Weekly Update March 11, 2024

Basketball – NBA: Some normal week updates. Highest scorer of the week. Doncic sets NBA record of Trip-Doubles. Streaks broken. Gobert fined.

Basketball – NCAAM: Last week of the regular season! Conference Tournament is here. NCAAW results.

Golf: Scheffler dominates at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Olympic Sports: Stolz in speedskating. Shiffrin back on top. Drunken brawls in CC skiing.

Quick Highlights: USWNT wins Gold Cup. Football free agency ramps up. Texas #1 in softball. Reds 3B Marte suspended for 80.

Basketball – NBA:

• This week in the NBA: The Clippers had the Bucks on the ropes during Monday night’s game until the 4Q when the Milwaukee team put up 40. They won by 7 after being down the entire game. It was a day of close games. The Timberwolves survived the Trail Blazers only winning by 5. The Bulls did manage the upset after outscoring the Kings by 18 in the final Q. The Lakers also upset the Thunder winning in both halves. On Tuesday, the Suns/Nuggets game went into OT after the Suns were up 15 at half but then had a slow 2H, only putting up 37 when that was what they did in the 2Q alone. But the Suns did rebound in OT to win by 10. Wednesday, the Hawks upset the Cavs by 11. De’Aaron Fox tied his career high scoring 44 points which helped the Kings to beat the Lakers by 10. On Thursday, the Timberwolves were back and forth with the Pacers. It ended with Anthony Edwards hit his head on the backboard on the final block that saved the game for the MN team! The Bulls managed another upset, this time against the Warriors at home. Klay Thompson put up a 3 to go ahead by 1 with under 40 seconds in the game. But then DeRozan got fouled and still made the basket. His +1 wins them the game. On Friday, the Trail Blazers came out hot but faltered a bit in the 2H against the Raptors. The game went into OT but Portland managed to win by 10 in OT. Surprisingly, the Lakers without LeBron beat the Bucks in a close one. Then the Spurs beat the Warriors without their star Wemby as well. It was an odd day. On Sunday, the 76ers Knicks game was one of the lowest scoring all week with the 76ers winning 79-73. The top scorer in that game was Buddy Hield with 16 points.

• The most points put up in the week was by Kevin Durant in the Suns’ game against the Celtics on Friday. Even with that though, the Celtics ended up winning by 10.

• Luka Doncic tied the NBA record for the most consecutive games over 30-point triple-doubles on Thursday. Russell Westbrook back in 2017 when he played for the Thunder was the only other time anyone reached that mark of 5. Luka is the first to hit 4 35-point triple-doubles though. Luka would pass Westbrook with his 6^th on Saturday

• The Celtics went into the week on an 11-game winning streak. Tuesday, they played the Cavs and seemed to have the game in hand, up by 16 going into the 4Q. But the Cleveland team outscored Boston 34-17 to win by 1. The comeback of 22 points was the largest in the 4Q in franchise history. Just like that, the streak is over! The Celtics would go on to lose their next game too. That one was to the Nuggets by 6 on Thursday. The Warriors destroyed the Bucks 125-90 on Wednesday. That ended the Bucks 6 game win streak.

• Speaking of broken streaks, the Wizards hadn’t won since the end of January. They lost to the Magic on Wednesday. That was their 16^th loss in a row. But their Friday night game was against the Hornets and they won by 12 points. Streak broken. Then they also won on Sunday night in a close one. The Washington team won by 2 after Jimmy Butler’s buzzer beater missed. They now have a 2-game winning streak – what?! That being said, they have been eliminated from playoffs *womp womp*.

• Timberwolves C Rudy Gobert was fined by $100k for a gesture of money making towards an official during his game on Friday night. Cost them too because the Wolves lost in OT to the Cavs that night. The Wolves would also lose their game to the Lakers on Sunday by 11 points.

Basketball – NCAAM:

• NCAAM: No upsets on Monday. Tuesday we had a couple ranked matchups. In the Big 10, #12 Illinois started off hot putting up 40 in the 1H and up by 6. But #3 Purdue was ranked #1 for weeks for a reason. The Boilermakers charged back, outscoring the Illini by 12 to ultimately win by 6. Florida is unranked after losing a couple in a row but man they destroyed #16 Alabama on Tuesday. They won 105-87. The 2H saw 113 points combined. In direct comparison, #21 San Diego St vs UNLV was a low scoring game with the whole game totaling 120. UNLV won that one by 4.

• Usually Tuesday is the big game day but Wednesday this week was better. Starting with the Big East #2 UConn vs #8 Marquette. It was majorly UConn in the 1H with the Huskies up 11 at halftime. Marquette managed to comeback a little but not enough. Huskies win 74-67. In the SEC, it was the same story with #4 Tennessee was also up by 11 at half on #17 South Carolina. It was a low scoring affair with the Vols winning 66-59. With that win, the Vols win the SEC regular season championship. In the Big 12, #6 Iowa St was down by 11 (sensing a pattern here) but the Cyclones did manage to come back big time. They outscored #20 BYU 41-25 in the 2H to win by 5.

• On Thursday, we had the Apple Cup but on the bball court. Washington is 17-14 on the season by managed to beat #18 Wazzu in both halves. This Huskie team won by 6. #21 San Diego St will not be ranked after this week. They lost on Tuesday and then had their game with Boise St on Friday go into OT. It was a close game the entire time only being separated by 2 at the end of halves and that’s exactly what the final score was. Boise won 79-77. Both games on Friday with ranked teams went into OT. #21 SDSt got upset but #25 Dayton escaped VCU.

• On Saturday it was a big day with the Top 10 taking some losses. In the Big 12, #1 Houston put the beat down on #14 Kansas. Kansas only scored 46 points the entire game! Houston won by 30… wow. In the SEC, #4 Tennessee was trailing after 1H to #15 Kentucky by 4. Then both teams put up 52 apiece in 2H for the Vol’s upset. Even through their G Knecht had 40 points by himself. It was not enough. #5 Arizona also lost to a bad USC team. The Trojans are 14-17 on the season but handled the Wildcats with ease, winning by 13. #6 Iowa State played a close one to BYU earlier in the week and then dropped what should’ve been an easier game against K St. #11 Baylor and Texas Tech have the same record overall and in the Big 12. Red Raiders got the better of a slow starting Baylor, winning by 10. #16 Alabama and #17 South Carolina both won their games but had a scare in OT. Good thing too because that would’ve been both teams’ second losses of the week. #24 South Florida lost to Tulsa after the Golden Hurricane had a strong showing in the 2H with 45 points. They won 76-70. No upsets on Sunday.

• It was the matchup of college basketball for the last time this season (unless they happen to meet in the tournament). #7 UNC vs #9 Duke at Duke. The Tarheels started off well leading by 9 going into the locker room but the Blue Devils came back a bit but not enough. UNC wins 84-79. With that win, UNC is the ACC regular season champs. Good news for Duke fans is the Filipowski is back and scored 23 points in this game.

• It was Conference Championship for the women.
  • In the SEC final, #8 LSU and #1 South Carolina got heated. 6 women were ejected after there was a tussle on the court in the final 2 minutes. South Carolina won 79-72. This was after they almost lost to Tennessee in the semifinals except for Cardoso’s sick buzzer beater.

• • Caitlin Clark was in the Big 10 final with her team, #3 Iowa playing Nebraska for the title. They needed her after a slow start put them down at half. The game went into OT before the Hawkeyes would put their stamp on it and become conference champs. Clark is also the top 3 pointers made in a season with 163, overtaking Steph Curry during his time at Davidson.
  • In the ACC, #14 Notre Dame beat #10 NC St in a low scoring affair, 55-51.
  • #5 USC upset #2 Stanford, winning easily 74-61 to win their Pac 12 title.
  • The Big 12 tournament finishes on Tuesday.

Golf:

• Scottie Scheffler dominated at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, winning by 5 strokes. He has struggled with putting recently until this weekend when he didn’t miss a single putt within 15 feet. He said he just stopped trying so hard. Simple, right? His final round of -6 was bogey free and the best round of any player that day by 2 strokes. The 5-shot differential was the largest by a World #1 since DJ at the 2020 Masters and the biggest at Bay Hill since Tiger Woods in 2012. Scheffler is World #1 for a reason and it showed this weekend. This is Scottie’s 7^th PGA Tour title and his 2^nd at the Arnold Palmer.

Olympic Sports:

• Note this name, Jordan Stolz as he will be one of the biggest stars going into the next Winter Olympic games in Milan in 2026. He dominated the world speedskating championships. The 19-year old won the 1500m, making him the youngest world champion since Eric Heiden in 1977 and the first American since Shani Davis in 2006. He set the highest point total ever for over the previous record holder from the skating powerhouse, NED.
• Sticking with winter sports, Mikaela Shiffrin was back in action this weekend in the World Cup circuit and it was a triumphant return. She won the slalom for her 96^th WC title and her 8^th season locking up that event. She put up the fastest time in both runs to dominate her first race back from her knee injury.
• A drunken brawl broke out in a women’s CC skiing race in NOR. SWE Frida Karlsson won the race but it was overshadowed by 130 people needing assistance. Some people did fall over the fence towards the ski slope but the race was not effected.

Some quick highlights:

• Soccer: The USWNT has won the first CONCACAF Gold Cup. They defeated Brazil in the gold medal game 1-0 off a header goal by Lindsey Horan. The next time we will see the USWNT in action… in the Paris Olympics.

• Football: Chiefs DT Chris Jones will stay with the KC team after they agreed on a 5-year deal for $95MM guaranteed. That makes him the highest ever paid DT in NFL history. The Broncos have released QB Russell Wilson and the Steelers have picked him up for a year. Pats QB Mac Jones is not set to go to Jags. Those are a couple of the biggest headlines but you’re going to see more of these as free agency draws closer and the league year begins this week. The NFL draft is late April.
• Softball: Texas has overtaken Oklahoma as #1 on the USA/ESPN poll. That is the first time since 2006 that the Longhorns are on top. Texas made it to the National Championship in 2022 but lost to the Sooners.
• Baseball- MLB: Red 3B Noelvi Marte has been suspended after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

What to watch this week

Baseball/Softball-NCAA:

• Mon 3/11
  • Softball: 13. Florida vs 10. Alabama @ 6pm on SEC
• Tues 3/12
  • Softball: 1. Texas vs 3. LSU @ 11am on SEC
  • Baseball: Florida St vs 4. Florida @ 5pm on SEC
• Wed 3/13
  • Softball: 10. Alabama vs 16. Florida St @ 6pm on ACC
• Fri 3/15
  • Softball: Pitt vs 15. Vtech @ 5pm on ACC
  • Softball: 10. Alabama vs 6. Georgia @ 5pm on SEC
• Sat 3/16
  • Softball: 10. Alabama vs 6. Georgia @ 11am on SEC
  • Baseball: 21. South Carolina vs Ole Miss @ 1pm on SEC
  • Baseball: 3. LSU vs Mississippi St @ 4pm on SEC
  • Baseball: 8. Tennessee at 15. Alabama @ 7pm on SEC
• Sun 3/17
  • Softball: 10. Alabama vs 6. Georgia @ 11am on SEC
  • Baseball: 8. Tennessee vs 15. Alabama @ 1pm on SEC
  • Softball: Villanova at Providence @ 2pm on FS1
  • Softball: Ole Miss vs 3. LSU @ 4:30pm on ESPN2
  • Softball: UNC vs 11. Clemson @ 6pm on ACC

Basketball – NBA:

• Tues 3/12
  • 76ers at Knicks @ 6:30pm on TNT
  • Timberwolves at Clippers @ 9pm on TNT
• Wed 3/13
  • Nuggets at Heat @ 6:30pm on ESPN
  • Lakers at Kings @ 9pm on ESPN
• Thurs 3/14
  • Suns at Celtics @ 6:30pm on TNT
  • Mavericks at Thunder @ 9pm on TNT
• Sat 3/16
  • Warriors at Lakers @ 7:30pm on ABC
• Sun 3/17
  • Suns at Bucks @ 12pm on ABC
  • Nuggets at Mavericks @ 2:30pm on ABC

Basketball – NCAAM:

• Mon 3/11
  • Sun Belt Tournament – Final @ 5pm on ESPN2
  • Southern Tournament – Final @ 6pm on ESPN
  • WCC Tournament – Semifinal: Santa Clara vs 23. Saint Mary’s @ 8pm on ESPN
  • WCC Tournament – Semifinal: San Fran vs 19. Gonzaga @ 10:30pm on ESPN2
• Tues 3/12
  • Horizon League Tournament – Final @ 6pm on ESPN2
  • NE Tournament – Final @ 6pm on ESPN2
  • WCC Tournament – Final @ 8pm on ESPN
  • Summit League Tournament – Final @ 8:30pm on CBSSN
• Wed 3/13
  • Big 12 Tournament – Round 2: TBD vs 20. BYU @ 11:30am on ESPN+
  • Southland Tournament – Final @ 4pm on ESPN2
  • Patriot League Tournament – Final @ 6pm on CBSSN
  • Big 12 Tournament – Round 2: TBD vs 14. Kansas @ 8:30pm on ESPN+
• Thurs 3/14
  • Big East Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 2. UConn @ 11am on FS1
  • ACC Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 7. UNC @ 11am
  • Big 12 Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 1. Houston @ 2pm on ESPN+
  • Pac 12 Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 5. Arizona @ 2pm on PAC12
  • Mountain West Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 22. Utah St @ 2pm on CBSSN
  • SEC Tournament – 2^nd Round: TBD vs 17. South Carolina @ 2:30pm on SEC
  • Mountain West Tournament – Quarterfinal: 21. San Diego St vs UNLV @ 4:30pm on CBSSN
  • Big 12 Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 6. Iowa St @ 6pm on ESPN+
  • ACC Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 9. Duke @ 6pm
  • Big East Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 10. Creighton @ 6pm on FS1
  • Atlantic 10 Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 25. Dayton @ 6:30pm on USA
  • Pac 12 Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 18. Wazzu @ 8pm on PAC2
  • Big East Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 8. Marquette @ 8:30pm on FS1
  • Big 12 Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 11. Baylor @ 8:30pm on ESPN+
• Fri 3/15
  • Big Ten Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 3. Purdue @ 11am on BTN
  • SEC Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 4. Tennessee @ 12pm on ESPN
  • AAC Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 24. South Florida @ 12pm on ESPN2
  • SEC Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 13. Auburn @ 2:30pm on ESPN
  • Big Ten Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 12. Illinois @ 5:30pm on BTN
  • SEC Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 15. Kentucky @ 6pm on SEC
  • Big East Tournament – Semifinal @ 7pm on FS1
  • SEC Tournament – Quarterfinal: TBD vs 16. Alabama @ 8:30pm on SEC
• Sat 3/16
  • MEAC Tournament – Final @ 12pm on ESPN2
  • Big Ten Tournament – Semifinal @ 12pm on CBS
  • SEC Tournament – Semifinal @ 12pm on ESPN
  • Big Ten Tournament – Semifinal @ 2pm on CBS
  • AAC Tournament – Semifinal @ 2pm on ESPN2
  • SEC Tournament – Semifinal @ 2:30pm on ESPN
  • AAC Tournament – Semifinal @ 4pm on ESPN2
  • Big 12 Tournament – Final @ 5pm on ESPN
  • Mountain West Tournament – Final @ 5pm
  • Big East Tournament – Final @ 5:30pm on FOX
  • MAAC Tournament – Final @ 6:30pm on ESPNU
  • MAC Tournament – Final @ 6:30pm on ESPN2
  • ACC Tournament – Final @ 7:30pm on ESPN
  • CUSA Tournament – Final @ 7:30pm on CBSSN
  • PAC12 Tournament – Final @ 8pm on FOX
  • WAC Tournament – Final @ 10:30pm on ESPN2
• Sun 3/17
  • Ivy League Tournament – Final @ 11am on ESPN2
  • Atlantic 10 Tournament – Final @ 12pm on CBS
  • SEC Tournament – Final @ 12pm on ESPN
  • AAC Tournament – Final @ 2:15pm on ESPN
  • Big Ten Tournament – Final @ 2:30pm on CBS
  • NCAA Tournament Selection Show @ 5pm on CBS

Basketball – NCAAW: (only reporting ranked vs ranked)

• Mon 3/11
  • Big 12 Tournament – Semifinal: Iowa St vs #19 Oklahoma @ 1:30pm on ESPN2
  • Big 12 Tournament – Semifinal: 16. Kansas St vs 6. Texas @ 4pm on ESPN2
• Tues 3/12
  • Big 12 Tournament – Final @ 8pm on ESPN2
• Thurs 3/14
  • Southland Tournament – Final @ 4pm on ESPNU
• Sat 3/16
  • MAC Tournament – Final @ 10am on CBSSN
  • WAC Tournament – Final @ 12:30pm on ESPNU
    Ivy League Tournament – Final @ 4pm on ESPNNews
  • SWAC Tournament – Final @ 4:30pm on ESPNU
  • CUSA Tournament – Final @ 4:30pm on CBSSN
• Sun 3/17
  • Patriot League Tournament – Final @ 11am on CBSSN
  • NE Conference Tournament – Final @ 11am on ESPNU
  • MVC Tournament – Final @ 1pm on ESPN2
  • CAA Tournament – Final @ 1pm on CBSSN

Golf:

• Thurs 3/14
  • The PLAYERS – Round 1 @ 12pm on Golf Channel
• Fri 3/15
  • The PLAYERS – Round 2 @ 12pm on Golf Channel
• Sat 3/16
  • The PLAYERS – Round 3 @ 1pm on NBC
• Sun 3/17
  • The PLAYERS – Final Round @ 12pm on NBC

Hockey:

• Wed 3/13
  • Kings at Blues @ 6:30pm on TT
  • Capitals at Oilers @ 9pm on TNT
• Thurs 3/14
  • Maple Leafs at Flyers @ 6:30pm on hulu
• Sat 3/16
  • Rangers at Penguins @ 2pm on ABC
  • Lightning at Panthers @ 5pm on hulu
• Sun 3/17
  • Islanders at Rangers @ 12pm on TNT
  • Devils at Golden Knights @ 2:30pm on TNT

Olympic Sports:

• Sun 3/17
  • Gymnastics – NCAAW: Alabama vs Oklahoma @ 3pm on ESPN2

Soccer:

• Mon 3/11
  • Premier League: Chelsea vs Newcastle @ 3pm on USA
• Tues 3/12
  • CONCACAF Champions Cup: Columbus Crew vs Houston Dynamo @ 5pm on FS1
  • CONCACAF Champions Cup: Pachuca vs Phili Union @ 7pm on FS1
  • CONCACAF Champions Cup: Tigres UANL vs Orlando City @ 9:20pm on FS1
• Sat 3/16
  • Premier League: Luton Town vs Nottingham Forest @ 10am on USA
  • Premier League: Fulham vs Tottenham @ 12:30pm on USA
• Sun 3/17
  • Premier League: West Ham vs Aston Villa @ 9am on USA
  • MLS: Atlanta U vs Orlando City @ 6pm on FS1