Put four teams in a hat — shoot, put six or even seven teams in a hat — and then draw at random to pick which team leads the Big 12 heading into spring practice.

It’s a guessing game at this point. Kansas State, Arizona State? Kansas, Brigham Young, Iowa State? What about Texas Tech? Utah? Could Colorado take another leap under Deion Sanders?

More so than any other Power Four league, the Big 12 will open the spring with a wide-open race that could make this the most interesting conference in the Bowl Subdivision. But what the Big 12 lacks is one surefire bet to make the playoff and contend for the national championship.

Here’s our pre-spring rankings for the conference:

1. Kansas State

It boils down to this: In his second season as the team’s starter, quarterback Avery Johnson has to be more consistent if the Wildcats want end atop the conference. The pieces are in place should Kansas State’s transfer class boost a defense that was hit or miss in 2024. The offense will benefit from the return of running back Dylan Edwards, who had 196 yards on the ground in the Wildcats’ bowl game with departed starter DJ Giddens opting out.

2. Arizona State

The defending conference champions are a threat to get back into the College Football Playoff and advance deeper than last season’s exit in the quarterfinals. Nearly every position brings back experience and depth minus running back, where Cam Skattebo’s departure leaves a huge void. That gives the opportunity for quarterback Sam Leavitt to lead the offense.

SPRING POWER RANKINGS: Big Ten | SEC | ACC | Big 12

LOOKING AHEAD: Our way-too-early college football Top 25 for 2025

3. Kansas

Jalon Daniels is back at quarterback, and the Jayhawks will need him to deliver given the changes elsewhere on the offensive side of the ball. The biggest reason for optimism comes from how close this team was to having another Top 25 finish after six single-possession losses last season. That coincided with better play from Daniels after a slow start.

4. Brigham Young

This could be Kalani Sitake’s best team. The defense that led the Big 12 in scoring and total defense last season has to blend in several transfers to stay near the top of the conference. Offensively, the Cougars bring back quarterback Jake Retzlaff, a strong running back group and wide receiver Chase Roberts.

5. Iowa State

The schedule includes games against each of the four teams ranked higher than Iowa State in our pre-spring rankings, though all four come in Ames. Add in a third-year starting quarterback Rocco Becht and coach Matt Campbell’s track record to get a team very capable of winning the Big 12 and earning a playoff spot.

6. Texas Tech

Tech’s hopes hinge on how quickly and how deftly coach Joey McGuire blends in what may be the best transfer class in the FBS. This group will join established standouts such as quarterback Behren Morton and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez to give the Red Raiders a roster that on paper looks capable of double-digit wins.

7. TCU

Don’t worry about the offense. Why would you? Josh Hoover should be among the top quarterbacks in the Big 12 after throwing for 27 touchdowns last season. What TCU needs is more development on defense after that unit began to turn a corner in the second half under coordinator Andy Avalos. If Avalos can continue that trend, the Horned Frogs could be dangerous.

8. Utah

Meanwhile, Utah’s offense is a wild card with the hiring of former New Mexico coordinator Jason Beck and his quarterback from last year, Devon Dampier. If this thing clicks, the Utes might be the most physical team in the conference. And if the offense does rebound to join a solid defense, Utah could jump back toward nine or more wins.

9. Baylor

Baylor looks to carry over a six-game winning streak that saw the Bears playing as well as any team in the Big 12. One clear positive is the rapport between offensive coordinator Jake Spavital and quarterback Sawyer Robertson, a definite all-conference contender. Baylor is yet another team capable of playing for the conference championship.

10. Colorado

This will be an interesting case study for Deion Sanders’ style of roster management. The Buffaloes won’t have stars Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, two of the most irreplaceable players in the FBS. But the offense could remain efficient should new quarterback Kaidon Salter from Liberty be helped by a stronger running game. The baseline should be six or seven wins.

11. Houston

That Houston is ready to add two wins and get into the postseason should be unsurprising to anyone familiar with coach Willie Fritz’s career. With a defense that’s already in the top half of the Big 12 and an offense that’s set to be led by a high-profile quarterback transfer in Connor Weigman, the Cougars are ahead of schedule.

12. Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State will be better, since the Cowboys really can’t get worse after going winless in league play last season. Given the uncertainty that dots the roster, picking Oklahoma State to get back to the postseason is pretty much a testament to the work coach Mike Gundy has done since taking over a generation ago. A lot will ride on how the quarterback position gets sorted.

13. West Virginia

The second Rich Rodriguez era begins with the Mountaineers lacking the pieces to effectively run his scheme. That’s going to hamstring his first campaign and keep West Virginia from doing more than hover around six wins. But look for the Mountaineers to improve as the season progresses and set things up for better days in 2026.

14. Central Florida

Scott Frost returns to Orlando after his failed stint at Nebraska. What did he learn from that experience? He’ll need more time to get UCF into Top 25 contention given the state of the roster and the difficult path through Big 12 play. Sometimes a reunion can work. But like Rich Rodriguez, he’ll need some time to get things sorted.

15. Arizona

The Wildcats are on shaky ground heading into coach Brent Brennan’s second season. While the offense can build around quarterback Noah Fifita, there are major gaps in nearly every other position group after an exodus of potential contributors into the transfer portal. While Brennan and his staff worked to rebuild, this roster isn’t built to contend on a weekly basis.

16. Cincinnati

The defense doesn’t look noticeably improved after cratering in the second half of last season and costing the Bearcats a bowl berth. Embattled coach Scott Satterfield should get things going on offense behind quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who had over 3,200 yards of total offense in 2024 but was lost in the shuffle amid the league’s deep quarterback group. But Cincinnati is not a safe bet to do more than claw around four to six wins, which would likely mean the end of the road for Satterfield.

Former NFL star cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones previously has been an outspoken advocate of cannabis and even revealed last year that he smoked marijuana before playing in NFL games.

Now in an interview that aired Tuesday, Jones came clean about how he concealed his marijuana use to avoid getting in trouble under the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He said he never used his own urine in league drug tests.

“I cheated the program,” Jones said on Deion Sanders’ weekly show on Tubi called “We Got Time Today.” “Like I was really good. People don’t know how smart I am, but like, I can say it now. I don’t play no more. But like, I’ve never used my (urine) for a (urine) test. Not one time. Not one time.”

Sanders, the show’s co-host, then tried to tell Jones that such cheating “can’t happen today” because the NFL has made it harder for players to do that.

Jones disagreed with Sanders, a mentor of Jones who is currently the head coach at Colorado.

“It can happen if you know what you’re doing,” Jones told Sanders. “Don’t say it can’t happen, pop. Hey pop, don’t say it can’t happen.”

“The reason it can’t because they go in there with you right now,” Sanders said of NFL drug testers. “No, no. They go in there and watch you pull out.”

“You still can get ‘em,” Jones said.

How could Pacman Jones get away with it today?

Sanders’ co-host, Rocsi Diaz, then asked Jones how he still could evade testing positive under the league policy.

“You want me to tell you how?” Jones told her. “I’m gonna give you all the secret right now…”

But Sanders, who doesn’t drink or smoke, wouldn’t let him say more. “Nope, nope, nope,” Sanders said.

“The cups they give you…” Jones said.

Sanders then shut it down before Jones could explain.

Jones, 41, was the sixth overall NFL draft pick in 2005 and went on to play for four NFL teams, including the Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals. He last played in the NFL in 2018.

In 2007, he was suspended for the entire season under the league’s personal conduct policy after a number of off-the-field incidents and run-ins with the law. This led to increased drug testing for him, he said, including “every other day” and even when he was out of the country.

The NFL has changed its marijuana policy

The NFL has relaxed its marijuana policy in recent years after pressure from players as society’s views on cannabis generally have become more accepting of its benefits. In Jones’ last season in the NFL, in 2018, 35 nanograms per milliliter triggered a positive test for marijuana under the league’s substance abuse policy, which is agreed to by the NFL Players Association. Just two years ago, it was 150 nanograms per milliliter. Now it’s up to 350 nanograms per milliliter.

Testing positive could lead to fines and previously could lead to suspensions. But cheating the drug test could have led to stiffer punishment if caught. The substance abuse policy in 2018 said that a deliberate attempt to alter a test result “will be treated as a positive test and may subject a player to additional discipline.”

The NFL and the NFL Players Association declined comment Wednesday.

Jones noted on the show with Sanders and Diaz that cannabis is not considered a performance-enhancing drug. It is not part of the league’s separate performance-enhancing drugs policy.

“They’re giving guys opiates, pain pills, muscle relaxers; you’re telling me that a guy that’s smoking THC (cannabis), that it’s helping him perform more, or are you telling me is it helping his body?” Jones said.

He said “no sport” should be testing for THC and said it helps with pain.

“I’m all for the weed,” he said.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The field at the West Coast Conference tournament is bigger this year with Pac-12 refugees Oregon State and Washington State joining the party in Las Vegas. Overall the balance of power in the league hasn’t changed appreciably. The newcomers finished in the middle of the pack, while the two teams expected to finish at the top did so once again.

At the very top, however, the script has changed for the last couple of years as Saint Mary’s has usurped front-runner status from long-time mainstay Gonzaga. But one of those two teams raised the trophy every year since 2009, and that streak is unlikely to end this year.

West Coast Conference tournament schedule, bracket

First round

Thursday, March 6

San Diego vs. Pacific, 5:30 p.m.

Second round

Friday, March 7

Pepperdine vs. Portland, 9 p.m.

San Diego-Pacific winner vs. Loyola Marymount, 11:30 p.m.

Third round

Saturday, March 8

Pepperdine-Portland winner vs. Oregon State, 9 p.m.

San Diego-Pacific-Loyola Marymount winner vs. Washington State, 11:30 p.m.

Quarterfinals

Sunday, March 9

Pepperdine-Portland-Oregon State winner vs. Santa Clara, 8:30 p.m.

San Diego-Pacific-Loyola Marymount-Washington State winner vs. San Francisco, 11 p.m.

Semifinals

Monday, March 10

Pepperdine-Portland-Oregon State-Santa Clara winner vs. Saint Mary’s, 9 p.m.

San Diego-Pacific-Loyola Marymount-Washington State-San Francisco winner vs. Gonzaga, 11:30 p.m.

Championship

Tuesday., March 11

Semifinal winners, 9 p.m.

All times Eastern

West Coast Conference tournament favorite

Saint Mary’s enters the tourney as the top seed for the third consecutive year. The Gaels are coached by Randy Bennett, no relation to Tony, but nevertheless bring to mind a vintage Virginia squad as they control the tempo, play tight defense and select smart shots. They headed the WCC standings by three games and swept Gonzaga home-and-home. The Bulldogs can never be counted out, of course, but they didn’t secure the No. 2 spot until the final day of the regular season with a win at San Francisco. The Dons, incidentally, handed the Gaels their lone league loss but would have to get past the Zags in the semifinals to earn a rematch.

BRACKETOLOGY: Tennessee rises to No. 1 seed in projected NCAA field

West Coast Conference tournament top players

Augustas Marciulionis, G, Saint Mary’s – The league player of the year and last season’s WCC tourney MVP with NBA genes picked up where he left off, putting up 14.4 points and 6.1 assists a game.

Mitchell Saxen, C, Saint Mary’s – Another key veteran for the experienced Gaels, the two-time conference defensive player of the year is averaging eight rebounds while adding 10.4 points on the offensive end.

Ryan Nembhard, G, Gonzaga – the Nation’s assists leader handing out 10 dimes a game can score a bit as well when he has to (10.9 ppg), but the Zags are at their best when the long-time floor general is mainly the distributor.

Graham Ike, F, Gonzaga – The Zags’ scoring leader at 17 a game, he is not a dominant post presence but knows how to find openings near the rim. It also helps that he makes free throws at a nearly 80% clip.

Malik Thomas, G, San Francisco – One of the league’s most explosive scorers, the high-volume shooter paces the Dons with 19.1 points a game hitting just a shade under 40% from the arc.

Adama-Alpha Bal, G, Santa Clara – The lead guard for the back-court oriented Broncos averages 13 points and 3.1 assists.

West Coast Conference tournament bubble storylines

The Gaels and Bulldogs are safely in the field, so there won’t be any bubble drama unless either happens to lose on Monday. San Francisco and Santa Clara have potential to be bid thieves but would almost certainly need to earn the automatic berth.

One of the most intriguing mid-major conference tournaments in men’s college basketball tips of in St. Louis, Missouri with the Missouri Valley Conference tournament − popularly known as Arch Madness.

Typically held the week before Selection Sunday, the conference tournament is one to pay attention to given the MVC’s track record in sending multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament. Although not a regular occurrence − it last sent two teams to March Madness in 2021 − a case could be made depending on the results inside the Enterprise Center.

Drake enters as the regular season champion and the projected automatic bid in the USA TODAY Sports Bracketology, but quality teams in Bradley − which beat the Bulldogs last month − and Northern Iowa lurk and could punch their tickets to the big dance. Bubble teams will certainly keep their eyes on this tournament to see if any bid-stealing will occur.

Missouri Valley Conference tournament schedule, bracket, scores

First round

Thursday, March 6

Southern Illinois vs. Indiana State, 1 p.m.

Illinois State vs. Missouri State, 3:30 p.m.

Murray State vs. Evansville, 7 p.m.

Illinois-Chicago vs. Valparaiso, 9:30 p.m.

Second round

Friday, March 7

Drake vs. Southern Illinois-Indiana State winner, 1 p.m.

Belmont vs. Illinois State-Missouri State winner, 3:30 p.m.

Bradley vs. Murray State-Evansville winner, 7 p.m.

Northern Iowa vs. Illinois-Chicago-Valparaiso winner, 9:30 p.m.

Semifinals

Saturday, March 8

Drake-Southern Illinois-Indiana State winner vs. Belmont-Illinois State-Missouri State winner, 3:30 p.m.

Bradley-Murray State-Evansville winner vs. Northern Iowa-Illinois-Chicago-Valparaiso winner, 6 p.m.

Championship

Sunday, March 9

Semifinal winners, 2:15 p.m.,

Missouri Valley Conference tournament favorite

Will we have the second-ever three-peat in the MVC? Drake is the favorite to win the conference tournament after a dominant season with a 27-3 record and 17-3 mark in conference play, with wins in 15 of its last 16 games. The Bulldogs play some of the best defense in the country, allowing only 59.2 points per game, third-best in Division I. Opponents have scored more than 70 points in just four games as first-year head coach Ben McCollum has continued the winning for Drake with a program regular season record in wins.

The Bulldogs will try to be the first team since Southern Illinois in 1993-95 to win three consecutive Missouri Valley Conference tournaments. However, one team that could prevent that is Bradley, which finished second in the regular season and split the season series with Drake. Northern Iowa is another to watch. The Panthers nearly beat Drake last month before falling in overtime.

BRACKETOLOGY: Tennessee rises to No. 1 seed in projected NCAA field

Missouri Valley Conference tournament top players

Bennett Stirtz, Drake – The conference player of the year had no trouble transitioning to the Division I level after he was one of four players to follow McCollum from Northwestern Missouri State. He led the conference in points (18.9), assists (5.9) and steals (2.2) per game, the third player in the league to achieve the feat in the same season.

Duke Deen, Bradley – A back-to-back first team all-conference selection, Deen does it all offensively for the Braves with 14.1 points and 3.8 assists per game. He’s also a dangerous 3-point shooter with a 41.1% mark from beyond the arc.

Tytan Anderson, Northern Iowa – Not only does Anderson lead the Panthers with 15.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, but he sets the tone defensively. His play in the second half of the season was critical to Northern Iowa finishing as a No. 3 seed.

Connor Turnbull, Evansville – Good luck trying to score on this 6-foot-10-inch junior. He averages 1.87 blocks per game, ranking 30th in the country. His impact in conference play with an average of 11.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in league games.

NCAA tournament bubble storylines for the Missouri Valley Conference

It’s likely only one spot in the NCAA men tournament for the Missouri Valley Conference, but it depends on how Drake performs. Currently slotted a No. 12 seed in the recent bracket projection, the Bulldogs have an interesting case should they lose in the championship game. They have are 5-0 in Quad 1 and 2 games, but the NET ranking of 60 isn’t a spot where most at-large teams can have confidence. For reference, Indiana State finished No. 29 in the NET with a 28-6 record last year and missed the tournament.

The Denver Broncos fired outside linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite following his arrest for an altercation in the departure area of Denver International Airport.

‘After thorough discussions as an organization, I met with Michael Wilhoite and informed him we have decided to part ways,’ Broncos head coach Sean Payton said in a statement to the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel. ‘We recognize the serious nature of the allegations against him and believe this is the best course of action at this time.

‘I appreciate Michael’s contributions to the Broncos and am confident he will move forward in a positive direction.’

Per a Denver Police probable cause statement, the alleged altercation happened on Sunday, Feb. 23 when Wilhoite left his 2021 Ford Bronco unattended. When he came back to the vehicle, an officer approached him and told him he couldn’t leave the car like that, according to the statement.

Wilhoite told the officer to ‘shut the (expletive) up,’ according to the probable cause statement. The officer again told Wilhoite he couldn’t leave his vehicle like that and Wilhoite repeated what he said and bumped the officer in the chest.

The officer shoved him in response and Wilhoite reacted by punching the officer, the statement said.

Wilhoite was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer on Feb. 25 and is expected to appear again in court on March 10.

Wilhoite was hired on to the Broncos’ staff under Payton in 2023. He spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons on Payton’s staff with the New Orleans Saints as a special teams and defensive assistant.

Before reuniting with Payton in Denver, Wilhoite worked as a linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021 and 2022.

Wilhoite spent six years as a linebacker in the NFL. He played for the San Francisco 49ers from 2012-16 and the Seattle Seahawks in 2017.

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is on pace to pass Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goal record before season’s end.

Ovechkin, 39, entered this season needing 42 goals to break Gretzky’s record of 894 career goals, which has stood since 1999. The Washington captain has 32 goals this season and needs 10 more with 20 games left to become the NHL’s all-time leader.

Ovechkin scored 15 times in his first 18 games before suffering a fractured left fibula during a Nov. 18 game against the Utah Hockey Club. He has scored 17 times since he returned on Dec. 28.

This season, he moved into second place with 20 consecutive 20-goal seasons and set a record for number of goalies scored against in his career. He tied records for game-winning goals and most franchises against which he has a hat trick. And he became the first player to score 200 goals in three different decades.

If he doesn’t reach Gretzky’s goal record this season, he has one more season left on his contract.

Here’s where Ovechkin stands in his chase of Gretzky’s goal record (stats through March 5):

OVECHKIN VS. GRETZKY: Comparing the two greats

How many goals does Alex Ovechkin have?

Ovechkin has 885 career goals.

How many goals does Alex Ovechkin need to pass Wayne Gretzky?

Ovechkin needs 10 goals to break Gretzky’s record.

Can Alex Ovechkin break Wayne Gretzky’s record this season?

Ovechkin has 32 goals and 17 assists in 46 games. Factoring in the 16 games he missed, that is a 46-goal pace, giving him a chance to reach the 42 goals he needs to break the record this season. As of Wednesday, Ovechkin has played 15 fewer career games than Gretzky.

What did Alex Ovechkin do in his last game?

Ovechkin scored a power-play goal on five shots in a 3-2 overtime win against the New York Rangers. He charged in, picked up a loose puck and beat Igor Shesterkin to tie the game in the third period. Shesterkin robbed him in overtime with a glove save.

When is Alex Ovechkin’s next game?

The Capitals play Friday, March 7, at home against Detroit. Ovechkin has 25 goals in 36 career regular-season games against the Red Wings.

Alex Ovechkin goals in 2024-25

Oct. 19: 1 vs. New Jersey
Oct. 23: 1 vs. Philadelphia
Oct. 29: 2 vs. N.Y. Rangers
Oct. 31: 1 vs. Montreal
Nov. 2: 1 vs. Columbus
Nov. 3: 1 vs. Carolina
Nov. 6: 1 vs. Nashville
Nov. 9: 2 vs. St. Louis
Nov. 17: 3 vs. Vegas
Nov. 18: 2 vs. Utah
Dec. 28: 1 vs. Toronto
Dec. 29: 1 vs. Detroit
Jan. 2: 1 vs. Minnesota
Jan. 4: 1 vs. N.Y. Rangers
Jan. 11: 1 vs. Nashville
Jan. 16: 1 vs. Ottawa
Jan. 23: 1 vs. Seattle
Jan. 30: 1 vs. Ottawa
Feb 1: 1 vs. Winnipeg
Feb. 4: 1 vs. Florida
Feb. 6: 1 vs. Philadelphia
Feb. 23: 3 vs. Edmonton
Feb. 25: 1 vs. Calgary
March 1: 1 vs. Tampa Bay
March 5: 1 vs. N.Y. Rangers

Alex Ovechkin career goals breakdown

Even strength: 559, third overall

Power play: 321, a record

Short-handed: 5

Empty net: 64, a record

Game winners: 135, tied for first with Jaromir Jagr

Overtime goals: 27, a record

Multi-goal games: 178, second overall

Goalies scored against: 181, a record

Hat tricks: 32, tied for fifth overall. Ovechkin has hat tricks against 20 franchises, tying Brett Hull’s record.

20-goal seasons: 20, tied for second

30-goal seasons: 19, a record

40-goal seasons: 13, a record

Alex Ovechkin empty-net goals

Ovechkin has a record 64 empty-net goals, but Gretzky is up there, too, with 56. Ovechkin passed Gretzky in that category last season.

Alex Ovechkin goals per season

Season: Goals, career total

2005-06: 52, 52
2006-07: 46, 98
2007-08: 65*, 163
2008-09: 56*, 219
2009-10: 50, 269
2010-11: 32, 301
2011-12: 38, 339
2012-13: 32*, 371
2013-14: 51*, 422
2014-15: 53*, 475
2015-16: 50*, 525
2016-17: 33, 558
2017-18: 49*, 607
2018-19: 51*, 658
2019-20: 48*, 706
2020-21: 24, 730
2021-22: 50, 780
2022-23: 42, 822
2023-24: 31, 853
2024-25: 32, 885

*-led league in goals that season

NHL all time goal leaders

The top 21 NHL all-time goal scorers all have 600 or more goals. All of the players are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, except Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and Jagr, who are still playing.

1. Wayne Gretzky, 894 goals in 1,487 games

2. Alex Ovechkin, 885 goals in 1,472 games

3. Gordie Howe, 801 goals in 1,767 games

4. Jaromir Jagr, 766 goals in 1,733 games

5. Brett Hull, 741 goals in 1,269 games

6. Marcel Dionne, 731 in 1,348 games

7. Phil Esposito, 717 goals in 1,282 games

8. Mike Gartner, 708 goals in 1,432 games

9. Mark Messier, 694 goals in 1,756 games

10. Steve Yzerman, 692 goals in 1,514 games

11. Mario Lemieux, 690 goals in 915 games

12. Teemu Selanne, 684 goals in 1,451 games

13. Luc Robitaille, 668 goals in 1,431 games

14. Brendan Shanahan, 656 goals in 1,524 games

15. Dave Andreychuk, 640 goals in 1,639 games

16. Jarome Iginla, 625 goals in 1,554 games

17. Joe Sakic, 625 goals in 1,378 games

18. Sidney Crosby, 611 goals in 1,333 games

19. Bobby Hull, 610 goals in 1,063 games

20. Dino Ciccarelli, 608 goals in 1,232 games

21. Jari Kurri, 601 goals in 1,251 games

As Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo prepares for the 2025 NFL draft, he is being sued for more than $300,000 by one of his former Sun Devils teammates, Jason Wolf of the Arizona Republic reports.

Attorney Neil Udulutch filed a civil complaint on behalf of Mattheos Katergaris – a former walk-on offensive lineman at Arizona State – that alleges one count of negligence resulting in injury against both Skattebo and the Arizona Board of Regents, the governing body that oversees the state’s public universities.

The complaint stems from an incident in July 2023 during which Skattebo allegedly ‘jumped up and down’ on the back of a golf cart during a football practice, causing the back seat to break and Katergaris to fall to the ground.

Players had been informed only two players could ride a cart at a single time. There was also a 600-pound limit for the cart. There were two players riding the cart when Skattebo allegedly boarded it.

Udulutch detailed that Kategaris significantly injured his triceps as a result of the fall.

‘He got a really bad laceration, essentially going all the way down to the bone in his elbow,’ Udulutch told The Republic, ‘and it essentially ruptured his distal triceps tendon 90 percent of the way, so he required surgery and months of physical therapy.

‘It’s not like how a lot of the (initial) articles are painting it. He actually was very injured.’

Udulutch added Kategaris ‘can’t play anymore’ and that the former walk-on is still experiencing pain more than a year after the injury.

‘He said his arm hurts really bad when he does anything with it,’ Udulutch detailed to The Republic. ‘It moves, but it’s definitely not as strong as it was. And part of that could be the initial injury. Some of that’s definitely attributable to the way the surgery had to unfold. You’ve got to cut into there. But he’s not the same, for sure.

‘Everyone’s saying he entered the transfer portal, but he really just didn’t go anywhere.’

Skattebo wasn’t named in the original complaint, which was made in May 2024. However, it has been amended twice – most recently on Jan. 27, 2025 – when Skattebo was added as a defendant.

At the time, Skattebo was just two weeks removed from a breakout senior season at Arizona State, during which he ran for 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns while leading the Sun Devils to a College Football Playoff berth. He is expected to be selected during the 2025 NFL draft, and potentially early on in it.

Udulutch insisted the timing of Skattebo’s addition to the lawsuit was merely coincidental.

‘I’m aware of the speculation and how that looks, but I can’t comment on the rationalization,’ Udulutch told The Republic. ‘All I can say is that we became aware that it was actually him that was on the back of the golf court, jumping up and down, according to my client.’

The Arizona Board of Regents noted in its response to the complain that it ‘has reason to believe Defendant Skattebo boarded the back of the golf cart while two other players were sitting on the rear section.’

Process servers have been attempting to locate Skattebo to deliver the legal paperwork to him. They have been unable to find him at his most recent known addresses in Arizona and California.

As a result, the court has granted permission for Udulutch to serve Skattebo by publication, which involves publishing the summons and complaint in a Maricopa County newspaper for four consecutive weeks.

Udulutch referred to the process as ‘archaic’ and ‘a last resort.’

‘He’s been hard to pin down,’ Udulutch said of Skattebo. ‘I have reason to believe he was in Florida preparing for the combine and then I know he was in Indy. I don’t know if he even lives in Arizona anymore. Maybe he’s bouncing around hotels. I just don’t know, so I was done chasing him.

‘My hope is that he or his family will retain an attorney and help us out here, but otherwise we’ll have to go that route. It’s kind of an archaic procedure. It is definitely a last resort.’

As March Madness approaches, fans are beginning to wonder: which players are going to immortalize themselves on college basketball’s biggest stage? Just last year, we saw a player like Jack Gohlke put himself on the national radar with a tremendous first-round performance to help Oakland upset Kentucky.

However, while America may love an underdog story, the players that will likely have the biggest impact on the NCAA Tournament are the stars we already know. So, who are those players? And who is the best of the best?

Here are the top 10 players in men’s college basketball with March Madness just a few weeks away.

The best players in men’s college basketball

All stats entering play Wednesday.

10. LJ Cryer, Houston

2024-25 stats: 15.0 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.9 APG, 41.9 FG%, 42 3P%

Although Cryer’s stats don’t pop off the page, his talent is undeniable. He’s an obvious shooting threat, leading the Big 12 in 3-point percentage, but that alone isn’t what makes him the likely Big 12 Player of the Year. He’s also an outstanding athlete with great handles. His playmaking could certainly use some work, though.

9. Hunter Dickinson, Kansas

2024-25 stats: 16.9 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2.0 APG, 53.1 FG%, 20.9 3P%

Although Kansas has lost three of its last five games, that has been no fault of Dickinson, who has recorded four double-doubles in that span and was one rebound away vs. Texas Tech from making that five of five.

While Dickinson’s stats are not as gaudy as they were a season ago, it’s merely because he’s playing fewer minutes as the Jayhawks now boast a solid backup option in Flory Bidunga. The option for Dickinson to play fewer minutes could pay massive dividends come NCAA Tournament time, as he should be fresher than ever. That said, the Jayhawks have struggled against top-tier opponents this season, so perhaps even Dickinson’s stellar play and fresh legs will not be enough.

8. Bennett Stirtz, Drake

2024-25 stats: 18.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 5.9 APG, 49.7 FG%, 38.1 3P%

Stirtz is almost single-handedly carrying the Drake Bulldogs into relevancy this year. He’s been outstanding and seemingly has gotten better as the season’s progressed. He’s scored 20 or more points in eight of his last 10 games. While Drake’s competition certainly isn’t the toughest in the country, Stirtz has the Bulldogs earning top-25 votes for a reason.

7. Chaz Lanier, Tennessee

2024-25 stats: 17.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.0 APG, 42.5 FG%, 40.7 3P%

While Lanier does struggle a bit with consistency, having produced six games where he shot under 30% from the floor, he has also produced nine games shooting over 50%. When Lanier gets going, he’s nearly impossible to stop; the Volunteers are a stellar 11-0 when Lanier scores 20 or more points.

6. PJ Haggerty, Memphis

2024-25 stats: 21.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.7 APG, 49.1 FG%, 40.9 3P%

Many people were unsure if Haggerty’s incredible stats at Tulsa a season ago would translate to a team like Memphis, looking to make noise during March Madness. They have, and Haggerty has looked stellar all the while, racking up over 21 points per game for the second consecutive season.

Haggerty’s remarkable ability to get to the free throw line has played well all season for the Tigers, including in their runner-up finish at the Maui Invitational. He’s maintained that same level of play all season and has the Tigers looking for a No. 3 or 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

5. Mark Sears, Alabama

2024-25 stats: 19.1 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, 41.2 FG%, 36.1 3P%

After a relatively slow start to the season, Sears has taken his game up another level, averaging 22.1 points per game over his last eight. We all knew Sears could take command of games at a moment’s notice, but he’s really come into his own as a leader as well. Even in games where Alabama loses, Sears is often able to keep the contests close. In fact, Alabama entered Wednesday with only one loss by more than 10 points all season. Much of that can be attributed to Sears’ incredible knack for scoring.

4. Braden Smith, Purdue

2024-25 stats: 16.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 8.7 APG, 44.6 FG%, 40.6 3P%

Smith is a wizard with the ball in his hands — and the ball always finds a way into his hands. He leads the Big Ten in both assists per game (8.7) and steals per game (2.4), and he does it all while maintaining some of the best shooting numbers among guards in college basketball. There isn’t a single area of Smith’s game where he struggles. Although he doesn’t light up a box score like most other players on this list, he’s more than capable of taking over games when he needs to. As of Wednesday, he’s scored 23 points in back-to-back games en route to solid wins over Rutgers and UCLA.

3. Kameron Jones, Marquette

2024-25 stats: 18.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 6.2 APG, 48.8 FG%, 31.5 3P%

There were a few skeptics wondering whether Jones would be able to transition from wing to guard in just one season. Those skeptics were quieted quickly. Jones has been just as good, maybe better, than he was a season ago. He’s carrying more of Marquette’s offensive load, all without being a detriment in the turnover department. In fact, he’s averaging almost three times as many assists as last year (2.4) while only marginally increasing his turnover rate (1.4 to 1.8 per game).

2. Johni Broome, Auburn

2024-25 stats: 18.0 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 50.4 FG%, 28.6 3P%

Sure, Broome is on a bit of a cold stretch. He’s scored fewer than 10 points four times all season, but two of those instances have come in Auburn’s last two games. Still, despite the recent struggles, Broome is performing at elite levels for a big man, especially on the defensive end, where he leads the SEC in both rebounds per game and blocks per game (2.4).

1. Cooper Flagg, Duke

2024-25 stats: 19.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 4.2 APG, 49.7 FG%, 38.2 3P%

Flagg is assumed to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, and deservedly so. Flagg’s incredible skill on both the offensive and defensive ends are unmatched in college basketball. His only drawback so far has been his 3-point shooting, but that has been tremendous of late, with Flagg shooting 50% from beyond the arc over his last 10 games.

No. 1 Texas, No. 2 USC, No. 3 UConn, No. 4 UCLA, No. 5 South Carolina and No. 6 Notre Dame have emerged as top contenders for the NCAA Tournament title, but there isn’t a clear favorite. USC has wins over UCLA and UConn, but lost to Notre Dame. UConn dropped matchups against Notre Dame and USC, but blew out South Carolina. South Carolina also had losses against UCLA, but split the regular-season series against Texas. Texas also dropped a game against Notre Dame. You get the picture — it’s anyone’s game.

The NCAA Tournament championship is going to come down to stellar performances from the best players on the court. Who are those players?

Here are the top 10 players in women’s college basketball with March Madness weeks away:

The best players in women’s college basketball

All stats entering play Wednesday.

10. Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt

2024-25 stats: 23.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.5 SPG, 46.4 FG%, 35 3PT% (30 games)

The freshman guard etched her name in the history books when she broke the NCAA freshman single-game scoring record with 53 points in Vanderbilt’s 99-86 win over Florida on Jan. 3. She broke the record again with a career-high 55 points in the Commodores’ 98–88 overtime win over Auburn in February. Blakes was named the SEC’s Freshman of the Year and was named a finalist for the Naismith Hall of Fame’s Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, given to the nation’s top shooting guard.

9. Georgia Amoore, Kentucky

2024-25 stats: 18.8 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 6.9 APG, 42.4 FG%, 32.2 3PT% (28 games)

New division, no problem. Amoore followed former Virginia Tech head coach Kenny Brooks to Kentucky and the move proved beneficial for Amoore. The 5-foot-6 guard scored in double digits in all but one game this season and leads the SEC in assists per game (6.9). Amoore, who is third in the nation with 192 total assists on the season, is 18 assists away from setting a new single-season record at Kentucky. She was rightfully named the SEC’s Newcomer of the Year.

8. Ta’Niya Latson, Florida State

2024-25 stats: 25.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.7 APG, 2.2 SPG, 45.8 FG%, 35.5 3PT% (26 games)

Latson is the top scorer in the nation at 25.4 points per game and is a key piece to the Seminoles having the highest-scoring offense in the country (88.2 ppg). Latson has recorded at least 20 points in 23 of 26 games this season. She had six 30-point games this year and a career-high 40-point performance against Virginia Tech on Jan. 2. Latson became the fastest player in Florida State basketball history to score 2,000 points this season and picked up her third All-ACC First Team selection. She’s also a finalist for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award.

7. Aneesah Morrow, LSU

2024-25 stats: 18.2 PPG, 14 RPG, 1.4 APG, 2.5 SPG, 48.5 FG%, 27.6 3PT% (30 games)

6. Madison Booker, Texas

2024-25 stats: 16 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.6 SPG, 46.4 FG%, 41.7 3PT% (30 games)

Texas earned the No. 1 ranking in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, in large part thanks to Booker’s sophomore campaign. The 6-foot-1 forward recorded 20 or more points in 11 games this season and increased her efficiency from the 3-point line, improving from 30.6% beyond the arc to 41.7% this season. Texas may have lost the No. 1 seed in the SEC tournament to South Carolina by way of a coin toss, but the Longhorns head into the postseason with lots of momentum after six straight wins against ranked opponents, including South Carolina, LSU and Kentucky. Booker averaged 21.5 points per game during that span and was named the SEC’s Player of the Year. The Longhorns will be looking to improve on their Elite Eight finish last year.

5. Lauren Betts, UCLA

2024-25 stats: 19.7 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.8 BPG, 62.4 FG% (26 games)

The 6-foot-7 center is a dominant force in the paint and was unanimously named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after setting UCLA’s single-season blocks record (73). She also broke the university’s single-game blocks record with nine blocked shots in UCLA’s win over Baylor on Jan. 20. Betts is averaging a career-high 2.8 blocks per game, the most in the conference, and her 9.9 rebounds per game marks a career-high. She had 16 double-doubles this season. UCLA ended the season with a disappointing 80-67 loss to USC, where Betts was held to 11 points and 11 rebounds on her home court, but the Bruins will attempt to shake off the thumping and make it further than their Sweet 16 finish in last year’s NCAA Tournament.

4. Olivia Miles, Notre Dame

2024-25 stats: 16.5 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 5.9 APG, 50.9 FG%, 41.6 3PT% (29 games)

Miles missed the entire 2023-24 season due to a knee injury, but made a statement in her first game back with a 20-point, 10-rebound and 10-assist triple-double to open the season on Nov. 4. She became the first player in ACC history to record back-to-back triple-doubles a month later against Loyola and Virginia. Miles’ three triple-doubles lead the nation. The floor general also leads the ACC in assists per game (5.9). Notre Dame stumbled to the finish line, dropping back-to-back games to NC State and Florida State in late February, but expect Miles to dazzle in her first NCAA Tournament since 2023.

3. Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame

2024-25 stats: 24.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.8 APG, 3.7 SPG, 46.4 FG%, 40.1 3PT% (27 games)

Notre Dame’s backcourt has been the best in women’s basketball all season long, so you can’t have Miles on the list of best players without also having her partner-in-crime. Hidalgo is the third-leading scorer in the nation at 24.2 points per game and ranks fourth in the country in steals (3.7 per game). Hidalgo was named the ACC’s Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year (for the second consecutive season), becoming only the third player in ACC history to win both in the same season.

2. Paige Bueckers, UConn

2024-25 stats: 18.6 PPG, 5.0 APG, 4.5 RPG, 53.4 FG%, 40.8 3PT% (29 games)

The 2025 WNBA draft isn’t called the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes for nothing. Bueckers burst onto the scene in 2021 with a breakout freshman campaign that earned her AP Player of the Year and Naismith College Player of the Year honors. Although a string of injuries forced Bueckers to miss significant time, including the entire 2022-23 season with an ACL tear, the fifth-year senior guard has returned to form and is looking to lead the Huskies to the Final Four for the fourth time in her career. Bueckers is currently UConn women’s basketball’s sixth all-time leading scorer with 2,223 points and is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick of the draft.

1. JuJu Watkins, USC

2024-25 stats: 24.4 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.6 APG, 42.9 FG%, 33.9 3PT% (28 games)

Watkins cemented herself as the best player in women’s college basketball with a dominant 30-point performance in USC’s 80-67 win over rival UCLA to claim the regular-season title and No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Conference tournament. She went on to be named Big Ten Player of the Year for good reason. Watkins became the fastest USC player to reach 1,000 career points (38 games) in November and has the Trojans primed for a run at the national championship after winning eight straight games against ranked opponents, including UConn, UCLA and Maryland. Did we mention she’s only a sophomore?

Honorable Mentions

LSU G Flau’Jae Johnson: 18.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.4 APG, 46.5 FG%, 37.2 3PT% (30 games)
TCU C Sedona Prince: 17.6 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.3 APG, 3.1 BPG, 59.2 FG% (30 games)
South Carolina G Te-Hina Paopao: 10.2 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 3.0 APG, 45.7 FG%, 38.2 3PT% (30 games)
Kansas State G Serena Sundell:13.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 7.1 APG, 48.8 FG%, 29.7 3PT% (31 games)

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