate has gained momentum on social media, especially on X, where fans have expressed different views on the issue.

“You can’t take risks with a person who is consistently flopping. This is the final and we must go with full strength, without any weak link,” wrote one fan, as cited by news agency IANS.

Another supporter said rival teams have already worked out how to dismiss him. “Abhishek has become so predictable. New Zealand will make sure he doesn’t score either. Rinku should come in.”

There are also voices supporting the youngster. “Abhishek can be our X factor in the final. There is a big inning due from him. He might deliver big in the finale,” another fan commented, as cited by IANS.

For the team management, the situation presents a choice: continue backing a player through a difficult phase or make a change before the final.

Attention is now on head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav. They will decide whether to stick with the combination that took India to the final or bring in Rinku Singh for the match.

At present, a change appears unlikely, but the decision will show whether India opts for continuity or makes a late adjustment ahead of the final.

India vs New Zealand final

Date & Time: India will face New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final on Sunday, March 8. The match will begin at 7:00 PM (IST).

Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Live Telecast: Star Sports Network

Live Streaming: JioHotstar app.

It’s going to be a crucial week for Real Madrid and the future of their manager Alvaro Arbeloa. The Spanish giants lost the latest home game against Getafe and are now four points behind Barcelona in LaLiga standings. This is why Friday’s match against Celta Vigo will be crucial, only few days before the first leg of the Champions League’s Round of 16 against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Arbeloa spoke ahead of the game and looked confident.

“We know what we’re up against, we’re aware, and we were in the two matches we couldn’t win. We know the level we have to reach if we want to succeed against a great opponent, and that it depends a lot on ourselves and the level we deliver. For us, the past doesn’t exist, and we’re only thinking about Celta Vigo.”

Real Madrid will have to deal with the injury of French striker Kylian Mbappe, whose return on the pitch is still unknown. “I talk to him every day. Of course, we are keeping track of how he’s doing and how he feels. Each day, he’s getting better; it’s a process where we’re taking it day by day, observing his sensations, but it’s all good news as of today. He’s improving more and more”, Arbeloa added. 

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the game: 

How to watch Celta Vigo vs. Real Madrid, odds

• Date: Friday, March 6 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
• Location: Estadio Abanca-Balaidos — Vigo
• Live stream: ESPN+
• Odds: Celta Vigo +228; Draw +245; Real Madrid +117

Possible lineups

Celta Vigo XI: Andrei Radu; Javi Rodriguez, Joseph Aidoo, Carlos Dominguez; Oscar Mingueza, Miguel Roman, Ilaix Moriba, Sergio Carreira; Fer Lopez, Ferran Jutgla, Hugo Alvarez.

Real Madrid XI: Thibaut Courtois; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy, Fran Garcia; Aurelien Tchouameni, Thiago Pitarch; Federico Valverde, Arda Guler, Vinicius Junior; Gonzalo Garcia.

Prediction 

It will be a key week for Alvaro Arbeloa’s future and Real Madrid, especially after losing the last home game against Getafe. This is a must-win clash for Real Madrid. Pick: Real Madrid 3, Osasuna 0. 

Terence Crawford has offered his take on why a mega fight between Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez continues to float in the ether.

During his time as WBC ‘interim’ champion, Benavidez had persistently called for a shot at Alvarez, who reigned supreme as undisputed super-middleweight champion between 2021 and 2024.

The Mexican then reclaimed his undisputed crown last year, outpointing William Scull, before losing a convincing unanimous decision against Crawford in September.

But while many still regard Canelo as the leading fighter at 168lbs, especially following Crawford’s retirement, the 35-year-old has never quite shaken off accusations that he avoided Benavidez.

In search of alternative opportunities, Benavidez moved up to 175lbs in 2024 and was elevated from ‘interim’ to full WBC champion last year, before defending his title with a seventh-round finish over Anthony Yarde in November.

Now bidding to become a three-division world champion, the 29-year-old looks to claim Gilberto Ramirez’s WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on May 2.

As for an elusive fight with Canelo, it appears that Benavidez now represents an even more formidable challenge, making it increasingly unlikely that the pair will ever collide.

Having previously shared 12 rounds with Alvarez, Crawford offered his thoughts while speaking with Joe Rogan, suggesting that Canelo views the size of Benavidez as a significant factor.

“I just think that Canelo, in a sense, knows how big Benavidez [is] going to come in the ring.

“Benavidez is a great fighter, but he’s a big fighter, he’s a tall fighter, and I just think Canelo [is saying to himself]: ‘Why would I wanna get in the ring with this guy that’s going to be massive, come fight time?’

“Canelo’s not a big guy. [But] he’s been fighting big guys his whole career, and beating them with skills.

“I [also] think the disrespect he got from Benavidez had persuaded him to go elsewhere.”

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Canelo has been promised a world title fight by Turki Alalshikh in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this September, while Benavidez aims to craft a Hall of Fame career across multiple divisions.

Michigan won at Iowa 71-68 on Thursday while Michigan State beat Rutgers 91-87. Both games were closer than they were supposed to be, at least relative to the point speed. But the favorites still prevailed in each, setting up a showdown in Sunday’s regular-season finale between the Wolverines and Spartans that should be great.

Will it decide the Big Ten title? No.

Michigan is 28-2 overall and 18-1 in the Big Ten. Michigan State is alone in second in the conference standings — but three games back. So the Wolverines are already the outright champs, and they’ll get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament on Selection Sunday, in part, because of it.

Bracketology Bubble Watch: Miami (Ohio) aims for unbeaten regular season, NCAA Tournament security at Ohio

David Cobb

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That’s a lock.

Here’s my question: Could MSU do the same?

It’s unlikely, of course, unless Florida, UConn and Houston all lose again at some point before the bracket is set, because if any of them win-out, the one that does will likely be the fourth No. 1 seed. And if all three win-out, reasonable minds can disagree on which one would or should get the fourth No. 1 seed, but, most agree, under that set of circumstances, it would be either Florida, UConn or Houston. So, definitely, those three seem to be in the so-called drivers’ seats, if you will.

But what if they all lose again between now and when the bracket is set, which is obviously possible and, in some cases, likely? And what if Michigan State wins-out while they all lose again between now and when the bracket is set? Because if Florida, UConn and Houston all lose again before the bracket is set, and if Michigan State wins-out, Michigan State would then enter the Selection Show with a 29-5 record that would (probably) feature 12 Quadrant-1 wins and just one defeat outside of the first quadrant, and if Florida, UConn and Houston all take another loss between now and when the bracket is set, what I believe is that Tom Izzo should then be coaching a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for what would be the fifth time in his Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame career, again, provided his Spartans turn their current five-game winning streak into a nine-game winning streak over the next 10 days.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Michigan remains No. 2 in Friday morning’s updated CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings, where Duke remains No. 1 for the 13th consecutive day.

Michigan State is No. 7.

Again, Michigan State-Michigan is set for Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET.

You can watch it on CBS.

Top 25 And 1 rankings

/ @lockedoncollegefootball  

While Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are duking it out for $4 million at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, another PGA Tour event is going down this week. And that tournament features a major storyline of its own: John Daly II’s PGA Tour debut.

The 22-year-old son of golf legend John Daly played the first Tour round of his career on Thursday at the 2026 Puerto Rico Open.

Daly got off to a great start on Day 1. But unlike many of his pro golf peers, who often work out and hit balls after playing on Tour, Daly the younger had a very different plan for his post-round routine, as he shared Thursday evening.

John Daly II shines in Tour debut at Puerto Rico Open… then shares unique post-round routine

While he’s still an amateur and starring as a senior on the University of Arkansas golf team, Daly is no stranger to golf fans.

He regularly tees it up alongside his dad at the PNC Championship. The Daly men even won the 2021 PNC, topping runners-up Tiger and Charlie Woods.

And while his current amateur ranking is 54th, Daly has shown flashes of greatness outside of the PNC. At the 2025 U.S. Amateur at the Olympic Club, Daly reached the quarterfinals.

But this week at the Puerto Rico Open, he’s competing with Tour pros in an official event for the first time. Considering all of that, Thursday’s opening round couldn’t have gone much better.

Daly shot a two-under 70 in Round 1 at Grand Reserve Golf Club. The soon-to-be pro sounded like a veteran when discussing his play in a brief on-camera interview following his round.

“It was good. Got off to a good start, made a nice birdie on 1. Solid up-and-down on 2, made about a 20-footer for par, which is nice, settled me in,” Daly said. “And then just hit some good shots. Feel like I left a few out there, but I made it up with just a couple good saves and nice chip-in on 16.”

Daly even sounded a little like his famous dad when talking about his playing partner Neal Shipley.

“It was fun. I love Neal, it was awesome. First time meeting him yesterday. He’s a good dude and I enjoyed playing with him a lot,” Daly said.

Another similarity between Daly II and Daly I? Neither are afraid to do things their own way. Daly II proved that with his closing remarks Thursday evening.

When asked what he planned to work on after his round to keep his positive momentum going, Daly II admitted that instead of practicing or lifting, he was going to take advantage of one of Puerto Rico’s greatest resources: the beach.

“I would say I’d go hit balls, but I’m a little tired, so I’m just probably going to go to the beach and probably do absolutely nothing for the rest of the day,” Daly II said with a laugh.

Francis Ngannou has been released by PFL after just one fight for the promotion.

The former UFC heavyweight champion joined PFL in January 2023 and won his debut bout against Renan Ferreira in October 2024, where he was crowned the inaugural PFL Super Fights heavyweight champion.

That would prove his only outing for the company, however, with Ngannou and PFL now parting ways.

“The Professional Fighters League has made the decision to part ways with Francis Ngannou,” read a PFL statement.

“We have great respect for Francis as both an athlete and a person, and we wish him success in the next chapter of his combat sports career.

“The PFL remains focused on recruiting and signing the best athletes in the sport while continuing to deliver world-class competition for fans around the globe.”

Ngannou had warned in December that his contract with PFL was approaching its end, saying the company “have to give me a fight”.

The Cameroonian, who defeated Stipe Miocic in 2021 to become UFC champion, leaves PFL with an 18-3 record in professional MMA, with 12 of his wins coming via knockout.

He ventured into boxing during his time under contract with PFL, being edged out on the scorecards by Tyson Fury in October 2023 before being slept by Anthony Joshua six months later.

He had flirted with further boxing bouts, suggesting a bout with fellow knockout artist Deontay Wilder, while a crossover match with Jake Paul had been rumoured before being shot down by Ngannou.