ON TODAY'S SCORECARD
Maize Magic

It wasn’t pretty—but it was long overdue. Michigan has its first national title in 37 years.

The Wolverines outlasted UConn 69-63 to capture the 2026 NCAA championship, securing just the second title in program history and ending a 25-year drought for the Big Ten. The last? Michigan State in 2000.

Michigan came in red-hot, scoring 90+ in each of its first five tournament games—an NCAA first. But this one? A grind. Ninety never had a chance.

UConn threatened late, nearly channeling its Elite Eight comeback vs. Duke. A steal, a runout, a chance to cut it to four… but the layup wouldn’t fall. Moments later, Michigan freshman Trey McKenney buried a dagger step-back three, pushing the lead to nine with 1:50 left—and that was the ballgame.

This title was won in the mud. Neither team shot 40% from the field. From deep? Even worse. UConn (9-of-33) and Michigan (2-of-15) combined to shoot just 22.9% from three—barely better than the infamous 22.7% mark from the 2011 UConn-Butler brickfest.

Michigan fans won’t care. Bettors might. The Wolverines didn’t cover as 6.5-point favorites.

That means that Dan Hurley’s UConn squad covered for a mind-boggling 19th time in its last 20 NCAA tournament games.

Now that’s incredible!

Charlotte-Boston ‘UNDER’

Charlotte: 0-6 OU after T’Wolves / 1-9 OU away vs > .500 conference opp / 1-7 OU Tuesdays // Boston: 0-4 OU after Raptors /
1-10 OU as conf HF’s 13 < pts / 1-8 OU L9 vs SE Division

From Victor King’s NBA Day To Day Trends in the final issue of the PLAYBOOK NBA Only Hoops Newsletter

Click here to download this week’s issue

On Sunday night, LeBron James and Cooper Flagg put on a show the likes of which will be talked about for many years.

Mavericks’ rookie Cooper Flagg scored 51 points against the Magic on Friday, then followed that up with a 45-point effort on Sunday to outmatch LeBron James and lead Dallas to a 134-128 victory over the Lakers.

Elite company: Flagg is the first rookie to post 40-point efforts in consecutive games since Allen Iverson in 1996-97. And his 96 combined points in two games are the most by a rookie since Wilt Chamberlain.

Through it all, before he left the court, James was asked if he sees any similarities between he and Cooper Flagg’s introduction to the league.

“I love what he’s doing. I love what he’s bringing to this franchise. He looks like he loves the game. He’s putting in the work.” replied James.

Nice company.

UCLA's top-ranked offense was its calling card most of the season, but its newfound smothering defense paced the Bruins during the Final Four, holding South Carolina to a season-low 51 points after holding Texas to a season-low 44 in Friday's semifinal.

Another key to the Bruins' success? Lauren Betts, the 6-foot-7 All-American who was named Tournament MOP after becoming the first player (man or woman) to finish an NCAA tournament with at least 125 points, 50 rebounds and 15 blocks on 65% shooting or better.

It must be acknowledged, though, that after knocking out NCAA Tournament mainstay UConn in its previous game, South Carolina played like putty in the hands of UCLA in its next game.

See the STAT OF THE DAY below to understand why the Gamecocks were softer than Silly Putty into the hands of the Bruins.

The Buffalo Sabres have clinched their first playoff spot since 2011, ending the longest active drought in the NHL and second-longest across the "Big Four" North American sports leagues.

Only the NFL's Jets have gone longer since appearing in the postseason (2010).

My dear late friend, Brian Blessing from Buffalo is upstairs and ecstatic, and at long last finally celebrating, while Jets fans are still hibernating.