Welcome to Fully Equipped’s weekly Tour equipment report. Every Friday of PGA Tour weeks (plus other times, if news warrants), GOLF equipment editor Jack Hirsh runs you through some of the biggest news surrounding golf clubs on Tour, including changes, tweaks and launches.
As the PGA Tour’s Florida Swing kicked off at PGA National, many of the game’s top pros were taking a week off before next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. But that didn’t stop companies from bombarding us with putter prototypes.
If you’re a fan of low-torque (also known as zero-torque) putters, this week was sure to get you excited.
First up is the Tour launch of the new L.A.B. Link 2.1 and 2.2, the next generation of the Link 1, currently L.A.B.’s only blade in their matrix.
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The 2.1 is a more traditional modern blade shape, while the 2.2 is a shorter heel-to-toe wide-body blade. But the interesting thing is that both putters have L.A.B.’s new HS riser hosel introduced on the OZ.1i HS last summer.
Additionally, they have a new deep-flymilled face. I would be super interested in this, as all the L.A.B. faces thus far have been either too soft or too firm for me.
But L.A.B. wasn’t the only company offering up new heel-shafted, low-torque options. Bettinardi launched a few new “Hexpiramental” Prototypes at the Cogninzant Classic, and each appeared to have a new low-torque hosel from the company.
Bettinardi currently has four shapes in its Antidote low-torque line, and all are center-shafted. But it seems like the company has come up with a new hosel that looks more like a traditional long plumber’s neck, but with the shaft oriented toward the center of the putter.
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Like I said, these new Bettinardi Hexperimentals low-torque protos really have my attention.
It seems like a very similar concept to L.A.B.’s riser hosel or Odyssey’s S2S Tri-Hot SB that Max Greyserman is using, where the axis point of the shaft is raised so it aligns with the CG of the putter to give it toe-up properties.
Bettinardi’s take on it looks about as traditional as an attempt as we’ve seen yet.
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So far, we’ve seen only two shapes: a high-toe wide-body blade SS9 and a new mid-mallet option similar to an Odyssey Jailbird or Scotty Cameron Fastback with a window in the back.
But it also looks like there are tons of options for face milling already, with photos showing Bettinardi’s new VFT milling pattern and the FIT face currently on their Antidote line.
Lastly, Scotty Cameron also unveiled a new prototype to pros this week with a new T12 mallet.
We don’t know much about this one, and you’ll have to check out the photos on GolfWRX for yourself, but we’ll address the elephant in the room and acknowledge it’s pretty clear what kind of look and performance Cameron is going after here. But before anyone starts throwing accusations around, know that pretty much every OEM has putters and tech that look exactly like another’s. People like what does well, so there’s no sense in trying to make things that are radically different from what is working.
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What’s interesting here is that the last time we saw a Scotty “12” mallet in the Phantom X line, it too had gaps between the wings and the center of the putter. But that putter seemed larger and more focused on delivering ultra-high MOI.
We have no idea when this could be coming out because we still haven’t heard any details about the T3 mallets (the one Ryan Gerard is gaming) that have been out since last summer! I wouldn’t expect anything soon, as the T12 we saw on GolfWRX doesn’t appear to have the new SCS insert or chain-link face milling that the rest of the 2026 Phantom line has.
Two works of art go into play
Chris Kirk also added this gorgeous new Odyssey Prototype Damascus Milled #7 Single Bend.
Seeing a Damascus steel putter on the PGA Tour is pretty rare, but they usually produce a pretty soft feel, not unlike carbon steel since it’s usually based on that.
While all those new prototypes look awesome, the only new prototype putters that actually went into play this week were two Odyssey Damascus Milled No. 7s.
Yes, you read that right! Damascus!
Damascus steel is one of those materials that’s typically used in high-end boutique putters to give them a one-of-one look. The material is usually based on carbon steel and then welded, folded or forged together to create a unique look only that piece has.
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It’s more considered art than a piece of performance material, but both Chris Kirk and Kevin Yu put the new Odyssey Damascus wands in the bag this week at the Cognizant. Kirk played a single-bend version, while Yu had one with a Crank Hosel.
Check this out
This section is dedicated to cool photos we’ve snapped recently on Tour, but haven’t had a reason to share yet. For this week, check out Joel Dahmen’s Ping Anser hybrid, still kicking in his bag more than 14 years after its release.
Joel Dahmen’s Anser hybrid might never leave the bag.
Jack Hirsh/GOLF
Odds and Ends
Some other gear changes and notes we’re tracking this week.
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Keith Mitchell added a new Scotty Cameron Kombi S (yes, new!) after testing against an original Kombi he brought from home … Matthieu Pavon has a Scottsdale Tec Ketsch Onset, the same platform as Tony Finau’s new wand and in the same configuration, just with a different headshape … Emiliano Grillo added a TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood and TaylorMade led the fairway count with 84 … Danny Walker and Hoatong Li both added the TaylorMade R7 Quad Mini driver … Chandler Phillips added a 10.5 Qi4D driver, the 16th Qi4D driver in play this week and 17th TaylorMade driver … Brandt Snedeker, Davis Thompson and Li all got Spidered this week … Brooks Koepka is still in a Spider Tour X L-Neck, but has reportedly switched to a Titleist Pro V1x golf ball … Alejandro Totsti added a 25˚ Qi4D Rescue… Garrick Higgo added a split set of TaylorMade P7CB (4-5) and P7MB (6-PW) irons … Chris Kirk and Rasmus Hojgaard both moved into the Quantum TD Max driver.
3 things you should read/watch
A selection of GOLF content from the past week that may interest you.
Tony Finau’s new putter isn’t his only equipment tweak | Bag Spy – Take a deep dive into the bag of Tony Finau, who has made a few more tweaks than normal this season, including a brand new Ping prototype Scottsdale Tec putter.
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PING G440 LST Custom Driver
The G440 driver family (MAX, LST, SFT) is optimized to deliver more ball speed through multiple advancements, including PING’s deepest CG in a driver to date and a shallower, thinner face, while continuing to ensure the game-changing forgiveness expected from a PING driver. The G440 LST (Low Spin) design appeals to players with faster swing speeds, providing lower spin and more control in 9° and 10.5° lofts with the three-position back weight.
HIGHLY FORGIVING
Lighter head weight allows for heavier back weight.
FASTER FACE
Shallow, thinner, face increases ball speed for more distance, higher launch.
SOUND DESIGN
New shaping, carbon crown and internal ribs produce muted impact experience.
FREE-HOSEL DESIGN
Saves weight to lower CG, increase forgiveness. Allows for more heel-side face flexing for consistent ball speed across face.
The re-engineered head profile increases ball speed thanks to improved aerodynamics developed through advanced simulations.
FACE FOR DISTANCE
60x Carbon Twist Face™ is a technological cornerstone that provides weight savings, incredible ball speed and more consistency vs. a titanium face.
ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE
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4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight.
TOUR PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES
New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes.
Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation of TaylorMade driver performance.
Multi-Material Construction allows engineers to strategically place mass in areas of the head where it maximizes performance, speed, and stability.
Bryson DeChambeau and LA Golf have split. Here’s why it didn’t work out – GOLF’s Michael Bamberger looks into where things went sour between one of the most marketable stars and one of the trendiest equipment companies.
Italian cyclist Debora Silvestri is recovering in hospital after breaking five breaks and fracturing her shoulder in a horrific crash at Milan-San Remo on Saturday.
The Laboral Kutxa rider took evasive action to avoid a pile-up after several riders went down and crashed into a roadside barrier on the descent of the famous Cipressa climb.
But Silvestri came off worse as she went over the barrier and fell several feet down the bank, falling headfirst onto a lower section of road.
Her team said she was conscious as she was taken to hospital and later released a statement saying she was “currently stable”.
They added: “She will remain hospitalised for the next few hours under medical supervision, and further tests will be conducted to assess the extent of the injuries.”
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The 27-year-old posted on Instagram later: “Sure not the final I had imagined… I feel quite good, five ribs broken and a micro fracture on shoulder – could be worse.
“Time to recover but no worries, I will come back.”
The incident occurred less than 20km from the end of the 156km course at ‘La Classicissima’, one of cycling’s five Monuments, the most prestigious one-day races.
Two of the race favourites, former Tour de France champion Kasia Niewiadoma Phinney and Kim Le Court Pienaar, last year’s winner at Liege-Bastogne-Liege, went down in the crash.
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Niewiadoma Phinney was unable to continue but Le Court Pienaar, who initially remained at the scene to check on her fellow riders, was able to remount and finished 99th.
The race was won by Belgium’s Classics specialist Lotte Kopecky, who edged Switzerland’s Noemi Ruegg and Italian Eleonora Gasparrini in a five-rider sprint, with the latter two rounding out the podium.
Pogacar also went down in a crash which affected multiple top riders, including Wout van Aert, who recovered despite losing time waiting for a bike change to finish third.
Mar 21, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jannik Sinner (ITA) (L) shakes hands with Damir D?umhur (BIH) (R) at the net after their match on day five of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
World No. 2 Jannik Sinner continued his pursuit of the “Sunshine Double” by winning his opening match over Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 6-3 on Saturday at the Miami Open in Miami Gardens, Fla.
The Italian, coming off a victory at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., needed only 71 minutes to dispatch Dzumhur, ranked No. 76, from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sinner, a 25-time winner on the ATP Tour, can be the first player to win the consecutive California and Florida tournaments — the “Sunshine Double” — since Roger Federer in 2017.
A winner of 12 straight matches at ATP Masters 1000 events, Sinner also has tied Novak Djokovic’s record with 24 consecutive sets won at that level.
“I feel like the scoreboard matters at times,” Sinner said of the latter streak. “For me, I try to improve as a player and put myself in the position to play as many matches as possible. I always treat every opponent in the same way, trying to come on court and do my best with a great attitude and trying to go for it.”
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Sinner, who won the Miami Open in 2024, had a distinct edge in aces (9-1) and winners (21-8), though each had 18 unforced errors. The Italian won 90% of his first serves (26 of 29), to 62% (23 of 37) for Dzumhur, who saved six of nine break points — to 1-for-1 for Sinner.
Third-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany handled American wild card Martin Damm 6-2, 6-4 in just under 70 minutes.
Zverev did not face a break point and converted three of eight opportunities. Damm was undermined by more double faults (6-0) and unforced errors (22-8) and fewer winners (16-12).
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Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko knocked off eighth-seeded Ben Shelton 6-7 (3) 7-6 (3), 6-3 in a battle lasting two hours, 22 minutes.
The power-serving Shelton had 17 aces but also 44 unforced errors. Shevchenko had fewer aces (11) and winners (46-33) but also fewer unforced errors (24) as he saved all five break points on his serve.
Seventh-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada moved on following a tight 7-6 (3), 7-5 win over Marton Fucsovics of Hungary. Ninth-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia dropped the opening set before ousting Japanese wild card Rei Sakamoto 6-7 (10), 6-3, 6-1.
Also victorious on Saturday were 12th-seeded Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic, 18th-seeded Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, 19th-seeded Frances Tiafoe of the United States, 29th-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina, 30th-seeded Corentin Moutet of France and 31st-seeded Ugo Humbert of France as well as Spanish qualifier Rafael Jodar.
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A host of seeded players lost, with Russia’s Andrey Rublev (15th) falling to Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (16th) eliminated by France’s Quentin Halys, American Learner Tien (20th) downed by Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak, Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie (23st) ousted by American Alex Michelsen, Arthur Rinderknach (26th) losing to fellow Frenchman Terence Atmane and American Brandon Nakashima (27th) beaten by Croatia’s Marin Cilic.
Watch Carabao Cup final for free – TV channel, live stream and kick-off time – Manchester Evening News
Need to know
How to watch the Carabao Cup final on terrestrial TV as Arsenal and Manchester City battle for the season’s first piece of silverware
The Carabao Cup final will be available to watch for free for fans who can’t get to Wembley(Image: Sportsphoto/Allstar, Getty Images)
How to watch the Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City for free on UK TV
ITV in Sky agreement: A sub-licensing deal, struck in 2024, permits a selection of EFL and Carabao Cup matches to be aired on terrestrial television alongside Sky Sports’ comprehensive coverage. This includes Sunday’s final.
Duration of agreement: The existing broadcast deal extends until the conclusion of the 2026/27 season. This ensures fans can count on the final being accessible on terrestrial TV for at least another year following Sunday’s spectacle.
Value of agreement: The sub-licensing deal is reportedly valued at around £15 million. This extra income from ITV helps boost financial distribution to all 72 EFL clubs, supporting the wider English football pyramid beyond the Premier League.
Start time for coverage: Coverage on ITV and STV commences at 3.30pm with interviews and analysis. The match gets underway at 4.30pm.
UK streaming: Supporters can also tune in for free via the ITVX and STV Player apps with a verified account. This enables streaming on mobile phones, tablets and smart TVs across the country.
Sky’s involvement: While ITV offers the free-to-air option, Sky, as the main rights holder, continues to air every single match of the tournament live across its various channels and the Sky Sports+ platform.
Sky coverage: The build-up commences on the Sky Sports Football channel at 3.30pm, while Sky Sports Main Event will also broadcast the match following the conclusion of the relegation clash between Tottenham and Nottingham Forest.
US viewers: The match is exclusive to Paramount+. The streaming service will kick off its coverage at 11.30am ET. Although a subscription is required, new users can often utilise a seven-day free trial to watch the final.
UK radio: BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT will provide full coverage. Both stations will deliver full live commentary, pre-match analysis and post-match reaction.
Eddie Hearn believes he has the future heavyweight king in his Matchroom stable, predicting a future battle between his charge and Moses Itauma.
Many believe Itauma, at 21 years old, has the ring IQ, temperament and physical attributes to reign supreme over his division in years to come.
But while that might prove to be the case, there is also a selection of rising prospects who could pose a serious challenge to the talented Brit.
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One of whom is Teremoana Teremoana, who extended his flawless record to 10-0 (10 KOs) after scoring a first-round finish over limited heavyweight Curtis Harper.
The pair collided in the undercard of Carlos Adames vs Austin Williams, which took place at the Caribe Royale, Orlando, in the early hours of Sunday morning. Hearn talked up his charge pre-fight, saying he believed he is a world heavyweight champion in waiting.
The American, however, is perhaps better known for his disqualification against Efe Agagba in 2018, which saw him walk out of the ring without even throwing a punch.
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It therefore came as no great surprise when Teremoana scored his seventh consecutive first-round stoppage, landing a thudding right hand that sent Harper crashing to the canvas.
Clearly, the 28-year-old carries serious power and possesses a sharp boxing brain, but whether he can replicate this success against a higher standard of opposition remains to be seen – that’s where Hearn comes in, hoping to keep him busy and up the levels as he goes.
Either way, the Australian has proven to be a fan-friendly customer for viewers on DAZN, often delivering a highlight-reel knockout that merits considerable engagement on social media.
Victor Osimhen has confirmed he will undergo surgery after suffering a fractured arm, with the Galatasaray striker expected to be out for up to six weeks.
The Super Eagles forward revealed the extent of the injury during a live session with Nigerian content creator Carter Efe, where he explained that an operation is necessary for proper healing.
“I need to go under the knife,” Osimhen said. “That means I have to do surgery because my arm is broken. It will take about five to six weeks. Six weeks at most, and I will be back.”
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He also spoke about his recovery plan, noting that the process will be gradual. “Most times it is four weeks, then two weeks of training alone to regain fitness before joining the team,” he added.
The injury happened during Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League match against Liverpool at Anfield. Osimhen was hurt in the first half after a strong challenge involving defender Ibrahima Konaté, leaving him in clear pain.
Medical checks after the game confirmed a fracture in his right forearm.
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The 27-year-old has now returned to Nigeria to rest briefly before undergoing surgery and starting his rehabilitation. His return to action will depend on how well he recovers after the procedure.
As No. 2-seeded Iowa women’s basketball (27-6, 15-3 Big Ten) prepares for No. 10 seed Virginia (21-11, 11-7 ACC) in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32 action on Monday, March 23, the contest’s official tipoff time has been announced.
While Iowa thwarted the potential upset bid by a 58-48 score over No. 15 seed Fairleigh Dickinson, Virginia pulled off an 82-73 overtime victory against No. 7 seed Georgia to advance to Monday’s Second Round matchup.
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According to Iowa Athletics and the various organizers of the NCAA Tournament broadcast schedules, Monday’s clash between the Hawkeyes and Calaviers from a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena will tip off at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN.
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If the Hawkeyes advance to the Sweet 16 with a victory over the Cavaliers on Monday, it would be the first time under head coach Jan Jensen and the fifth overall in program history as the No. 2 seed in the national tournament.
The last time Iowa secured a spot in the Sweet 16 was in 2023, when it reached the National Championship game.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
Manchester United wonderkids JJ Gabriel and Kai Rooney have been turning plenty of heads, with Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney in agreement about them
Both teenagers found the net on Saturday as Manchester United’s Under-18s beat Blackburn 3-0, further fuelling excitement among supporters who see them as future first-team prospects. But despite the rising hype, those closest to their journeys are urging restraint.
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Carrick, United’s interim head coach, has already highlighted the need for patience with 15-year-old Gabriel. He stressed that while the club rates him highly, careful development is key to managing both his talent and the attention that comes with it.
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“JJ is a big talent. We obviously think an awful lot of him, but patience is important in managing everything that comes with that and working with him in development,” Carrick said earlier this month.
Rooney, United’s all-time leading scorer with 253 goals, has taken a similar stance regarding his son Kai. Speaking to former team-mate Gary Neville, he made it clear it is far too early to predict whether the 16-year-old will follow the same path he took to the top.
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“You never know. I think he’s shown potential and good signs,” Rooney Sr said. “He’ll be at United for the next two years and that’s when they make decisions on you so we’ll have to just wait and see.”
Man United’s U18s are locked in a title battle with neighbours Manchester City for the U18 Premier League crown, and their latest win over Blackburn only strengthened their push. Gabriel opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Kai doubled their lead shortly after coming on from the bench. Jim Thwaites then wrapped up the victory with a stunning free-kick.
Gabriel has been the U18s’ star this season, scoring 21 goals in 23 appearances in all competitions. Although still too young for Premier League action, he has already trained with the first team on several occasions – an indication of how highly he is rated within the club.
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“What he’s done when he’s trained, he’s done well as you’d expect and it’s good to have the younger players come up with us,” Carrick said. “He’s doing really well.”
United have been keen to show Gabriel a pathway to the first-team – and the youngster and his family were invited into the Old Trafford directors’ box for the opening game of the season against Arsenal.
Kai, meanwhile, has drawn attention of his own after rising rapidly through the academy ranks. Like Gabriel, he is among the youngest players featuring regularly at U18 level, underlining just how highly both are regarded.
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The club’s track record in developing youth talent only adds to the excitement. From Bobby Charlton and George Best to David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, and more recently Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo, Manchester United’s academy has consistently produced first-team stars.
With that history comes inevitable comparisons – but as Wayne Rooney and Carrick have both stressed, expectations must be managed carefully.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.
The second-round matchup in Philadelphia between the Huskies and Bruins could be a slow-paced slugfest.
Connecticut plays at a rate ranked 326th in the nation, while the Bruins’ pace is 313th-slowest.
Look for body blows early and often.
And if UCLA can get going early, they could be in a position to pull the upset of second-seeded UConn.
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No. 7 UCLA vs No. 2 UConn
Sunday, March 22 5:45 pm PT, TNT Philadelphia, PA
The Huskies rank eighth in the nation in first-half points allowed per game, giving up just 30.7.
They also rank 14th in the nation in scoring margin. In the opening 20 minutes, they are +8.3 points to the good, the 11th largest halftime lead per game in the country.
A fast start will be key for the Bruins.
They have not been a great team after halftime over the last few weeks, getting outscored by 3.7 points per outing in their last three games.
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The Huskies’ rim protection makes them tough to score on.
One of the most prolific shot-blocking teams in the nation, UConn is rejecting 9.5% of opponents’ attempts, the fourth-highest rate in the country.
Tarris Reed Jr. leads the Big East regular-season champs with his two blocks per game.
On Friday evening, the Husky star center provided more than just rim protection. In fact, he did not have a single blocked shot as the second-seed held off an upset bid from Furman.
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It was about the only thing Reed did not do, however, as he finished the first-round win with 31 points on 12-of-15 shooting and 27 rebounds, including 11 on the offensive end.
Tarris Reed Jr. vs Furman | Matt Rourke/AP
That sort of stat line has not been seen in the last half-century.
Reed joins Bill Walton as the only players in the past 60 years to have at least 30 points and 20 rebounds on 80% shooting in an NCAA tournament game.
Needless to say, slowing down the Huskies inside will be pivotal if UCLA hopes to continue playing this March.
Preventing offensive rebounds has not been a strength this season for UCLA and allowing second-chance points is not a recipe for success.
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The health of Tyler Bilodeau and his ability to play on Sunday will be a huge factor against a physical opponent that will look to dominate inside.
The Bruins have played a ton of physical games in the Big Ten and have had success against the likes of Michigan State, Purdue and Illinois.
The Fighting Illini are a big team that likes to play a bit faster and UCLA was able to gut out a win while scoring in the 90s.
Donovan Dent vs UCF | Bill Streicher/Imagn Images
One common theme in some of UCLA’s biggest wins this season has been the production from Donovan Dent, both scoring and distributing.
The Bruins will need a big performance on the offensive side of the ball from their guards, and especially Dent.
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As big as the nagging injury to Bilodeau is to UCLA, the injury to Silas Demary Jr. might even be a bigger factor for UConn.
The Husky point guard missed the opener, and his ability to defend the UCLA front court will be a huge factor in determining the outcome of what should be a tight contest.
While the play of Dent will play a major role, I think the true X-Factor for UCLA on offense will be the play of Trent Perry, who is averaging 17.3 points over the last three games.
The guard can get hot from distance and get to the rim.
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Knocking down threes will open everything else up, and his ability to make plays at the rim could create some foul trouble for the Huskies, as well as some easy buckets.
If Perry can get going early, things could swing in UCLA’s direction.
writes about various topics for SuperWest sports, including stats and records, college sports, and motorsports. He also founded and runs the Sports and Entertainment Research Center (SERC).
Arizona’s path to the Final Four was never going to be easy.
Utah State is underseeded and presents a tough challenge.
The Aggies won the Mountain West Regular Season and Tournament Championships. They are well-coached and have capable players.
To advance to the Sweet 16, the Wildcats must bring their “A” game from the opening tip.
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Here’s my preview of the Round of 32 matchup.
No. 9 Utah State v. No. 1 Arizona
Sunday, March 22 4:50 pm PT, truTv San Diego, CA
Rebounding and free-throw shooting.
Those are the keys for Arizona to advance to the Sweet 16.
The Wildcats have multiple players who can be difference-makers. Tommy Lloyd’s team is not reliant on any single guy and can overcome poor performances by key contributors.
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If Brayden Burries doesn’t have it, Anthony Dell’Orso steps up. If Koa Peat can’t get it going, Tobe Awaka picks up the slack.
And so on and so on.
There are just too many weapons for Utah State to slow down. Too many variables to account for.
The only way that Arizona loses is if it beats itself. And how does it do that?
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Missing free throws and giving up offensive rebounds.
Anthony Dell’Orso vs LIU | Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
At times, the Wildcats have been slacking on the defensive glass and gone cold from the line. There aren’t many flaws to the team, but those two categories are noteworthy issues.
So, how do the Aggies match up? Well, frankly, not very well.
Jerrod Calhoun’s team is 222nd nationally in rebounds per game. That would put USU 11th in the Big 12.
In other words, in the bottom half of the league, around the other teams that missed the Tournament.
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Utah State’s offensive rebounding is marginally better, slotting in at No. 179 nationally. But that would also put them at just 11th in the Big 12.
As a comparison, Arizona is No. 2 nationally in rebounds per game and No. 33 overall in offensive rebounds per game.
That’s not a good analytical matchup for the Aggies and is arguably the reason why the spread is so wide.
This isn’t Villanova.
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MJ Collins vs Villanova | Mark J. Terrill, AP
The quality in competition USU is about to face is exponentially better than what Nova trotted out onto the floor. You aren’t lining up against Duke Brennan and Devin Askew.
This is an Arizona team that won the toughest conference in the nation by multiple games and won the Big 12 Tournament by beating two Final Four contenders.
The Cats are coming off their largest margin of victory in the NCAA Tournament since 1998, and they didn’t even play that great.
Mix in a strong contingent of Arizona fans at Viejas Arena, and you have the recipe for a convincing win.
But the three-point shot is the ultimate equalizer. And allowing second-chance opportunities, while missing free throws, is the path to an upset.
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If Utah State hits its threes while getting second-chance points, the chance of an upset rises substantially.
At the same time, if Arizona controls the defensive glass and takes care of business at the free-throw line, it should leave with a win.
Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formula 1 racing as a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports.
Manchester City face Premier League title rivals Arsenal at Wembley this afternoon as the pair face off in the final of the Carabao Cup. We’ll have build-up, updates, analysis and reaction live from Wembley.
;)
Connecticut plays at a rate ranked 326th in the nation, while the Bruins’ pace is 313th-slowest.
No. 7 UCLA vs No. 2 UConn
No. 9 Utah State v. No. 1 Arizona
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