If you’d like a look at the candidates and their dossiers, we’ve got that here. This search is going to take some time ā I’d venture April 1 is the fastest possible timeline, and even that is ambitious ā so this tracker will update on more with UNC’s pursuit as the weekend plays out.Ā
Oh, and we had a hiring in a power conference on Wednesday: Butler is bringing on alumnus Ronald Nored as its coach. The 36-year-old was the behind-the-scenes frontrunner after Thad Matta’s retirement and never lost the lead.Ā
Butler wasn’t the only school to make a move: South Florida lured Chris Mack away from Charleston to be its next coach. That’s one that wasn’t flaring many radars, and the agreement came together in a flurry on Wednesday, per one source. Mack has the most wins (323) of any inbound USF coach at the time of their hiring in program history.
“I am truly excited for the opportunity to lead a South Florida basketball program that’s on an exceptional trajectory and to join a university and athletic department defined by strong leadership, shared aspirations, and tremendous alignment,” Mack said in a statement. “The exceptional vision and commitment Rob (Higgins) outlined are inspiring, and I am grateful for his trust and belief in my leadership of Bulls basketball. I’m eager to connect with Bulls Nation, the students in the SoFlo Rodeo, and the passionate fans who make the Yuengling Center such a special home court.”
Annnnnd we’ve got one more dose of college carousel gossip: The noise around Will Wadepotentially bailing on NC State after one year to double back to LSU has a lot of people in the college basketball world laughing but also shaking their heads. One source told me they expect this to happen, it’s just a matter of days. The lack of statement from LSU on Matt McMahon’s job security over the past two weeks has been conspicuous, to say the least.
Other hirings from earlier this week
At Arizona State,Ā Randy BennettĀ agreed to a five-year contract to be the coach of the Sun Devils. The Mesa, Arizona, native finally said yes after previously turning down the school multiple times in prior searches.Ā
Bennett spent the past 25 years at SMC and went 589-228, including 12 NCAA Tournament teams, five of which came in the past five seasons. The Gaels made one Sweet 16, in 2010, on Bennett’s watch. All told, he’s one of the 20-ish best coaches in college basketball; the work he did in Moraga was a lift few others could’ve sustained over two and a half decades. He’s more than earned a shot at the power-conference level.
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Arizona State placed a premium on Bennett, who was clearly catalyzed by the fact that Gonzaga is leaving the WCC and thus downgrading the league. The Bennett move at Saint Mary’s triggered an internal promotion of Mickey McConnell in Moraga. The Gaels alumnus gets his first shot at 36 years old. Can he keep SMC at the top of the WCC?Ā
The other high-major news from Monday was Creighton coach Greg McDermott’s impending retirement. One of the game’s best tacticians is walking away at 63. I’ve got that story and all the info here. No search there, though. Alan Huss agreed last year to be next up once McDermott was done, so that transition is already buttoned up and will be official after Creighton’s season ends in the Fox-run Crown event out in Las Vegas next week.
The first hiring of Monday came in the American, where CBS Sports broke the news thatĀ Wes MillerĀ agreed to be the next coach at Charlotte on a five-year deal. Miller was fired from Cincinnati almost two weeks ago but let it be known he still wanted to coach and land somewhere as quickly as possible. Miller is from Charlotte, which made the hiring process even more logical. Miller and Cincinnati agreed to terms on his payout from Cincinnati last week; the school would have owed him $9.9 million if it did not formally fire him until April 1. Miller’s record in five seasons at Cincinnati was 100-74. Before that, he coached in North Carolina at UNCG, going 185-135. In his career, Miller’s won 57.7% of his games (285-209) across 15 seasons.Ā
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G-Mac to š
We’ve still got more to address! Gerry McNamaraĀ is now running the show at Syracuse. The school officially announced the hiring Tuesday morning.Ā
The twist: Sources said Syracuse showed significant interest in other candidates, most prominently Saint Louis’Ā Josh Schertz, in the lead-up to the NCAA Tournament. SLU announced on March 13 it had agreed to terms of a new contract, but with the buyout being somewhat manageable, Syracuse pursued all options before landing on McNamara. One source said SU was still making a push on Schertz even after Saint Louis’ first round win over Georgia.
Though that never came to be, the fact Syracuse still looked at Schertz and other candidates falls in line with what sources previously told me: McNamara winning out comes after weeks of debate amongst big money players at Syracuse who were split over whether or not to break from the Syracuse family/Jim Boeheim coaching tree. McNamara is of course adored at Cuse, but some influential supporters of the program felt adamant that Syracuse needed to go in a new direction. Others favored keeping it in the family for at least one more try; McNamara was the obvious choice in that regard.Ā
I’m told Syracuse is hopeful it can raise more than $9 million total in NIL budgeting for the 2026-27 season, with at least $4.5 million of that coming from revenue sharing. McMamara will have the support he needs to try and turn things around in central New York.
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Here are our some of our high-major carousel headlines in the past week-plus:
ARIZONA STATE | OUT: Bobby Hurley Ā»Ā» IN: Randy Bennett Hurley leaves with the second-most wins in program history. Credit to ASU athletic director Graham Rossini for landing the best possible replacement. Bennett was the target of multiple previous searches and turned down the job. Now he’s going to make a run in his 60s and see if he can get the Sun Devils to consistently compete in the top half of the Big 12. That’s a real jolt for this program. He’ll have to do more with less, which is no thing new after the wizard work he guided for 25 years at Saint Mary’s.
BUTLER | OUT: Thad Matta Ā»Ā» IN: Ronald Nored Matta retired after a four-year, 63-69 go of it with the Bulldogs. The news was all the more surprising considering that Butler athletic director Grant Leiendecker publicly said Matta would be back for a fifth season. Ultimately, it’s probably the right move. Nored was announced Wednesday and represents the latest hire in a link of Butler-family head-coaching moves. He’s young but he’s sharp. Can he bump them up in the Big East?
BOSTON COLLEGE | OUT: Earl Grant This one was expected for months. There are 79 jobs in the Power Five leagues, and Boston College, unfortunately and unquestionably, ranks in the bottom five. Grant couldn’t win there, but this is an institutional problem as much as anything else. Minimal fan support, bottom of the league in NIL capability, and the basketball there ranks below football and hockey in the priority order. Will take a very specific fit to even give the Eagles a shot at fighting into the middle of the ACC. UConnĀ assistant Luke Murray and Vermont head coach John Becker are the two finalists. I was thinking we’d know by Wednesday, but maybe this drags on to the end of the week.
CINCINNATIĀ | OUT: Wes Miller Ā»Ā» IN: Jerrod Calhoun The Bearcats had to make a change after going five straight seasons without an NCAA bid, even if Miller’s teams came close three times. Miller wound up doing just fine by shooting off to Charlotte. Jerrod Calhoun (Utah State) is an alum and was the top target from Day 1. Bearcats fans have some hope again, and fortunately for them, the program should be at or north of $8 million to spend on a roster for 2026-27. That’s not upper tier for this cycle, but it is manageable and can be competitive.Ā
CREIGHTON | OUT: Greg McDermott Ā»Ā» IN: Alan Huss The 61-year-old McDermott leaves as the most accomplished coach in program history. In addition to overseeing Creighton’s valuable upgrade from the Missouri Valley to the Big East in the early 2010s, he coached 11 NCAA Tournament-level teams at Creighton and made two Sweet 16s (2021, 2024) along with an Elite Eight (2023). McDermott went 365-188 at Creighton, and when factoring in his time as coach atĀ North Dakota State,Ā Northern IowaĀ andĀ Iowa State, he’s at 645-383 with 13 NCAA Tournament appearances. Huss was at High Point a year ago and left because he agreed to be coach-in-waiting when McDermott stepped away.
G. TECH | OUT: Damon Stoudamire Ā»Ā» IN: Scott Cross Sources said the buyout for the 52-year-old Stoudamire was just $2.6 million, which made the decision that much easier after a 42-55 record in three seasons. This is a bottom-four job in the ACC (despite its terrific location) due to its lack of success over the past two decades, its relatively tough academic parameters and its limitations in NIL. Sources told me Tech will top out at $3.5 million in revenue sharing and maybe an additional $2 million after that. And yet, the 2026 portal market will likely mandate high-major teams to work with at least $6 million in order to be somewhat competitive. As was first reported here, Cross was the guy. The school made it official last Friday.
KANSAS STATE | OUT: Jerome Tang Ā»Ā» IN: Casey Alexander The first power conference job to hit the market in 2026, and it did so in a noisy fashion. Kansas State athletic director Gene TaylorĀ fired Tang for cause on Feb. 15. University lawyers and Tang’s legal representation are in an ongoing legal dispute over the validity of a for-cause firing, which, if K-State were successful, would mean $0 owed to Tang. If fully unsuccessful, Tang has more than $18 million coming his way. I’m expecting a settlement with terms undisclosed. Alexander and K-State agreed to terms on March 12 after it was clear that Jerrod Calhoun wasn’t going to leave Utah State for Manhattan, Kansas.
PROVIDENCE | OUT: Kim English Ā»Ā» IN: Bryan Hodgson PC finished 15-18 this season, and English was unable to get the school to the NCAAs in three seasons on the job. Hodgson agreed to a five-year contract late Saturday night. The Friars will be well-stocked; sources said the program will be well north of $10 million in this year’s portal cycle, which will be critical as Hodgson is expected to turn over almost the entire roster. PC bringing on the soon-to-be 39-year-old is a personality fit. He doesn’t run from a battle and is a guy who loves to punch up. The Big East just got more interesting.Ā Providence agreed to a five-year contractĀ with Hodgson.
SYRACUSE | OUT: Adrian Autry Ā»Ā» IN: Gerry McNamara The Orange’s season finished with an 86-69 loss toĀ SMUĀ in the ACC Tournament; Syracuse was a 14-seed in the league bracket. Jim Boeheim’s successor leaves with a 49-48 record and no NCAA Tournament showings.Ā Siena coach/SU alum McNamara became the top target after some other wish-list candidates wouldn’t got to the altar. Plus: Siena almost upset Duke in the first round. This is a pivotal hiring. As one Syracuse-connected source told me a few days ago: “If this hire doesn’t go well, [Syracuse] could become a one step above a mid-major.” The program’s outlook after Boeheim feels tenuous, though the fan base is passionate and thirsty to get back to relevance. McNamara has a huge task on his hands, but his love for the school is undeniable.
Mid-majors
AIR FORCE |Ā OUT:Ā Joe Scott Ā»Ā» IN: Joe CrispinĀ Scott had two runs at Air Force, the first from 1999-2004, the second from 2020 until earlier this year, when Scott was put on leave in January amid an investigation into his treatment of players. That ultimately led to a severance between he and the school, though the two sides ended things amicably with kind words when the split was made official on Feb. 26. A military academy program in the Mountain West, Air Force easily ranks among the 10 toughest jobs in all of college hoops. Crispin, 46, will leave Penn State as an assistant to take on his first head coaching opportunity.Ā
BALL STATE | OUT: Mike Lewis Ā»Ā» IN: Chris Capko The Cardinals had Lewis in charge for four seasons, but the last three were all under .500. With this year’s team going 12-19, rumors bubbled up in late January that the job would come up. Lewis, a former UCLA assistant under Mick Cronin, went 61-64 in the MAC. The team hasn’t made the NCAAs since 2000 under Ray McCallum. Capko comes aboard after years of working under Andy Enfield at USC and SMU.
BELMONT | OUT: Casey Alexander Ā»Ā» IN: Evan Bradds Alexander was anxious to leave after more than proving his value over the past seven seasons in Nashville. He tallied a 166-60 record with the Bruins, continuing the impressive legacy built out by his former coach and mentor Rick Byrd. Bradds spent this past season at Duke after cutting his teeth in the NBA with the Jazz and Celtics. He played at Belmont and graduated in 2017 after winning OVC POY. At 31, he’ll likely be the youngest D-I coach next season. Bradds played at Belmont from 2013-17 and was a terrific mid-major scorer, winning OVC Player of the Year as a junior and senior.Ā
CAL STATE BAKERSFIELD | OUT: Rod Barnes Ā»Ā» IN: Todd Lee Barnes was fired last September after 14 years at Bakersfield, and the reason is jaw-dropping: One of his former assistants was federally charged for allegations of pimping, among other heinous illegal activities. There have also been changes in leadership in the athletic department and this is a cash-strapped job that’s extremely difficult. Lee, who’s coached for more than three decades, spent recent seasons on Eric Musselman’s staff but was also an assistant at Bakersfield in the ’90s.
CHARLESTON | OUT: Chris Mack A semi-stunner Wednesday afternoon, as Mack was announced as the next coach at South Florida. He leaves behind by far the best NIL situation (and living location) in the CAA. A premier job in a one-bid league just came open and a lot of people are going to be out for it.
CHARLOTTE | OUT: Aaron Fearne Ā»Ā» IN: Wes Miller The 49ers made the move after three years with Fearne, who went 17-17 this season and 47-51 overall. The school has some solid financial backing for NIL moving forward thanks to some investments by local billionaire Ric Elias. Miller lands on his feet in what’s a best-case scenario after not making it to Year 6 with Cincinnati. If he can be as effective at Charlotte as he was at UNCG for a decade, he should end the school’s two-decade-plus NCAA tourney drought. This feels like a proper bounce-back opportunity.
DARTMOUTH | OUT: Dave McLaughlin The school did not renew McLaughlin’s contract. The Big Green job is almost universally considered the toughest in the eight-school Ivy League, so picking a next coach will be difficult. McLaughlin came on in 2016 and was 87-161 with a 41-85 conference record.
EASTERN MICHIGAN | OUT: Stan Heath Ā»Ā» IN: Billy Donlon The Eagles are starting over after five years under Heath. EMU was 57-98 the last five seasons and only finished .500 once both overall and in the MAC (in 2024-25). The location is good for a MAC program (less than 15 minutes from Michigan‘s campus, in fact) but the resources are bottom half of the league. That will need to change. Donlon is an assistant at Clemson and has a 155-133 record at Wright State and Kansas City.
FIU | OUT: Jeremy Ballard Ā»Ā» IN: Joey Cantens Ballard was sacked after his eighth season on the job. The CUSA program had winning seasons in Ballard’s first two years but averaged 12 wins over the last six. Cantens came from behind to land the gig over some sitting high-major assistants. His teams went 109-21 in-state at Daytona State College in the D-II ranks. The 39-year-old is a local who grew up in Miami.
GEORGIA STATE | OUT: Jonas Hayes Hayes lasted four seasons and leaves Atlanta with a 48-79 record at the Sun Belt-based program. The school will still draw in some promising mid-major candidates because of its location and potential in that league.Ā
KANSAS CITY | OUT: Marvin Menzies Ā»Ā» IN: Mark Turgeon A huge get for the Roos, who have pulled off a rarity: A school with zero NCAA Tournament appearances hired a coach with at least 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, at least 15 years of experience of high-major coaching and at least 450 wins. The only other instance of this that I can recall where that exact scenario applied is when High Point hired Tubby Smith in 2018, but he was an alum. Turgeon played at Kansas and therefore has some semi-local ties. He heads to the Summit League with a healthy boost in NIL support, determined not to let his rickety exit from Maryland in 2021 be the end of his story.Ā
LAMAR | OUT: Alvin Brooks Ā»Ā» Jordan Fee Fee? Hit the Phish. Lamar is hiring the FAU assistant with a really good rep as an up-and-comer who’s had previous success at some non-D1 spots. Could be one of the best mid-major gets of this cycle. Brooks went 62-95 across five seasons in the Southland. This season’s team went 12-19 overall. The Cardinals last made the NCAA Tournament in 2012 under Pat Knight.Ā
LITTLE ROCK | OUT: Darrell Walker Ā»Ā» IN: Travis Ford Walker’s team went 12-20 this season and finished seventh in the OVC. He leaves after eight seasons and with a 113-133 record. If you followed the tracker, you saw I had Ford’s name as the frontrunner basically from the start. The process was a little clunky and took a scenic route to getting there, but Little Rock brings on a guy with 20-plus seasons as a head coach and almost 500 wins. Ford was most recently at Saint Louis but also Oklahoma State and UMass prior to that.
UL MONROE | OUT: Phil Cunningham Ā»Ā» Ryan Cross A one-and-done in the Sun Belt. Cunningham was the head coach this past season after serving as an assistant the year prior. The team went 4-28, ranking 350th at KenPom. The bad record combined with the school switching ADs in the past five months led to the change. Cross is a former assistant (2012-20) who spent the past two seasons at UAB.
UTAH STATE | OUT: Jerrod Calhoun The Aggies will be holding a coaching search for the fifth time in five years. One name that should get strong consideration is Craig Smith. He was at Utah State from 2018-21 and won 74 games in three seasons, including 50-14 in the Mountain West and three total league titles. You could also see BYU’s Chris Burgess or Bobby Hurley try to get involved as well. The pool will be competitive. This is one of the best mid-major jobs in the country. Fascinated to see who’s next up in Logan.
NORTH FLORIDAĀ | OUT:Ā Matt Driscoll Ā»Ā» IN: Bobby Kennen This job had been open dating back to last May, when Driscoll left after 16 seasons to be Jerome Tang’s top assistant at Kansas State. Now Driscoll is wrapping up a disappointing season in Manhattan, Kansas, in the wake of Tang’s mid-February firing. At UNF, the Ospreys struggled under Kennen; the team went 7-24 this season. Nevertheless, he’s got the full-time gig. UNF’s been a D-I program for two decades, with its lone NCAA Tournament trip coming in 2015 under Driscoll.Ā
N. ILLINOISĀ | OUT: Rashon Burno Ā»Ā» IN: Matt MajkrzakĀ Burno bounced after five seasons, all of them under .500. This year’s team finished 9-21 and 319th at KenPom at the time of Burno’s (expected) resignation. He went 48-106 in one of the toughest jobs in the MAC. As was previously noted in this here capsule, Majkrzak was a leading candiate from the onset. The 35-year-old had a 136-73 in seven seasons at Northern Michigan in Division II.
OREGON STATEĀ | OUT:Ā Wayne Tinkle Ā»Ā» IN: Justin Joyner For Tinkle, the high point was the unexpected run to the Elite Eight in the 2021 COVID NCAA tourney, when the Beavers won three games as a 12-seed after earning the auto bid by winning the Pac-12 Tournament. Joyner is a fresh new face and represents and optimistic new start for the Beavers as the Pac-12 rebirth will commence later this year. Joyner is on a five-year contract and will try to compete in the league with the likes of Gonzaga, Boise State, San Diego State, Utah State.
PEPPERDINE | OUT: Ed Schilling Two-and-through for Schilling, who was a surprising hire in 2024. The Waves went 22-45 the past two seasons and won just eight games in the WCC. Pepperdine famously has one of the most beautiful campuses in the country, but it’s also a school with strong religious ties and therefore will have specific criteria for its next coach. Cal Baptist coach Rick Croy could be a name to watch here, as are guys like Virginia assistant Griff Aldrich and Notre Dame assistant Kyle Getter.
SAN DIEGO | OUT: Steve Lavin Ā»Ā» IN: JR Blount The 61-year-old Lavin couldn’t bring the program to consistency in the Gonzaga-dominated WCC. USD has not made the NCAAs since 2008 under Bill Grier. Athletic director Kimya Massey moved even more quickly than most expected when he brought on Blount, who’s seen his reputation rise quickly the past two seasons at Iowa State. This was a competitive job opening. I highlighted Blount just last week in my names-to-know pieceĀ for this year’s carousel cycle. He’s considered among the sharpest young defensive minds in high-major hoops, but beyond that, he has an outstanding reputation for his dedication to the job.
SAINT MARY’S | OUT: Randy Bennett Ā»Ā» IN: Mickey McConnell After 25 years in Moraga, Bennett is finally taking a chance on himself and coaching at a power-conference program. He’s not yet signed but is closing in on a five-year deal to be the coach at Arizona State. The plan was always to promote from within at SMC; McConnell, 36, is one of the better players in program history and has been on staff since 2019.
SIENA | OUT: Gerry McNamara A one-ane-done year for McNamara, who had everything break just right in order for him to go back to Syracuse and try to restore the luster at a program facing an uncertain crossroads. McNamara’s Saints team nearly toppling 1-seed Duke in the tourney made his hiring that much easier to sell to a fan base that has loved him for 23 years and counting. Will Siena promote in-house or try to land a quality assistant from the high-major ranks?
TROY | OUT: Scott Cross After seven seasons, Cross leaves for Georgia Tech. The Trojans are coming off back-to-back tournament runs. The Sun Belt program is down to a few finalists, I’m told, including SEMO coach Brad Korn.Ā
USF | OUT: Bryan Hodgson Ā»Ā» IN: Chris Mack With Hodgson’s expected move to Providence, USF will be the only team in the sport to have five coaches in a five-year span. In 2022-23, Brian Gregory was in charge and got fired. Amir Abdur-Rahim took over, revived the program, then tragically died in in October 2024, weeks before his second season was set to begin. Ben Fletcher was the interim in 2024-25 and then Hodgson got the job. Next up? Chris Mack. A stealth job switch from Charleston for the former Louisville and Xavier coach. He’ll be well-stocked to keep it rolling in Tampa.
ST. BONAVENTURE | OUT: Mark Schmidt Schmidt, 63, leaves the profession with a terrific reputation. Bonaventure is an extremely tough job, yet he won 339 games most in program history, and captured four combined conference titles. With Schmidt leaving, program GM and prominent former NBA national reporter Adrian Wojnarowski will work with school leadership to try and land a coach on the cheap who is about leaning into the challenges and culture of Bonaventure. I’ve been told that this job is going to be a significant pay cut from what Schmidt was making after 19 years and all the pay bumps that come with such a long tenure. Bona doesn’t have any revenue sharing and needs to fundraise all of its capital in order to try and field a roster that can compete in the A-10; Wojnarowski has a huge task ahead, to be sure. Two early names rumored for the job are both alums: Washington Wizards assistant David Vanterpool and D-II Daemen College coach Mike MacDonald, who’s done well at that level.
TARLETON STATEĀ | OUT: Billy Gillispie Ā»Ā» IN: Eric Haut Gillispie oversaw Tarleton State’s transition into Division I, with the high point being a 25-10 season in 2023-24. The WAC-based school went 92-90 in six years at the D-I level under Gillispie. The university, based in Stephenville, Texas, is about 70 miles southwest of Fort Worth. Haut will join the program after Utah State finishes playing in the NCAA tourney. He’s been a valuable assistant at USU, Northern Kentucky and Kent State. Was due for a shot at running his own show.
TENNESSEE TECHĀ | OUT:Ā John Pelphrey Ā»Ā» IN: Tobin Anderson Pelphrey lasted seven years in the Ohio Valley and went 79ā138 at what is obviously a very hard job with limited resources. TTU last won the regular-season title in the OVC in 2005, but it landed the best guy possible. Anderson famously coached FDU to a 16-over-1 upset of Purdue in the 2023 NCAAs. He potentially could’ve gotten a bigger job this cycle. Big coup for this school.
UNCG | OUT: Mike Jones Ā»Ā» IN: Jerod Haase Something of a surprise here, as Jones went 93-69 and didn’t get his contract extended. The Spartans went 15-19 this season, the only one of Jones’ five that didn’t end above .500. The job is considered in the top third in the SoCon. Haase got the job after two years away from coaching. He’s 206-180 at UAB and Stanford. The Carolina connection was big in getting him the gig.
UTRGV | OUT: Kahil Fennel Tough loss for the Vaqueros, who had Fennel for two seasons but did not have the resources to keep a quality up-and-coming coach around for Year 3. The Southland program will plumb the depths to see if they can land an assistant at a power conference school.
WAGNERĀ | OUT: Donald Copeland (?) Wagner was coached by interim Dwan McMillan since the start of the season after Copeland was put on indefinite leave amid a school investigation into alleged abusive coaching tactics, including withholding water breaks during practice. One former player went on record with the New York Post last fall to confirm the allegations, but the school has yet to fire Copeland, who is still listed on the team’s website. The Seahawks went 14-17 and lost in the NEC semis to LIU.Ā
WEBER STATE | OUT: Eric Duft We have a Brad Stevens-esque transition in the Big Sky. Duft has been with the program for two decades, but he’s not being fired. He’s going into the athletic department with a title of President of Basketball Operations and Development for the men’s basketball program. He’ll be working with Damian Lillard, who’s labeled as Weber State’s GM, to get the Wildcats to a better spot, roster-wise, for the net coach. Duft was the head coach the past four years.
WESTERN MICHIGAN | OUT: Dwayne Stephens Ā»Ā» IN: Kahil Fennel The former Michigan State assistant lasted four seasons in Kalamazoo, going 42-84. The Broncos came extremely close to ending Miami University’s undefeated run on Feb. 27 before falling in the final second 69-67. The school last made the NCAAs in 2014. Fennel, 43, arrives via UTRGV, where he went 35-29 the past two seasons. A pretty solid get at a place with enough to be a player in the MAC in the next two years.
The Timberwolves have lost two straight after upsetting the Spurs in Game 1, and forward Julius Randle has struggled on the offensive end of the floor, posting 12 points in each of his past two games. Randle’s recent performances mean he could be a focal point for NBA prop picks on Sunday. Randle finished with 21 points in Minnesota’s victory on May 4, and his over/under for total points scored against San Antonio in Game 4 is 17.5. The SportsLine Projection Model projects he’ll exceed that total against the Spurs, predicting he’ll finish with 20.1 points, and identifies it as one of Sunday’s top NBA player props and NBA best bets today.Ā
For Game 4 of Knicks vs. 76ers, SportsLine NBA expert Doug Kralstein is high on Knicks forward Mikal Bridges to be an effective scorer. Bridges finished with 23 points in his last outing against Philadelphia, and his over/under for points in Game 4 is 15.5. Before locking in Sunday’s NBA prop picks and other NBA bets on betting sites like FanDuel, be sure to check out top picks from the proven computer model and team of experts at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 inĀ bettingĀ profit for $100 players on its top-ratedĀ NBA picksĀ over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered the second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 26-9 roll (74%) on top-rated NBA spread picks this season. Anyone following itsĀ NBA bettingĀ advice atĀ online bettingĀ sites and onĀ betting appsĀ could have seen huge returns.
Top NBA player prop picks on Sunday
Mikal Bridges, Knicks, Over 15.5 points
Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks, Over 5.5 assists
Julius Randle, Timberwolves, Over 17.5 points
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Mikal Bridges, Knicks, Over 15.5 points
“Mikal Bridges looks like himself, and has been thrust into a role where his touches and shot attempts are up significantly for the Knicks,” SportsLine NBA expert Doug Kralstein said. “With New York leading 3-0, I doubt they have OG Anunoby play, and Karl-Anthony Towns has struggled to stay on the floor due to foul trouble. Bridges has served as the scoring complement to Jalen Brunson, the latter of whom will undoubtedly be the focal point of the Sixers defensive adjustments in Game 4.”
Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks, Over 5.5 assists
“We are going to continue riding Karl-Anthony Towns’ assist prop as he is hitting it even in games in which he plays limited minutes due to foul trouble,” SportsLine expert David Bearman said. “KAT has 46 assists over the last six games, an average of 7.7 per game. He has 20 in 3 games in this series, not playing more than 27 minutes in any of the games, due to one blowout and two games with foul issues. Dating back to April 1 (13 games), he is averaging 6.3 a game, hitting 5+ in 9 of the 13 games.”
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Julius Randle, Timberwolves, Over 17.5 points
Randle is coming off back-to-back disappointing performances on offense, scoring 12 points in each of his past two outings against San Antonio. Randle made just 25% of his field goals in the Game 3 loss, but the SportsLine Projection Model is expecting a bounce-back performance on Sunday. Randle averaged 21.1 points per game during the regular season, and scored 21.2 points per game at home. SportsLine’s model projects he’ll finish with 20.1 points on Sunday, easily exceeding the posted total of 17.5.Ā
Echoing the excitement of her remarkable 2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes victory, Pride Of Jenni produced a frontrunning masterclass to dismantle her Hollindale Stakes foes and notch up a superb win.
In Saturdayās premier event at the Gold Coast, the mare unleashed her signature bold style, opening up to roughly 16 lengths clear entering the final 800m and fending off the chasers.
Birdman ($4.20) rallied strongly from midfield to go down by three-quarters of a length to the favourite Pride Of Jenni ($3.30), with Sheās A Hustler ($4.60) 2-1/4 lengths adrift in third.
Half Yours ($3.80), winner of the Melbourne Cup, closed well for fourth and ran with plenty of promise.
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Ciaron Maher, the mareās victorious trainer, was full of praise for Pride Of Jenni after opting to freshen her following fifth in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick a month ago, building on her Melbourne near-misses in the All-Star Mile (1600m) and Australian Cup (2000m).
āI was mindful she had three very tough runs and given how well she went first-up, the only thing you can do is over-train her,ā Maher said.
āWeāve just kept her fresh and when she stepped well, you know pretty quick whether youāre on. I thought, oh, that was nice, we might be on today.
āThe track ā youād think the Gold Coast would suit her style ā and it certainly did.ā
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The trainer also lauded jockey Declan Bates for his expert navigation of the eight-year-old, establishing rhythm upfront and preserving her well.
āShe is sprinting flat out from the 1000. She is used to doing that, being off the bridle a long way out, but super from āDecā (Bates),ā Maher said.
āShe is just a marvel. Have a look at her, she is just a beautiful mare, and sheās got a great constitution.ā
During last winterās Queensland campaign, Pride Of Jenni competed once, fading in the Doomben Cup (2000m).
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According to Maher, that Group 1 is targeted once more, with sharper condition anticipated.
āShe looks in better form this year,ā he said.
The Hollindale Stakes (1800m) continues to signal Doomben Cup prospects effectively, evidenced by Antinoās double last year and Zaakiās in 2021.
In rare heavyweight fights like Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois, all the traditional safety measures can get lost in the drama and savagery of the night.
The corner, the referee and the doctors are ringside in boxing to make sure the fighters leave the ring healthy. But on Saturday night on the outskirts of Manchester, close to midnight at the Co-op Live arena, 18,212 fanatics played their part in an unforgettable fight that crossed several of the sportās boundaries.
It was a bloodthirsty Saturday-night crowd, and they packed the new arena in anticipation of something special, something memorable, and something brutal ā they got all three. The WBO heavyweight title was just a trinket attraction.
Wardley was rescued after 28 seconds of the 11th round, and Dubois was hauled away to celebrate the win; it was the end of a fight that took both men to the very extremes in a boxing business where total sacrifice does happen. Wardley against Dubois on Saturday had that feeling very early. It was not always easy to watch, but it was also impossible to look away.
The raw statistics are impressive enough, but they fail to tell the whole story; Dubois was down after 12 seconds of the first round, and again in the third. He survived on stiff legs and with petrified eyes. Wardley started to take a beating from about round six; the referee, Howard Foster, called the doctors up onto the ring canvas to inspect him at the start of the ninth and 10th rounds.
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Wardley dropped Daniel Dubois twice in the first three rounds (Reuters)
Wardleyās corner looked worried, but still he walked out at the start of each round for more. Wardley was cut, hurt, staggered repeatedly, and both eyes were closing ā and still he kept swinging; Wardley has come back in fights he was losing before. That is his trademark, his signature in the boxing rings.
Saturday, however, was different. It was a lost cause and he was too damaged for a fairytale finish. Dubois was smart, accurate and hurtful. And still the crowd roared louder when the medics gave Wardley a clear to continue sign. That is raw, that is fanatical. Yes, it did feel Iike a barbaric fight to the end.
It is far too easy and convenient from the safe side of the ropes to condemn the brutality, too easy to find flaws with the outcome. In the boxing business, the fighters make those ridiculous sacrifices and people get dragged in ā the corner, the ref, the doctors, the opposite team, and the wild-eyed paying public.
A ringside doctor (left) and referee Howard Foster checked on Wardley before rounds nine and 10 (Getty)
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On a calmer night, with less at stake, the fight would have ended earlier. On Saturday night, it finished only when Wardley was close to collapse, helpless in defence and still resisting. It was a stunning last stand and that is how some of our greatest fights end.
Nobody in boxing needs to make apologies for what they signed up for; this business is total. In the ideal world of sport, Wardley would have been rescued earlier, but Saturdayās glorious fight was not part of that āidealā world; it was part of our heartless, savage, addictive and crazy sport.
Wardley was ultimately stopped in round 11 (Getty)
The Independentās Alex Pattle āĀ also ringside in Manchester ā admitted to feeling equal amounts of intrigue and discomfort in the later rounds. āThe boxing fan in me wanted to see more action; the human side wanted an earlier, merciful end for Wardley.ā
Working six feet from the canvas for Five Live with Richie Woodhall, we both wanted it stopped in about round nine, but we still urged the pair on as they fought for six more minutes and 28 unforgettable seconds. At 2am, I found Wardleyās blood splatters on my shirt; boxing is like no other bloody business.
Magnolia guard Paul Lee is being guarded by Meralco guard Aaron Black during their PBA Commissionerās Cup game.āMARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, PhilippinesāAfter playing sparingly in Magnoliaās crucial win over TNT the last time out, Paul Lee got his rhythm back after helping the Hotshots handle the Meralco Bolts on Sunday.
Lee has coach LA Tenorio to thank for reminding him to take all the rest he needed before Magnoliaās final game in the PBA Commissionerās Cup elimination round.
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āI just took some rest and it was a big thing that after last game, we had a couple days of rest so I just took advantage,ā he said after the 93-76 rout of Meralco.Ā āI give credit to coach LA because he always reminded me to rest.ā
The NBA Draft Lottery will be held at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago on Sunday, as the Golden State Warriors hope for some good fortune. With the team in need of change, their draft position could significantly shape the franchiseās future, making this a crucial night for Golden State.
An X (formerly Twitter) user deliberated over their position in the draft on Saturday, claiming the Warriors would likely receive the first four picks.
Thanks for the submission!
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“Theyāre so obviously getting a top 4 pick tmrw,” the handle wrote.
ā¢
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The remark came in response to Steve Kerr signing a two-year extension, as the franchise aims to complete a quick rebuild and contend for another title during Stephen Curryās tenure.
However, while the fan suggested Kerrās extension could coincide with favorable lottery luck, the reality is not that straightforward.
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Having qualified for the play-in tournament, the Warriors were part of the postseason picture, which limits their lottery odds. They hold just 14 combinations, giving them a 2% chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick.
Their odds increase only marginally for the next three selections, resulting in a maximum 2.8% chance of securing a top-four pick.
Based on the probabilities, the Warriors are most likely to receive the 11th pick, with a 77.6% chance. However, the Dallas Mavericks landed the No. 1 overall pick last year despite having just a 1.8% chance, proving that while the odds are slim, it is not impossible.
The draft lottery will begin at 2:00 p.m. CT and will be televised on ABC, while viewers can also livestream the event on the FUBO TV app.
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Warriors could trade lottery pick if they land a top-four selection per reports
The Golden State Warriors’ failure to reach the playoffs earned them a spot in this yearās Draft Lottery, as the team hopes for favorable odds. While landing a top-four pick would be the best-case scenario for Golden State, reports on Saturday suggested the team could trade the pick to secure a stronger deal elsewhere.
Danny Emerman was the first to raise this possibility, explaining the Warriorsā plans to make an aggressive push to build around Steph Curry.
“Golden State could consider flipping the pick in a blockbuster trade for a proven star,” Emerman wrote. “A top-four pick would instantly become both the franchiseās juiciest trade asset and its best chance at bridging the end of this era with whatever comes next.”
The Warriors are in desperate need of a rebuild, but will require some luck in the lottery for things to go according to plan.
Macklin Celebrini has earned another distinct honour as he prepares to lead his country at the IIHF world hockey championship.
Hockey Canada announced Sunday that the San Jose Sharks star will be the team’s captain for the tournament, while John Tavares and Ryan O’Reilly will serve as the alternates.
Celebrini captured a silver medal with Canada at the Olympics in Milan, registering five goals and 10 points in six games. He became the youngest player to play at the Olympics and tied Jarome Iginla for the most goals scored by a Canadian at a tournament with NHL participation.
Tavares has represented Canada four times at the world championship, and has 16 goals and 25 points in 22 games. He was the captain in 2024 when Canada lost in the bronze-medal game to Sweden, finishing fourth overall.
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O’Reilly will be making his sixth appearance at the world championships. He won back-to-back gold medals with Canada in 2015 and 2016, along with a silver medal in 2018.
The tournament in ZĆ¼rich and Fribourg, Switzerland, takes place from May 15 to 31.
Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev seem ready to move on from each other. The energy heading into UFC 328 was incredibly hostile. Post-fight, they found closure despite the narrow scorecards.
Let’s get one thing out of the way: there’s no need for a rematch. Chimaev vs. Strickland was built on their deep disdain for each other. Once the fight started, that hatred melted away. Chimaev gleefully wrapped the title around Strickland after an unmemorable fight. Furthermore, despite being undefeated, Chimaev didn’t notch a single title defense. Fortunately, there are opportunities on the horizon that are more exciting than they first appear.
Strickland is one of the best underdog fighters in MMA. He’s upset Chimaev, Israel Adesanya, Anthony Hernandez, Brendan Allen and Nassourdine Imavov. Speaking of Imavov, he’s the rightful No. 1 contender with a lot of animosity towards the new champ.
UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van is a breath of fresh air in the division. His all-action style has already produced several memorable fights. He has a chance to elevate the often-overlooked weight class with plenty of dance partners.
There’s finally room to breathe after one of the tensest builds in UFC history. Breathe in, breathe out and take a look at the fights worth making after UFC 328.
Middleweight
Sean Strickland (c) vs. Nassourdine Imavov: Strickland’s win is the best thing for Imavov. UFC already passed over Imavov in favor of the bigger box office attraction. Furthermore, Chimaev didn’t want to fight someone from the Caucasus. Strickland and Imavov have legitimate beef dating back to 2023. Strickland beat Imavov in a short-notice light heavyweight main event. Imavov hasn’t been shy about how much he dislikes Strickland or how badly he wants the rematch. There’s ammo for a feud, and it’s legitimately the best worthy fight.
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Light Heavyweight
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Paulo Costa: Chimaev told UFC CEO Dana White after the fight that he wants to move up to 205 pounds and White acknowledged that it’s an exciting proposition. With that said, there’s a lot of uncertainty at light heavyweight right now. The current champ, Carlos Ulberg, is on the mend for at least six months with a torn ACL. The No. 1 ranked fighter, Magomed Ankalaev, would likely turn down a fight with a fellow countryman. No. 2, Alex Pereira, is moving up to heavyweight. And No. 3, Jiri Prochazka, was just knocked out by Ulberg. You could put Chimaev in with Prochazka for pure chaos, but Costa seems like a more doable proposition. Costa just recently moved up as well and probably needs at least one more fight before being considered title fight material. Chimaev gets to take on a brutal striker where he can test out how his game translates up 20 pounds in weight.Ā
Flyweight
Joshua Van (c) vs. Alexandre Pantoja: The current and former champ have unfinished business. Van rightfully won the title, but wasn’t definitively the better man. Pantoja suffered a fight-ending arm injury after being pushed over. After UFC 328, there’s no denying Van is a world-class fighter. The rematch will be bigger than the first go. Between Van’s defensive skills and Pantoja’s durability, there’s good reason to think it’ll live up to Van vs. Taira.
Tatsuro Taira vs. Manel Kape or Kyoji Horiguchi: Taira elevated himself in defeat. Everyone respected his skill, but few comprehended his toughness. Van nearly knocked him out in Rounds 2 and 3. Remarkably, Taira endured and likely won Round 4. Next month, Horiguchi and Kape headline UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas. The winner will knock on the door of a title shot. The loser will need an opponent. Either matchup is great, but taking Taira vs. Horiguchi to Japan is a no-brainer.
Heavyweight
Alexander Volkov vs. Alex Pereira or Ciryl Gane: Volkov is in an unfortunate and undeserved position. He should have fought for the heavyweight title after a 2024 loss to Gane, widely considered a robbery. Now he’s stuck waiting for the dust to settle. Pereira and Gane will fight for the interim heavyweight title at Freedom 250 in June. The winner is expected to unify with heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. There are two best-case scenarios for Volkov: replacing an injured party on June 14 or challenging the interim champ if Aspinall isn’t cleared to fight. Otherwise, Volkov is stuck with scraps.
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Waldo Cortes Acosta vs. Curtis Blaydes: Cortes Acosta has work to do after losing a potential title eliminator. Several newer heavyweights are rising through the ranks. The division needs a facelift, so it’s best to avoid having new contenders fight each other. Blaydes is coming off a high-profile loss to Josh Hokit in one of the all-time best heavyweight fights. There’s a valuable scalp to collect in either direction.
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott (41) throws a pitch in the first inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Thanks largely to an impressive outing from young starting pitcher Chase Burns, the host Cincinnati Reds snapped their longest losing streak since 2024 with a win Saturday over the Houston Astros and now seek a series win in Sunday’s rubber game.
Left-hander Andrew Abbott (1-2, 5.13 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Reds on Sunday. He carried a shutout into the sixth inning of his previous start but did not factor into the decision of a 3-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, allowing four hits and four walks with four strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings.
Abbott has just one decision in his last four starts, going 1-0 with a 4.43 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings. He has faced the Astros once. He tossed six scoreless innings in a 2-1 road win June 16, 2023, allowing four hits and two walks with two strikeouts in his third career start.
In his 16th career start, Burns limited Houston to one run on four hits and three walks over six innings in a 3-1 win, one day after the Astros slugged out a 10-0 victory in the series opener.
In addition to Burns’ strong start, three Cincinnati relievers covered the final nine outs without allowing a baserunner, with Pierce Johnson earning his first save with a perfect ninth inning.
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“Honestly, that was a big win for the team,” Johnson said. “We’ve been going through it on this last road trip. We needed one right there, so I’m glad I could come through and help us out a little bit.”
On the heels of another impressive road offensive display that featured four different batters recording home runs, the Astros were handcuffed by Burns, who earned the praise of Houston manager Joe Espada.
“He’s tough,” Espada said of Burns. “We didn’t do a very good job of not chasing that slider. He really kept us off balance and threw us off our plan.
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“Credit to their pitching. They did a nice job. They quieted down one of the best offenses in the game.”
Houston wasted a solid start from right-hander Spencer Arrighetti and a combined 2 1/3 perfect innings of relief from Enyel De Los Santos, Steven Okert and Bryan Abreu. The Astros were unable to solve Burns’ mostly two-pitch repertoire of four-seam fastballs and sliders.
Kai-Wei Teng (1-1, 1.80) will make his 14th appearance and second start, with a bulk pitcher likely to follow for the Astros. The right-hander started against the Baltimore Orioles on April 28 and allowed two runs on five hits with two strikeouts in three innings.
In his last appearance against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, Teng allowed one hit and struck out two over two scoreless innings of relief. Teng has made eight starts in 26 career appearances. He will make his first appearance against the Reds.
Two digitsĀ on a ping pong ballĀ bouncing the right way is all it took to change the entire mood of a fanbase. A season filled withĀ frustrations, bad decisions and disappointmentĀ for the Toronto MapleĀ LeafsĀ is melting away like the last remnantsĀ of snow on a warm spring day.Ā Now, hope, optimism and enthusiasmĀ fill the air, as theĀ LeafsĀ will have their pick of any player they like in the upcoming 2026 draft.Ā
Itās something the team desperately needed. Torontoās cupboards are bare. It wasn’t going to have a first-round selection forĀ two of the next three years, andĀ theĀ future ofĀ Auston MatthewsĀ remains unclear.Ā John ChaykaĀ noted how he and Mats Sundin were going to have to catch a moving train, and evenĀ thoughĀ the draft lottery win doesnāt solve everything, itās definitely given them a titanic boost.Ā
Having the No. 1 pick also means theĀ LeafsĀ have choices and more flexibility. Itās a highly coveted selection, and while the obvious choice to most is to draft Gavin McKenna and not think twice, Chayka and Sundin could look for creative ways to utilize it and fill more holes on the roster.Ā
MapleĀ LeafsĀ should explore trades, drafting someone other thanĀ GavinĀ McKenna
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OneĀ of the most obvious needs for theĀ LeafsĀ is on the blue line, as theyāve been lacking a true No. 1 defencemanĀ for, well,Ā decadesĀ really. Had they simply kept the fifth pick, thatās likely the path they wouldāve gone down, since there are a few talented blue-liners at the top of this draft. That said, could Toronto move down a few slots in a trade that includes a few other assets and still grab a high-end player like Chase ReidĀ or Keaton VerhoeffĀ on the back end?
Thereās also a possibility theĀ LeafsĀ could consider trading the pick for multiple assets that could help them today. Would the St. Louis Blues consider moving Robert Thomas andĀ the 11th overall pick, for example,Ā for the right toĀ the top selection?Ā Thomas was on the block at the deadline but ultimately stayed put.Ā We know theĀ LeafsĀ want to get back into the playoff mix immediately,Ā and getting a quality, established centre would certainly help the cause.Ā
Plus, Chaykaās resume shows he isnāt afraid to moveĀ high picks.Ā While with the Arizona Coyotes, Chayka flipped the seventh overall pickĀ for Derek Stepan. That was a bad swap, but it doesĀ point to the factĀ Chayka is willing to get aggressive withĀ top-10 picks.Ā
Thereās also the possibility that theĀ LeafsĀ could keep the pick and draft someone other than McKenna. If thereās a defenceman they really covet, they could choose to take him at one, or they could look at another forward.Ā Some value Ivar Stenberg ahead of McKenna andĀ Caleb Malhotra, who plays centre, wouldnāt be far behind.Ā Toronto has plenty of options worth considering.
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There are some scenarios where it would make sense for theĀ LeafsĀ to consider doing something other than drafting McKenna, but making him their selection gives them the player with the highest upside, and itās also whatās best long-term.Ā
You canātĀ assume McKenna is going to have the same impact as a teenager likeĀ MacklinĀ CelebriniĀ and Matthew Schaefer did, but it really does feel like his ceiling is the highest in his class.Ā Heās still going to be able to step in right away and play in Torontoās top six, taking care of one hole theĀ LeafsĀ needed to address. McKenna would also instantly help aĀ power play that has struggled to find consistency since Mitch Marner departed.Ā
There are also only a handful of trade scenarios that would make sense to pass up for someone with McKenna’s potential. The talent level of players really drops once you get out of the top five in most drafts, so trading down wouldnātĀ be worth itĀ unless youāre getting a handful of other assets.Ā If you wanted to look at moving it for an established NHLer or two, they would have to be elite talents, and few teams would probably dangle those in this situation.Ā
TheĀ LeafsĀ also need to prepare for the scenario that this retool may not work. What if they are sittingĀ inĀ 11thĀ orĀ 12thĀ in the East at the midway point of the season, and Auston Matthews decides he doesnāt want to extend? Youād almost certainly be heading towards a rebuild at that point, and it would be much better to start that off by building around someone like McKenna.Ā
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There will definitely be temptingĀ opportunities for the MapleĀ LeafsĀ to consider regarding this No. 1 pick, but the safest and smartest play is to take McKenna.Ā
The Lightning have major questions to address this off-season
Itās hard to believe a team as talented as the Tampa Bay Lightning has nowĀ exited the playoffs in the opening round four years in a row.Ā The Lightning were close to breaking the streak against the Montreal Canadiens, but they came up short, and many of the issues from past years resurfaced.Ā Andrei Vasilevskiy was really good for stretches, although he ultimately finished with a save percentage belowĀ .900 for the fourth consecutive post-season. As for Nikita Kucherov, heās still factoring in on the scoresheet, though heās tallied just two goals in Tampaās past four playoff series.Ā Kucherov is also now pointless in seven career Game 7s.
TheĀ majority of the Lightningās core is 30 or older, and Darren RaddyshĀ will be a UFA after a breakout season. Tampa is facing more questions this off-season than ever before, and if it doesn’t address them, its contention window could start shrinking quickly.Ā
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Raddyshās situation looms largest for Tampa, as the emerging blue liner scored 70 points last season, and that offence would be hard to replace if he walks out the door. Retaining him would come with risk, though.Ā Raddysh is likely looking for a massive raise on the $975K he made this year, and handing out big dollars with significant term for a 30-year-old with only one good offensive year could backfire. IfĀ heĀ leaves, Victor Hedman would likely take back the power-play duties, though the unit could suffer withoutĀ Raddysh.Ā
When it comes to Vasilevskiy, Tampa may have to finally invest in a more capable No. 2 option to reduceĀ the former Conn Smythe winnerās regular-season minutes.Ā Vasilevskiy will turn 32 in JulyĀ and has played a ton of hockey over the past several seasons, so prioritizing keeping him fresh for the playoffs going forward will be paramount.Ā Jonas Johansson has handled the backup dutiesĀ for the past three seasons, though the Lightning havenāt really been able to trust him. With the cap going up, it could be beneficial to invest in someone capable of playing 30-35 games to lighten Vasilevskiyās workload a little.Ā
The Lightning may have to target a centre, too.Ā Brayden Point is one of the best in the business, but after him, things really drop off from an offensive perspective. Anthony CirelliĀ was nominated for the Selke this year, thoughĀ his offence is on the low end for a top-six centre.Ā Tampa and Kucherov are easier to defend without another high-end offensive pivotĀ on their top two lines.Ā Itās easier said than done, of course, but if it couldĀ add a centre who could make it more threatening in the offensive zone, Tampa would become more balanced and tougher to match up against.Ā
General manager JulienĀ BriseBoisĀ may not be able to tackle everything on his wish list. However, Iād argue that if he doesnāt upgrade in a couple of areas, itās going to be tough for Tampa to compete with the younger up-and-coming teams in the East.Ā
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Mitch Marner has shed the narrative he canāt come through in the clutch
There is no denying Mitch Marner is a fabulous player and one of the best at his craft, but many, especially Leafs fans, will point to his shortcomings inĀ the playoffs.Ā At first glance, Marnerās playoff numbers in Toronto look good, though he did most of his damage earlierĀ in aĀ playoff series.Ā The 29-year-old scored just onceĀ in a Game 5, 6 or 7Ā during his time with the MapleĀ LeafsĀ across nine playoff appearances. InĀ this go-around with Vegas, though, things are starting off onĀ a muchĀ better foot.Ā
Marner scored twice in Game 6 versus Utah in the opening round, including the game-winning goal that sent the Mammoth home.Ā He looks more comfortableĀ this post-season without the weight of carrying several playoff disappointments like he did in a hockey-mad market in Toronto,Ā and was dominant Friday night against the Anaheim Ducks, scoring a hat trick.Ā Letās also not overlookĀ a couple of massive overtime goals he tallied for Team Canada at the 4 Nations and Olympics.Ā Perhaps MarnerĀ has put the narrative that he canāt produce in the clutch behind him.Ā
Marner has certainlyĀ been impressive for the Golden Knights so far this spring, but itās still early. Thereās a lot of hockeyĀ yetĀ to be played,Ā and oneĀ clutch outing in the first roundĀ against a first-time playoff teamĀ wonāt completely erase the memories of past post-seasons.Ā That said, the fact that Marner is playing a new positionĀ at times,Ā and the mostĀ criticalĀ one on the ice forĀ skaters, for that matter, while elevating a player like Brett Howden deserves a lot of praise.Ā Heās given Vegas a lot more versatility and flexibility in its forward group.Ā That could propel the Golden KnightsĀ on a deep run, where Marner would get more opportunities to deliver in the clutch and silence his criticsĀ once and for all.Ā
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What Frederik Andersen is doing this post-season is really incredible. The Carolina Hurricanes netminder has conceded justĀ 10Ā goals inĀ eightĀ gamesĀ thus far, barely giving upĀ more than an average ofĀ a goal per game. Andersenās save percentage is also sitting at .950, which is a massive increase from his regular-season number. TheĀ 36-year-old didnāt have a strongĀ campaign, posting just an .874 save percentage with a goals against average of over three. This unexpected surge in play from Andersen has powered the Canes to anĀ 8-0 record in the playoffs, as Carolina looks like itās going to steamroll throughĀ the East. Even though thereās still more than two rounds toĀ go, it really does feel like the Conn Smythe Trophy is Andersenās to lose at this point.Ā
There are some others that have really stepped up this post-season, but none are on the level of Andersen.Ā Kirill Kaprizov, Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy have all been excellent for the Minnesota Wild, but they are trailing the Colorado Avalanche in their series, and none have been so exceptional to unseat Andersen.Ā Nathan MacKinnon and JacksonĀ LaCombeĀ have a caseĀ as well, although I donāt think you could argueĀ eitherĀ has been as far ahead of his peers as Andersen is.Ā Goalies often end up winning the award, and itās hard to believe Andersen wouldnāt claim it if this keeps up and Carolina goes on to win it all.
With Katherine Coleman as his training partner, Peter Moody notched a repeat victory in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m), 14 years on from Black Caviarās commanding performance in 2012.
Luke Nolen rode both winners; the 1.3 length success for Black Caviar was relatively tight by her elite benchmarks, whereas Desert Lightningās narrow result had the Morphettville audience on edge until confirmed.
The six-year-old gelding, a $18 shot, withstood the surge from $3.50 market leader Extragalactic to win by half a head, followed half a length later by Grand Larceny ($17) in third.
After trying the 2400m New Zealand Derby, Desert Lightning has stuck to 1400-1600m in Australian assignments, with Coleman praising his preparation through careful race spacing and retained vigour.
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āHeās so quirky, heās got so much character,ā Coleman said.
āHeās an older gelding, normally, theyāre the quiet ones that know their job and they donāt cause too much fuss.
āWell, he carries on out there like a two-year-old, a cult most mornings and upsets other horses on the track and bounces around the stable.
āWe thought he was going to be a horse that would stretch out over ground as well, but he just seems heās best when heās fresh and happy and bouncing, and thatās how he is today, so itās great and a fantastic ride from Luke Nolen as well.ā
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Nolen tracked in the rear group before taking the quicker strip wide late, surviving by the slimmest of margins as Extragalactic rallied furiously, costing Trent Edmonds and Luke Cartwright a breakthrough Group One.
āThat drone kept following me around everywhere,ā Nolen said.
āI thought, oh, it must be a bloody chance.
āLukey Cartwright, he does a bit of work for Moody. Heās a great little kid, his time is going to come, heās at the start of his career, Iām a long way towards the end of mine.
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āSo Iām getting every one of these good races I can before we knock up time.ā
āThe horse has been going really well, so I think the next port of call is Queensland for another go at the Stradbroke.
āHe sprinted well then on soft ground, thereās a lot of options for him, so Iāll leave it in the campās capable hands the way he goes off the back of it, but Iāll be joining him wherever he goes.ā
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