CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Bulls guard Collin Sexton returned to the lineup on Wednesday night after being sidelined for four games because of a lower left leg contusion.
Coach Billy Donovan said Sexton was available for the team’s game against Toronto. Sexton got hurt during a 126-110 loss at Sacramento on March 8.
Fellow guard Isaac Okoro was ruled out against the Raptors because of right knee pain. He missed his fifth consecutive game.
“I’d say he’s probably a little bit longer than day to day,” Donovan said. “Just dealing with the knee soreness there. I think he’s still feeling it. … He’s on the court doing some stuff, but it’s pretty limited right now.”
Okoro, 25, was acquired in a trade with Cleveland. He is averaging 9.0 points in 55 games in his first season with Chicago.
“He’s incredibly unselfish, in terms of he’s not like trying to hunt shots, trying to hunt points,” Donovan said. “Everything, when you talk to him, it’s never about him. It’s always about the team.”
The 27-year-old Sexton was acquired in a February trade with Charlotte. He is averaging 16.2 points in 12 games with Chicago going into the matchup with Toronto.
Next spring training games: Friday, March 20, vs. Reds at Sloan Park (8:05 p.m. CT) and vs. Athletics at Hohokam Stadium (8:10 p.m. CT). TV: Marquee Sports Network (game vs. A’s). Radio: WLW 700 (game vs. Reds), ATH Audio (game vs. A’s).
Next regular season game: Thursday, March 26, vs. Nationals at Wrigley Field, 1:20 p.m. CT. TV: Marquee Sports Network.
Cubs 2026 spring training record: 11-15 (11-14 Spring Training, 0-1 WBC exhibition) Al’s 2026 spring training record: 7-7 (7-6 Spring Training, 0-1 WBC exhibition)
High Point coach Flynn Clayman is navigating the NCAA Tournament with his wife Katie Clayman, an assistant with the Panthers women, who are also tournament bound.
They’re also juggling parenting duties for 19-month old son, Quinn.
The No. 12 seed High Point men (30-4) play fifth-seeded Wisconsin (24-10) in a West Region opening round game on Thursday in Portland, Oregon.
The Panther women (27-5) are a No. 15 seed heading into their first-round game Saturday against No. 2 Vanderbilt (27-4) in Nashville.
Of 136 teams, there are 30 schools with both their men’s and women’s teams in the two tournament fields.
Katie Clayman brought Quinn to Portland from North Carolina to cheer on dad in the men’s game, then the two of them will hop on a flight to join the women’s team.
“He’s here for this one. If we’re fortunate enough to win, I don’t think he’d be at the Saturday game,” Flynn Clayman said. “He’s here. I’m so happy he’s here.”
Flynn Clayman is in his first season as coach of the Panthers after two seasons as an associate head coach under Alan Huss. High Point, riding a 14-game winning streak, is making its second straight tournament appearance.
Katie Clayman has been a High Point assistant coach since 2023.
The Cleveland Browns are proposing a rule change that would allow NFL teams to trade draft picks five years into the future instead of three.
The league announced on Wednesday that only two teams submitted proposals that will be considered by owners at the league meetings later this month with the other coming from the Pittsburgh Steelers about contacting players during the free agent negotiating period.
NFL executive Troy Vincent said last month at the scouting combine that no team had submitted a proposal to ban the tush push after Green Bay’s proposed rule change was narrowly defeated last year. There were no other on-field rule changes proposed by teams this year, although the competition committee will announce next week its proposed rule changes.
Any changes need to be approved by at least 24 of the 32 teams.
The most significant proposal came from the Browns, who are trying to extend how far into the future teams can trade draft picks. Current rules only allow teams to trade draft picks up to three years into the future, compared to a seven-year window in the NBA.
A new crop of general managers has led to more trades in recent years and this rule change would make that easier in the future. There have already been six first-round picks from this year’s draft that have been traded with the latest coming earlier this week when Denver sent its first rounder to Miami for receiver Jaylen Waddle.
The Browns argued that the changes would lead to a more active trade market and greater roster flexibility.
The NFL allowed teams this year on a trial basis to conduct up to five phone or video calls directly with players on other teams during the two-day free agent negotiating period before the start of the league year. Teams previously had only been able to contact agents during that time.
The Steelers are asking for that rule to be permanent, as well as allowing teams to make travel arrangements before the start of the league year with players who have agreed to terms for new contracts during the negotiating period.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 07: A general aerial view of Camelback Ranch on January 07, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. The stadium is the spring training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Among the Dodgers non-roster players invited to big league camp in spring training is a mix of veterans on minor league deals plus top prospects Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, Jackson Ferris, and others.
Among the 32 initial non-roster invitees to Dodgers camp are 17 pitchers, five catchers, and 10 other position players. Here’s a little more on each player. We’ll update this list throughout spring training as other players are signed and roster cuts are made.
Pitchers (2)
RHP — Chris Campos (No. 62) 2025 spring training: Dodgers (minors) 2025 highest level: Double-A 2026 age: 25 How acquired: 2022 draft, 7th round
Campos in a full year at Double-A Tulsa in 2025 had a 4.19 ERA with 111 strikeouts and 32 walks in 126 2/3 innings. He got engaged in December.
RHP — Patrick Copen (85) 2025 spring training: Dodgers (minors) 2025 highest level: Double-A 2026 age: 24 How acquired: 2023 draft, 7th round Cut date: March 2
After taking a line drive off his face and losing vision in his right eye to end his 2024 season, the tall right-hander had a very nice bounce-back season in 2025, posting a 3.59 ERA in 26 starts and 117 2/3 innings between Great Lakes and Tulsa, and led all Dodgers minor league pitchers with 152 strikeouts.
Originally signed by the Dodgers out of the Dominican Republic in 2018, Durán last April was traded to the A’s for outfielder Esteury Ruiz. The right-hander made his major league debut with the A’s in May, but allowed three runs and recorded one out in his only major league appearance to date. Sent outright off the A’s 40-man roster in June, Durán had a 5.74 ERA in 62 2/3 Triple-A innings with nearly as many walks (55) as strikeouts (67) before reaching minor league free agency at the conclusion of the season.
Named to several top-100 prospect lists prior to the 2025 season, after winning the Branch Rickey Award as the Dodgers minor league pitcher of the year in 2024, Ferris took a bit of a step back in his full season in Tulsa, with a 3.86 ERA in 126 innings, with a slightly lower strikeout rate (24.2 percent after 27.4 percent) and slightly higher walk rate (10.8 percent to 11.8 percent) than the season before. But he improved down the stretch for Tulsa in 2025 — after a 6.58 ERA and 4.45 FIP in his first 12 outings, Ferris had a 2.19 ERA the rest of the way, with only three home runs allowed over his final 14 starts.
LHP — Luke Fox (89) 2025 spring training: Dodgers (minors) 2025 highest level: Double-A 2026 age: 24 How acquired: 2023 draft, 17th round Cut date: March 2
Fox split time between High-A Great Lakes and Double-A Tulsa, combining for a 2.85 ERA in 22 games, including 21 starts, with 110 strikeouts and 53 walks in 98 innings.
Frasso was acquired from the Blue Jays in the Mitch White trade in August 2022, and spent the last two seasons on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster, though he hasn’t yet pitched in the majors. After shoulder and hip surgeries wiped out his 2024 season, Frasso had a 5.49 ERA in 43 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2025, with 68 strikeouts and 42 walks in 77 innings, before getting non-tendered in November.
RHP — Carson Hobbs (71) 2025 spring training: Dodgers (minors) 2025 highest level: Double-A 2026 age: 24 How acquired: 2023 draft, 11th round Cut date: March 8
Hobbs pitched in the back end of the bullpen for both Great Lakes and Tulsa, putting up a 2.04 ERA in 42 games, with 63 strikeouts and 21 walks in 53 innings. His 20.9-percent strikeout-minus walk rate was third-best in the Dodgers minors with a minimum of 50 innings.
LHP — Cole Irvin (38) 2025 spring training: Doosan (Korea) 2025 highest level: Korean Baseball Organization 2026 age: 32 How acquired: minor league deal, February 3, 2026 Cut date: March 16
The veteran starter pitched six seasons in the majors for the Phillies, A’s, Orioles, and Twins before heading over to the KBO in 2025. Irvin put up a 4.48 ERA in 28 starts for Doosan last year, with 128 strikeouts and 79 walks in 144 2/3 innings.
LHP — Antoine Kelly (75) 2025 spring training: Rockies (minors) 2025 highest level: Triple-A 2026 age: 26 How acquired: minor league deal, November 14, 2025
A second-round pick of the Brewers in 2019, Kelly has pitched six seasons in the minors in the Brewers, Rangers, and Rockies systems. He had a 5.63 ERA in 34 relief appearances in 2025 for Triple-A Albuquerque, with 41 strikeouts and 27 walks in 38 1/3 innings. On the road last year, away from pitching on the moon, Kelly had a 3.43 ERA, 25 strikeouts, and 13 walks in 21 innings, plus zero home runs and a .345 slugging percentage allowed.
McDaniels struggled in his brief time in the majors in Anaheim, but once he returned to the Dodgers put up a 3.30 ERA in 25 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City, with 36 strikeouts and 17 walks in 30 innings.
RHP — Wyatt Mills (58) 2025 spring training: Red Sox (NRI) 2025 highest level: Triple-A 2026 age: 31 How acquired: minor league free agent, August 16, 2025 Cut date: March 8
After pitching parts of two-seasons for the Mariners and Royals, Mills had Tommy John surgery that wiped out his 2023-24 seasons. Last year in Triple-A Worcester, Mills put up a 3.12 ERA in 52 innings, with 49 strikeouts and 30 walks.
RHP — José Rodríguez (97) 2025 spring training: Dodgers (NRI) 2025 highest level: Triple-A 2026 age: 24 How acquired: international free agent, 2019 Cut date: March 2
RHP — Jerming Rosario (81) 2025 spring training: Dodgers (minors) 2025 highest level: Double-A 2026 age: 24 How acquired: international free agent, July 2, 2018 Cut date: March 2
Rosario repeated with Double-A Tulsa last season and switched from starting to relief pitching, putting up a 4.67 ERA with 87 strikeouts and 51 walks in 79 innings.
The older brother of Dodgers pitcher River Ryan, Ryder pitched in parts of 2023-24 in the majors with the Mariners and Pirates. Last year in the Pirates system, Ryder Ryan had a 4.73 ERA in 42 games, with 61 strikeouts and 38 walks in 72 1/3 innings in Triple-A Indianapolis.
LHP — Adam Serwinowski (73) 2025 spring training: Reds (minors) 2025 highest level: Double-A 2026 age: 22 How acquired: 3-team trade, July 31, 2025 Cut date: March 2
RHP — Jordan Weems (45) 2025 spring training: Braves (NRI) 2025 highest level: MLB (Astros) 2026 age: 33 How acquired: minor league free agent, February 9, 2026 Cut date: March 8
Weems pitched in the majors in each of the last six seasons, including allowing seven runs in 4 1/3 innings for Houston in 2025. Between Gwinnett and Sugar Land in Triple-A, the right-hander had a 4.44 ERA in 39 games, with 49 strikeouts and 23 walks in 46 2/3 innings.
RHP — Lucas Wepf (90) 2025 spring training: Dodgers (minors) 2025 highest level: Double-A 2026 age: 24 How acquired: non-drafted free agent, 2022 Cut date: March 8
Wepf had a 2.79 ERA in 23 games for Tulsa last season with 36 strikeouts, 16 walks, and no home runs allowed in 29 innings. But his season ended in June, missing the final two and a half months on the injured list.
Catchers (2)
C — Eliézer Alfonzo (64) Bats both, throws right 2025 spring training: Tigers (NRI) 2025 highest level: Triple-A 2026 age: 26 How acquired: minor league free agent, November 17, 2025
Alfonzo spent the last nine years in the Detroit Tigers’ minor league system. He hit .247/.297/.322 with 14 doubles in 65 games last season, including eight games with Triple-A Toledo in his first time at that level. His father, also named Eliézer Alfonzo, played six seasons in the majors and was a non-roster invitee in Dodgers camp in 2013.
C — Griffin Lockwood-Powell (92) Bats right, throws right 2025 spring training: Dodgers (NRI) 2025 highest level: Double-A 2026 age: 28 How acquired: non-drafted free agent, 2021 Cut date: March 8
Hit .226/.350/.326 in 81 games last year while repeating in Double-A Tulsa. Started five games at first base and five more at designated hitter in addition to his team-leading 69 starts behind the plate in 2025.
C — Nelson Quiroz (87) Bats left, throws right 2025 spring training: Dodgers (minors) 2025 highest level: Double-A 2026 age: 24 How acquired: international free agent, April 1, 2019 Cut date: March 2
Quiroz split time between Great Lakes and Tulsa last season, and hit .333/.393/.441 with 13 doubles and a 139 wRC+ in 55 games between both levels.
C — Chuckie Robinson (52) Bats right, throws right 2025 spring training: Angels 2025 highest level: MLB (Dodgers) 2026 age: 31 How acquired: minor league deal, December 18, 2025 Cut date: March 2
Robinson spent time on the 40-man rosters of the Angels, Dodgers, and Braves in 2025, but only played in the majors in one game, with Los Angeles in September. After ending the season in the minors with Atlanta, the veteran backstop signed a minor league deal with Dodgers in December.
C — Seby Zavala (33) Bats right, throws right 2025 spring training: Red Sox (NRI) 2025 highest level: Triple-A 2026 age: 32 How acquired: minor league free agent, February 5, 2026
Zavala played parts of five seasons in the majors. Last year he his .165/.274/.340 with eight home runs in 67 games for Triple-A Worcester.
Position players (2)
OF — Josue De Paula (95) Bats left, throws left 2025 spring training: Dodgers (NRI) 2025 highest level: Double-A 2026 age: 21 How acquired: international free agent, 2022 Cut date: March 8
De Paula is the highest-rated Dodgers prospect by average ranking entering 2026, ranked between 14th and 24th in baseball by Baseball Prospectus, MLB Pipeline, The Athletic, ESPN, and Baseball America. This came after a .250/.391/.400 season with a 132 wRC+ and 32 steals, mostly for Great Lakes before getting promoted to Tulsa for the final week of the season. De Paula also homered in the 2025 MLB Futures Game in Atlanta to win game MVP honors.
OF — Zach Ehrhard (99) Bats right, throws right 2025 spring training: Red Sox (minors) 2025 highest level: Double-A 2026 age: 23 How acquired: trade with Boston, July 31, 2025 Cut date: March 16
A fourth-round pick of the Red Sox in 2024, Ehrhard came to the Dodgers in the Dustin May trade along with fellow NRI James Tibbs III. Ehrhard hit .282/.391/.466 with a 143 wRC+ and 13 extra-base hits in 35 games with Double-A Tulsa.
2B/3B/SS — Santiago Espinal (21) Bats right, throws right 2025 spring training: Reds 2025 highest level: MLB 2026 age: 31 How acquired: minor league free agent, February 17, 2026 Selected to roster: March 18
Veteran infielder played in the majors in each of the previous six seasons with the Blue Jays and Reds. Espinal has a career 107 wRC+ against left-handed pitching and has played third base, second base, and shortstop extensively.
IF/OF — Ryan Fitzgerald (46) Bats left, throws right 2025 spring training: Twins (minors) 2025 highest level: MLB (Twins) 2026 age: 32 How acquired: waiver claim, January 9, 2026 Cut date: March 18
The utility man made his major league debut with the Twins at age 31 last season, splitting his time almost evenly between shortstop, second base, and third base. In his minor league career, Fitzgerald has started at all three outfield spots and all four infield positions. Fitzgerald was designated for assignment when the Dodgers signed Andy Ibáñez on January 13, then a week later after clearing waivers was sent outright to the minors.
OF — Kendall George (0) Bats left, throws left 2025 spring training: Dodgers (NRI) 2025 highest level: High-A 2026 age: 21 How acquired: 2023 draft, first round Cut date: March 8
The speedy center fielder stole an eye-popping 100 bases for Great Lakes, just the fourth player in Dodgers organizational history to do so. He got there with a strong second-half kick that improved his seasonal line to .295/.409/.370 with a 131 wRC+.
1B/OF — Matt Gorski (56) Bats right, throws right 2025 spring training: Pirates (NRI) 2025 highest level: MLB 2026 age: 28 How acquired: minor league free agent, July 23, 2025 Cut date: March 2
Gorski made his major league debut last April with the Pirates, got hurt in Triple-A Indianapolis in May, and was released in July. The Dodgers signed him to a minor league deal last July, but he spent the rest of the season on the injured list and has not yet played in the organization.
1B/2B/LF — Keston Hiura (9) Bats right, throws right 2025 spring training: Rockies (NRI) 2025 highest level: MLB 2026 age: 29 How acquired: minor league free agent, February 12, 2026 Cut date: March 2
Hiura has played parts of six seasons in the majors with the Brewers, Angels, and Rockies, though only 18 of those games came in the last three seasons. The former UC Irvine Anteater hit .272/.369/.507 with a 107 wRC+ and 21 home runs in 100 games with Triple-A Albquerque in 2025.
OF — Zyhir Hope (94) Bats left, throws left 2025 spring training: Dodgers (NRI) 2025 highest level: Double-A 2026 age: 21 How acquired: trade with Cubs, January 11, 2024 Cut date: March 16
Hope hit .266/.376/.428 with a 131 wRC+ mostly for Great Lakes, and was promoted with De Paula to Tulsa for the final week of the season. Hope’s average rank of the five national outlets so far is the 37th-best prospect in baseball heading into 2026, topping out at No. 18 at Baseball Prospectus.
SS — Noah Miller (88) Bats both, throws right 2025 spring training: Dodgers (minors) 2025 highest level: Triple-A 2026 age: 23 How acquired: trade with Twins, February 27, 2024 Cut date: March 16
Acquired for Manuel Margot before the 2024 season, Miller struggled at the plate in his first taste of Triple-A, hitting .238/.269/.344 in 59 games for Oklahoma City. But strong defense his his calling card. Baseball America rated Miller the Dodgers’ 23rd-best prospect in the system and said, “Miller is the Dodgers’ best infield defender and has the skills to lock down any position on the dirt. He is quick, agile and fearless and has a strong, accurate throwing arm as well. Those skills alone should get him to the big leagues and keep him there for a long time.”
OF — Chris Newell (00) Bats left, throws left 2025 spring training: Dodgers (minors) 2025 highest level: Double-A 2026 age: 25 How acquired: 2022 draft, 13th round Cut date: March 2
Newell hit .241/.346/.428 with a 118 wRC+ for Tulsa last season with 20 home runs and 24 stolen bases. Coupled with his 25 home runs and 31 steals in 2024, Newell is the only Dodgers minor leaguer with a 20-homer, 20-steal season (let alone two) in the last four years.
IF/OF — Nick Senzel (15) Bats right, throws right 2025 spring training: Mexican League (independent) 2025 highest level: Triple-A 2026 age: 31 How acquired: minor league free agent, May 1, 2025
Senzel played parts of six seasons in the majors (2019-24) with the Reds, Nationals, and White Sox before joining the Dodgers last season. In 2025 with Oklahoma City, Senzel started games at third base, left field, right field, shortstop, second base, and center field.
After a strong first two years in Pittsburgh, Suwinski struggled with a 59 OPS+ in 2024-25 combined. Suwinski cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A on March 2, knocking him off the Dodgers’ 40-man roster and into non-roster invitee status.
OF — James Tibbs III (98) Bats left, throws left 2025 spring training: Giants (minors) 2025 highest level: Double-A 2026 age: 23 How acquired: trade with Boston, July 31, 2025 Cut date: March 16
A first-round pick of the Giants in 2024, Tibbs was traded for Rafael Devers in June, then dealt with Ehrhard for Dustin May in July. With Tulsa, Ehrhard hit .269/.407/.493 with a 155 wRC+ and seven home runs in 36 games after the latter trade. Tibbs was rated the Dodgers’ ninth-best prospect heading into this season by FanGraphs.
Feb 18, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Gomes talks with manager Dave Roberts (30) during spring training at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Here is every transaction for the Los Angeles Dodgers for the entire 2026 season, starting with the first day of spring training through the end of the team’s postseason run.
We will keep track of every single transaction involving the 40-man roster here, including players getting called up or sent down to the minor leagues, as well as signings, trades, waiver claims, getting designated for assignment, or released.
Also here will be every injured list stint, though we will also tract all the IL moves in their own post. We’ll also have another post that keeps track of minor league options, with a limit of five times a player can be optioned to the minors beginning after opening day.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes up for a layup against Nikola Vucevic #9 and Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center on December 17, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ road trip through the Central Time Zone continues as they travel to Illinois to take on the Chicago Bulls.
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TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports App, NBA League Pass
Point spread: Not yet set
Cavs injury report: Jarrett Allen – OUT (knee), Craig Porter Jr. – OUT (groin), Tyrese Proctor – OUT (quad), Olivier Sarr – OUT (G League)
Bulls injury report for Wednesday’s game vs. TOR: Isaac Okoro – DOUBTFUL (right patellofemoral), Collin Sexton – QUESTIONABLE (knee), Zach Collins – OUT (toe), Noa Essengue – OUT (shoulder), Jaden Ivey – OUT (left patellofemoral), Mac McClung – OUT (G League), Anfernee Simons – OUT – (left ulnar styloid)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Keon Ellis, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley
Bulls expected starting lineup: Josh Giddey, Tre Jones, Matas Buzelis, Leonard Miller, Jalen Smith
SB Nation’s CBB expert Mike Rutherford and resident bracketologist Chris Dobbertean will answer all your questions this week and help guide you to bracket glory!
ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 17: Alex Caruso #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 17, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Good news, tankers: The Nets are playing the Thunder tonight. That alone should provide some solace, but you never know in today’s NBA. OKC just clinched the postseason last night, their 13th since 2010. If only the Nets could have some of their fortunes come this May (and June).
🏀 KEY INFO
Who: OKC Thunder (54-15) at Brooklyn Nets (17-51) When: 7:30 PM ET Watch: YES Network
💬 DISCUSSION
Share your thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Duke enters the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed and looking to avenge last season’s missed opportunity.
The Blue Devils (32-2) were bounced in the Final Four by Houston despite a team that included five future NBA players, including three lottery picks and two players now battling neck-and-neck for the Rookie of the Year honors in Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel.
It is a loss that still motivates coach Jon Scheyer as Duke prepares to open tournament play Thursday against No. 16 seed Siena.
“I take every lesson along the way and learn from it,” Scheyer said. “I learned very quickly that being in this position, the head coach at Duke, you put yourself in a spot where we’ve had championships and special moments, but you also put yourself in position where you can have your heart broken.”
Scheyer said he would not trade that for anything.
Now in his fourth season since taking over for Mike Krzyzewski, Scheyer has a 121-24 record overall and an 8-3 mark in the NCAA Tournament. But winning a national title has eluded him so far.
“I’ve used year one, year two, year three all in different ways to continue to get better, to continue to grow, and to continue to use that as motivation,” Scheyer said. “So last year’s no different. We had a special group, put ourselves in the exact spot you want to be in, couldn’t get it done. That’s unfortunately part of how this thing goes.
“So we’re back and ready to keep going in this,” he added.
Shooting guard Isaiah Evans, a reserve on last year’s team, is ready for a Duke run.
“I think just the fact that we couldn’t get the job done is keeping us motivated,” Evans said. “Especially for the returners from last year, it wasn’t a great feeling to be so close and have it slip away. I feel like that’s what keeps us motivated.”
Siena coach Gerry McNamara, viewed as a potential coach-in-waiting at Syracuse, said the Metro Conference Athletic Conference champion won’t have senior forward Antonio Chandler for the Duke game due to an eligibility issue that ultimately emerged ahead of the conference tournament. He had sought court help to gain reinstatement but was unsuccessful, according to the Times Union of Albany, New York.
Chandler had started all 29 games he had played, averaging 7.3 points for the Saints (23-11).
Thornton’s delayed debut
Bruce Thornton arrived at Ohio State with the Buckeyes fresh off a fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament in five years.
He’s only now, as a senior, getting to play in March Madness.
“I think Bruce is everything that’s right about college basketball,” coach Jake Diebler said Wednesday in Greenville, South Carolina. “He is a huge reason why we’re here, there’s no question about it. When you’re a first-time head coach, you’re looking around to say, OK, who can help me establish the culture and the standard of this program, and he was the guy I turned to first.”
Diebler took over as the interim coach during the 2023-24 season after the firing of Chris Holtmann, and this is his second full season leading the Buckeyes. He’s had the 6-foot-2 Thornton as a constant as a four-year starter averaging in double figures each time, part of a dwindling class of athletes who have stayed at one school for their entire career in the transfer-portal era.
This year, Thornton is averaging 20.2 points while shooting 55.8% from the field for the Buckeyes (21-12).
“He’s older than me, I think,” TCU coach Jamie Dixon quipped of the 22-year-old Thornton.
Thornton leads an offense that entered Wednesday ranked 16th in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency by averaging 124.3 points per 100 possessions. The Horned Frogs are 23rd in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency (97.8 points allowed per 100 possessions) for a team that posted its best win total in any league since 1998.
TCU (22-11) has won nine of 11 entering Wednesday.
Louisville’s Brown backs out
The Cardinals’ hopes of having star freshman Mikel Brown Jr. ready for the tournament were dashed upon announcing Brown continues being sidelined by back issues.
As difficult as it is to be missing a key piece of their offense, coach Pat Kelsey said the Cardinals have succeeded without Brown, who has missed 12 games in total — including last week’s Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.
“I’m really proud of our guys for adjusting and stepping up,” Kelsey said. “Those guys never blinked.”
Louisville (23-10) is back in the NCAAs for the second time in as many seasons under Kelsey. The Cardinals fell in last year’s first round and haven’t won a March Madness game since a 2017 first-round win over Jacksonville State in Rick Pitino’s final season as coach.
South Florida (25-8) is riding an 11-0 run and making its fourth tournament appearance, and first since reaching the Sweet 16 in 2012.
Spartans look to regain form
At 71, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo is old enough to remember when North Dakota State was a Division II program. That doesn’t make the Bison any less of a threat in Izzo’s mind.
“There’s something to the David and Goliath thing,” Izzo said as he prepares to make his NCAA coaching record 28th straight tournament appearance.
“What I’ve learned in my profession in the last five years, there’s a lot of good players at a lot of good places, and North Dakota State is one of them,” he added. “They’ve got good players. But I think what makes them scary is this is their Christmas, Fourth of July. They get a chance to pit themselves against the people they watch on TV, and I think that’s a strong way to put it.”
The Spartans (25-7) have lost two straight and are 6-5 in their past 11 after an 88-84 loss to UCLA in the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Tournament.
They’re led by Jeremy Fears Jr., the nation’s only player averaging 15 points and nine assists.
The Bison are making their sixth tournament appearance — all coming since 2009 — and first since beating North Carolina Central in a First Four outing in 2019 before losing to Duke.
North Dakota State (27-7) features four starters averaging 10 or more points, led by Damari Wheeler-Thomas (14.2).
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AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard in Greenville, South Carolina and John Wawrow in Buffalo, New York; contributed to this report.
Jan 25, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) celebrates in the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Victor Wembanyama seems like a lock to win Defensive Player of the Year and get an All-NBA spot if he is eligible. Is there a chance he could also win MVP if the Spurs stay hot?
Marilyn Dubinski: The MVP hype is definitely on the rise for Wemby, but I can’t see him winning both in the same season this early in his career for a few reasons. One is that voters may fear future voter fatigue will eventually set in, so they don’t want to give him too much, too early. I also believe many voters have a block against giving players more than one award per season. (I believe this is the same reason Tim Duncan never won DPOY: voters already had him on their MVP ballot.) This is not to say Wemby will never win both in one season, but he’d be just the fourth player to ever do it, along with Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, which leads to my final reason why it won’t happen this season. Knowing the media, they’ll want Wemby to prove himself in the playoffs before putting him in that esteemed group (even if they are regular-season awards).
Bill Huan: I love Wemby to death, but MVP is out of reach. Shai has locked it up, and rightfully so: he’s been the best player in the league this year (and that’s also coming from a Jokic “glazer”) while also playing on the best team, and the narrative is on his side too after breaking Wilt’s 20-point streak. Wemby’s time will come, maybe as soon as next year, but for now, it’s Shai’s.
Devon Birdsong: As Marilyn has very accurately pointed out, the MVP- DPOY double has only happened thrice in the history of both awards existing. It’s incredibly rare to begin with. Does Wemby have an argument for both? Yeah, I think he does. But so did David Robinson and Tim Duncan, with 1995 and 2002 both serving as perhaps the most glaring examples of seasons deserving that distinction. You can call it media bias, you can call it voter fatigue, you can call it a certain degree of veiled pettiness, but I just don’t see it happening this season (unless the games-played threshold is exceeded by the frontrunners). And in all fairness, both of Dave and Tim’s seasons were better than this season for Wemby. I absolutely see it happening in the future, perhaps even more than once, but I think we’ll all have to satisfy ourselves with the knowledge that Wemby is already good enough on both ends to be having this conversation at all. Besides, with the way things are going, there’s a chance that Wemby could pull off an even rarer feat: becoming only the 2nd player to ever win DPOY and Finals MVP in the same season.
Jeje Gomez:I don’t think it will happen this season, unless he’s the only one out of the contenders to be eligible for the award. A lot of the conversation about the Spurs in the media, even among some apologists, is that their success is impressive, but they’ll need to show how good they are in the playoffs. I feel like they likely feel the same is true for Wembanyama. It’s not the most reasonable of takes, but I can understand the fear of anointing someone the most valuable player in the league only to see them flame out early in the postseason. Plus, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander actually does have a stronger case after putting together an even more efficient scoring season than last, while likely leading the Thunder to the league’s best record despite Jalen Williams’s long absence.
Keldon Johnson has a strong case for Sixth Man of the Year, and Stephon Castle should get consideration for an All-Defensive team. Will they get the distinctions?
Dubinski: While both are equally deserving, I think Castle stands a better chance at All-Defense than Keldon does at Sixth Man. I’ve been hyping Keldon’s case all season, but his impact seems to go relatively unnoticed by outsiders, and the odds have consistently had him behind Naz Reed, Jaime Jaquez and even Reed Sheppard at times. Probably the fact that the Spurs’ second unit is so deep, combined with players like Dylan Harper stealing some spotlight from intrigued viewers, is not helping his case, but the good thing is, like Manu Ginobili before him, he doesn’t care.
Huan: I don’t think that there is any chance Keldon actually wins 6MOY, and I’d still bet on Castle getting on an All-Defensive team over Keldon being a finalist for 6th man. Currently, there are 12 names I’d say are fighting for 10 All-Defense spots, while Keldon seems to be behind the likes of Naz Reid, Isaiah Stewart, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and even Reed Sheppard for 6th man. Whether or not that’s fair is a separate discussion, but those are the reasons why I’d bet on Castle over Keldon.
Birdsong: Keldon was arguably the frontrunner for the first two-thirds of the season, but his performances have been more uneven since his shoulder injury, and it’s been noticeable in the games the Spurs lost against the Knicks and Nuggets. The reality is that now more than ever, you really need a narrative to sell for awards, and Keldon’s isn’t the flashiest of sells. He’s not leading the other candidates in scoring and the Spurs are still really good without him, whereas the Heat and Timberwolves are more visibly dependent on Jaquez and Reid. The sixth-man award has long been a scoring award, which is part of why Manu had so few. Like Manu, Keldon has some advanced stats that show his value, but they’re no longer obscene, so my guess is that it goes to Reid, especially if Minnesota secures a Top 4 seed in the West. Castle, on the other hand, should be a lock for All-Defense. The only question (in my mind) is whether it’s first team or second. My guess is he lands on the second, though it should arguably be the first. Good luck getting two Spurs on the first team, though, since it’s only ever happened once (Duncan and Bowen in ‘07), which feels insane.
Gomez: I think the fact that 10 guys make the All-Defensive Teams while only one player gets 6MOY gives Castle a clear advantage. He definitely deserves a spot, and I’d be shocked if he wasn’t picked, assuming voters have been paying attention, which is not a given considering how some in the media still mispronounce Wembanyama’s name. Since Wemby is going to be in the first team, I feel like Castle is likely going to be on the second team. For Keldon to get some hardware, he would have to go on a tear in this last stretch, and he might have the opportunity with the Spurs resting some players. But I doubt Johnson would force the issue, and he might be getting rested as well at some point. Hopefully, he’ll at least be one of the finalists.
Mitch Johnson is leading the Spurs back to the playoffs while surpassing expectations. Can he win Coach of the Year, or do others have better cases?
Dubinski: I certainly think he has one of the best cases, but again, from what I’ve seen from the media, it might go to the Celtics’ Joe Mazzula for the job he’s done keeping them near the top of the East after most figured it would be a “gap” year, with Jayson Tatum missing most of the season and Boston having to salary-dump a lot of key players from their 2024 championship team. Is he more deserving than Mitch? I don’t feel like it since they’re already a proven commodity and still have another MVP-level player in Jaylen Brown and a borderline All-Star in Derrick White, but I would understand the logic if Mazzula won over Mitch.
Huan: I’d firmly place Johnson in the second tier of Coach of the Year candidates, with Joe Mazzulla and JB Bickerstaff fighting for first. Johnson is up against the likes of Charles Lee, Jordan Ott, and Mark Daigneault for that third and final spot, and there are credible arguments for each of them to be nominated. Even with my Spurs bias, I think Mazzulla is the obvious choice given what he’s accomplished with an undermanned Celtics roster this year, so Johnson won’t (and shouldn’t) win. Like Wemby, though, his time will come.
Birdsong: I certainly think that he *can*, but I’m not sure it’s likely unless the Spurs go on another prolonged tear. Most of the conversation seems to favor Mazzula in Boston and Jordan Ott in Phoenix. I think all three are deserving, but Ott’s is perhaps the most shocking, and Mazzula’s features the most well-known injury. If Mitch had, for instance, gotten the team to 50+ wins with Victor out most of the season, that probably would have earned him the award, but that’s just the kind of season it is. Consider that Pop only won three, and two of them came in championship seasons. The national media always wants the flashiest story, and that’s almost never the Spurs. My guess is that Ott is going to take it, especially if the Suns manage to get close to 50 wins and avoid the play-in.
Gomez: All awards are about narratives, and Johnson has been, fair or not, almost a footnote in what has been Wembanyama’s big comeback season after the deep vein thrombosis. It seems that Mazzula and Ott are getting rewarded for overachieving without a top player, and that doesn’t fit what Johnson has done, which is keep a young group engaged on both ends and playing selflessly despite this being just his first year as a head coach. Bickerstaff, meanwhile, will get consideration if the Pistons finish first, which is not something that the Spurs are likely to replicate in the West. It just doesn’t feel like it will happen for Mitch, unfortunately, but he at least got to coach an All-Star team.
