Archive

2025

Browsing

The Los Angeles Lakers lost Saturday night to the longtime rival Boston Celtics, but that’s suddenly the least of their concerns.

All eyes are now on the health of LeBron James.

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer was shown on ABC’s broadcast heading to the locker room with just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter and he was ruled out with a groin strain. The Lakers lost the contest 111-101. James finished the night with 22 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists in 35 minutes.

He said the injury occurred on the play where he scored his final basket of the night with 7:05 to go.

James has dealt with plenty of injuries since he signed with the Lakers in 2018, but groin strains have been a persistent issue during his time in Los Angeles. He suffered a left groin strain on Christmas Day 2018 in a win over the Golden State Warriors that ended up derailing Los Angeles’ season. He missed 17 straight games − then a career-high − and Los Angeles went 5-12 without him as its playoff hopes evaporated. He didn’t play the final six games of that season.

Left ankle and foot injuries have plagued James in recent years, but he’s been relatively healthy this season, missing only four contests heading into Saturday.

LeBron James groin injury: What we know

The NBA play-in games start on April 15 and the first round of the playoffs is slated to begin on April 19.

James said after the game he didn’t have ‘much concern’ about the injury and considered himself ‘day-to-day.’

James said he immediately thought of that 2018 injury.

‘I’ve been there before and I know what type of injury you’re dealing with,’ James said.

But he added this injury is ‘not as bad as that’ one that kept him out for 17 straight games.

The Lakers (40-22) have been rolling since mid-January and are now 12-3 since acquiring Luka Doncic after falling Saturday. They are currently the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, a half-game behind the Denver Nuggets and 1½ games ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies.

This story has been updated with new information.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

It’s officially conference tournament time in college basketball.

The conference tournaments that begin next week could be the final opportunity for some teams to jump from the bubble into the tournament. But it could also be a chance for a team that is not on the radar to surprise everyone and steal a bid.

With a 68-team field, less than half are currently a ‘lock’ in the tournament. However, many teams have done enough and should be in it. Then there are the teams firmly on the bubble that need to make a deep run, if not win their conference tournaments.

In ESPN’s Bracketology by Joe Lunardi, San Diego State, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Xavier are the last four teams in the tourney following play on Saturday. Conversely, Boise State, North Carolina, Texas and Nebraska are the first four teams out of the tournament.

Here’s an updated look at the NCAA Tournament bubble, with which teams are locks and likely in the field as the conference tournaments begin this week:

March Madness bracket bubble watch tracker

Tracker based on games through Saturday, March 8

NCAA Tournament locks

ACC (3): Duke, Clemson, Louisville
Big Ten (8): Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue, Wisconsin, Maryland, Oregon, UCLA, Illinois
Big 12 (6): Houston, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Arizona, Kansas, BYU
Big East (4): St. John’s, Marquette, Creighton, UConn
SEC (9): Auburn, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Missouri, Kentucky, Ole Miss
Other (3): Memphis, Saint Mary’s, New Mexico

Not much has changed in terms of locks for the three big conferences. The SEC still leads the way with nine locks, while the Big Ten is up to eight now after Illinois was bumped from a ‘likely in’ to a ‘lock’ following ranked wins against Purdue and Michigan.

NCAA Tournament likely ins

ACC: None
Big Ten: None
Big 12 (2): Baylor, West Virginia
Big East: None
SEC (3): Georgia, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt
Other (3): Gonzaga, Drake, Utah State

Georgia and Oklahoma join Vanderbilt as SEC teams that will likely make the tournament following strong recent runs. The Bulldogs had an impressive win over then-No. 3 Florida and have followed it with three more wins. A win over Missouri at least changed the narrative around the Sooners.

Drake and Utah State can lock in a spot in the tournament by winning their respective conference tournaments, rather than leaving a potential bid to be stolen by a surprising run by a school in the tournaments.

NCAA Tournament bubble teams

ACC (3): SMU, North Carolina, Wake Forest
Big Ten (3): Ohio State, Indiana, Nebraska
Big 12 (1): Cincinnati
Big East (1): Xavier
SEC (2): Arkansas, Texas
Other (10): VCU, Bradley, San Diego State, Liberty, Dayton, North Texas, Boise State, Colorado State, UC San Diego, UC Irvine

These teams have an outside shot of making the Big Dance but will also need help. According to ESPN RPI, these schools have a 25% to 69% chance of qualifying for the tournament.

For one, winning their conference tournaments would remove doubts about the strength of the schedule, quality of wins, etc. Schools such as Arkansas or Texas in the SEC, or Ohio State, Indiana and Nebraska in the Big Ten, could use deep runs in their respective conference tournaments to lock in a spot.

At this point, none of the schools on this list should book tickets for the NCAA Tournament, but one good week could change the discourse and make Selection Sunday less stressful.

The ACC has the most bubble teams this week, and they are hoping to join the three locks listed above. The SEC could prove very deep if Arkansas and Texas find a spark and make a deep run into the tournament to steal a spot away.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi is feeling ‘much better’ with a possibility he could play for Inter Miami in Sunday’s home game against Charlotte FC, coach Javier Mascherano said Saturday.

Messi has continued to practice despite fatigue from a jam-packed start to the 2025 season for the Argentine World Cup and the defending MLS Supporters’ Shield champions.

Sunday’s match would be Messi’s first game since Feb. 25, if he plays. Messi has missed Inter Miami’s past two games, not because he’s injured, but to rest.

‘Leo is much better,’ Mascherano said before Messi participated in Saturday’s practice. ‘We are going to evaluate him. We are optimistic that if all goes well, there is a possibility that he will be called up, so we’ll see.’

Is Messi playing today?

Mascherano did not declare whether Messi would play against Charlotte.

Messi’s playing status will be confirmed when Inter Miami’s starting lineup is announced about an hour before kickoff on Sunday.

What time is Inter Miami vs. Charlotte FC match today?

The match begins at 4 p.m. ET (5 p.m. in Argentina) inside Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

How to watch Inter Miami vs. Charlotte FC match?

The match will be available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

How much has Messi played to begin 2025?

Mascherano said Messi was considered day to day with fatigue, after Inter Miami’s 2-0 win over Jamaican champions Cavalier FC in their Concacaf Champions Cup round-of-16 match last Thursday.

Messi also did not travel when Inter Miami played on the road against the Houston Dynamo, winning 4-1, on March 2.

Messi predominately played in three matches during a six-day stretch from Feb. 19-26, and eight matches in a 40-day span from Jan. 18 to Feb. 14, including five preseason matches played in Las Vegas, Peru, Panama, Honduras and Tampa, Florida.

Overall, Inter Miami has played in 10 matches in 47 days from Jan. 18 to last Thursday.

‘With so many matches in a short period of time, yes, clearly, we are looking at the issue of minutes,’ Mascherano said.

Mascherano said along with consulting with Inter Miami’s team doctors, he’s also gauged Messi on how he feels to determine his playing status.

What’s next for Messi later this month?

After the Charlotte match, Inter Miami will visit Cavalier FC at National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica on Thursday for the second leg of their Champions Cup matchup. The match could be Messi’s first match in the Caribbean country.

When Inter Miami returns from Jamaica, they will travel to face Atlanta United on March 16 in a rematch of last season’s first-round series in the MLS Cup playoffs, which saw Messi and his side lose in upset fashion.

Messi is also expected to join the Argentine national team for two World Cup qualifying matches later this month. Argentina will visit Uruguay on March 21, then host Brazil on June 25.

‘I know that if Leo plays, we’re stronger. I’m not going to shoot myself in the foot – it’s crazy,’ Masherano said when asked about the risks of pushing Messi before he’s ready to play.

Messi’s upcoming schedule with Inter Miami, Argentina

Messi could play in the following six matches with Inter Miami and the Argentina national team later this month: 

Sunday: Inter Miami vs. Charlotte, 4 p.m. ET (MLS)
Thursday: Cavalier FC vs. Inter Miami, 8 p.m. ET (Champions Cup) 
March 16: Atlanta vs. Inter Miami, 7 p.m. ET (MLS)
March 21: Uruguay vs. Argentina, 7:30 p.m. ET (2026 World Cup qualifier)
March 25: Argentina vs. Brazil, 8 p.m. ET (2026 World Cup qualifier)
March 29: Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS)

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Canadians feel ‘frustrated’ with the U.S. over President Donald Trump’s talk of annexing the country along with his tariffs on Canadian goods, Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman said Sunday.

Hillman detailed the frustration that Canadians are feeling with their neighbor during an appearance on CBS’ ‘Face the Nation,’ saying its citizens ‘don’t really appreciate it.’

‘They’re getting a little bit frustrated with that kind of rhetoric,’ Hillman said, referring to Trump’s talk of making Canada the 51st state. ‘But more importantly, Canadians are frustrated with our neighbors.’

‘Canadians feel under attack – under economic attack,’ Hillman said about Trump’s tariffs. ‘And that is causing some challenges for sure across Canadian society.’

The U.S. began imposing a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico on Tuesday, and an additional 10% levy on Chinese imports as Trump looks to curtail drug trafficking and illegal immigration. 

By Thursday, Trump suspended the 25% tariffs on most goods from Canada and Mexico covered under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) for one month. 

Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs come as Canada is set to elect a new leader who will succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has recently had a contentious relationship with Trump.

Hillman said Canada’s new leader will ‘prioritize trying to have a good and healthy and productive relationship’ with Trump.

‘I am sure that that’s going to be possible,’ she said. ‘Relationships go both ways, but I know that on our side, that’s going to be a priority.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

The majority of official documents signed by President Joe Biden allegedly used the same autopen signature, reinvigorating concerns over the former president’s mental acuity and if he ‘actually ordered the signature of relevant legal documents,’ a report published by an arm of the Heritage Foundation found. 

‘WHOEVER CONTROLLED THE AUTOPEN CONTROLLED THE PRESIDENCY,’ the Oversight Project, which is an initiative within the conservative Heritage Foundation that investigates the government to bolster transparency, posted to X on Thursday. 

‘We gathered every document we could find with Biden’s signature over the course of his presidency. All used the same autopen signature except for the announcement that the former President was dropping out of the race last year. Here is the autopen signature,’ the group claimed on X, accompanied by photo examples. 

Autopen signatures are ones that are automatically produced by a machine, as opposed to an authentic, handwritten signature.

The Oversight Project posted three examples showing Biden’s signature, including two executive orders and the president’s announcement he was bowing out of the 2024 presidential race. The signature on the two executive orders, one of which was signed in 2022 and the other in 2024, showed the same signature that included what appeared to be a line, followed by ‘R. Biden Jr.’

Biden’s signature on the document announcing his departure from the 2024 race varied from the other two posted by the Oversight Project, showing a signature that wasn’t as clear as the one on the executive orders. 

Fox News Digital, at random, examined more than 20 Biden-era executive orders documented on the Federal Register’s office between 2021 and 2024 and found each had the same signature. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Biden’s office for comment on the Oversight Project’s findings on the autopen investigation, but did not immediately receive a reply on Sunday. 

Fox News Digital also examined the signatures on President Donald Trump’s executive orders, which are often signed in public or in front of the media, during his first administration and second administration and found the signatures were also the same. 

Biden and his administration, however, came under fierce concern and scrutiny over his mental acuity last year. 

The year 2024 kicked off with Biden in the driver’s seat of the Democratic Party as he keyed up a re-election effort in what was shaping up to be a rematch against Trump. In February of that year, however, Biden’s 81 years of age and mental acuity fell under public scrutiny after years of conservatives questioning the commander in chief’s mental fitness. 

Special counsel Robert Hur, who was investigating Biden’s alleged mishandling of classified documents as vice president, announced he would not recommend criminal charges against Biden for possessing classified materials after his vice presidency, calling Biden ‘a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.’

The report renewed scrutiny over Biden’s mental fitness, which rose to a fever pitch in June 2024 after the president’s first and only presidential debate against Trump. 

Biden faced backlash for a handful of gaffes and miscues in the days leading up to his ill-fated debate against Trump, including former President Barack Obama taking Biden’s wrist and appearing to lead him off a stage during a swank fundraiser, and also abroad when Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni guided Biden back to a group of world leaders when he appeared to wander off to give a thumbs-up to a parachutist during the G-7 summit. 

When the big debate day arrived, Biden missed his marks repeatedly, tripping over his responses and appearing to lose his train of thought as he squared off against Trump. The disastrous debate performance led to an outpouring from both conservatives and traditional Democrat allies calling on the president to bow out of the race in favor of a younger generation. 

Biden dropped out of the race in July, with the signature on that official document showing it was noticeably different from the signature on his EOs. 

Republican Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey sent a letter to the Department of Justice on Wednesday of last week demanding an investigation be opened into whether Biden’s ‘cognitive decline allowed unelected staff to push through radical policy without his knowing approval.’

‘There are profound reasons to suspect that Biden’s staff and political allies exploited his mental decline to issue purported presidential orders without his knowing approval,’ the letter read. 

‘Speaker Johnson, for example, reported that staff and elected officials – including former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer – tried to prevent Johnson from meeting with Biden,’ it continued. 

‘Though presidents always have gatekeepers, in Biden’s case, the walls around him were higher and the controls greater, according to Democratic lawmakers, donors and aides who worked for Biden and other administrations. Staff limited Biden’s ability to speak with others and limited the sources of information he consumed.’

The Oversight Project shared Bailey’s letter in its thread investigating Biden’s signature on official documents, in addition to an interview with Speaker Johnson, R-La., when he recounted that Biden didn’t remember signing an order freezing new liquid natural gas exports in 2024. 

‘I didn’t do that,’ the president said, Johnson recounted during an interview with the Free Press’ Bari Weiss in January. 

‘Sir, you paused it, I know. I have the export terminals in my state. I talked to those people in my state, I’ve talked to those people this morning, this is doing massive damage to our economy, national security,’ Johnson said he told the president at the time. 

‘I walked out of that meeting with fear and loathing because I thought, ‘We are in serious trouble – who is running the country?’’ Johnson said of the 2024 meeting.

‘Like, I don’t know who put the paper in front of him, but he didn’t know,’ he added. 

The Oversight Project continued in its findings that investigators should determine ‘who controlled the autopen’ during the Biden administration. 

‘For investigators to determine whether then-President Biden actually ordered the signature of relevant legal documents, or if he even had the mental capacity to, they must first determine who controlled the autopen and what checks there were in place. Given President Biden’s decision to revoke Executive Privilege for individuals advising Trump during his first Presidency, this is a knowable fact that can be determined with the correct legal process?’ the Oversight Project posted to X. 

Concerns over Biden’s mental acuity when he was in office, combined with the Oversight Project’s findings, have sparked outrage among conservative social media users as they question if Biden personally signed the executive orders. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Sunday marks the second deadline in an effort to release the RFK and MLK assassination files, just weeks after the fallout from the highly anticipated release of the Epstein files by the Department of Justice.

In light of President Donald Trump‘s executive order in January to declassify files on the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy and civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., the director of national intelligence (DNI) and other officials were expected to submit their proposed release plans for the RFK and MLK files on March 9. 

DNI and the attorney general were previously given a Feb. 7 deadline to submit their release plans for the JFK files. 

The RFK and MLK release plan deadline comes just weeks after the Justice Department revealed a batch of Jeffrey Epstein files in late February. Many of the documents publicized then had already been released during the federal criminal trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former lover and convicted accomplice. 

The lack of new material prompted an outcry and criticism of the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files – and questions about what the RFK and MLK documents could hold upon their release. 

Gerald Posner, author of ‘Case Closed,’ told Fox News Digital at the time that he expects ‘there will be news in there, but it’s not going to be something that turns upside down our understanding of what really happened with those cases.’

Trump’s declassification executive order came after he promised to declassify the documents upon entering his second term while on the campaign trail, saying at the time, ‘When I return to the White House, I will declassify and unseal all JFK assassination-related documents. It’s been 60 years, time for the American people to know the truth.’

The FBI said in a February statement that it had conducted a new records search in light of Trump’s executive order, saying at the time, ‘The search resulted in approximately 2400 newly inventoried and digitized records that were previously unrecognized as related to the JFK assassination case file.’

‘The FBI has made the appropriate notifications of the newly discovered documents and is working to transfer them to the National Archives and Records Administration for inclusion in the ongoing declassification process,’ the agency continued. 

Fox News Digital reached out to DNI and the FBI for additional comment. 

After the Epstein file fallout, Attorney General Pam Bondi sent FBI Director Kash Patel a fiery letter accusing federal investigators in New York of withholding thousands of pages of Epstein documents. 

‘I repeatedly questioned whether this was the full set of documents responsive to my request and was repeatedly assured by the FBI that we had received the full set of documents,’ Bondi wrote. ‘Late yesterday, I learned from a source that the FBI Field Office in New York was in possession of thousands of pages of documents related to the investigation and indictment of Epstein.’

Bondi told Fox News’ Sean Hannity last week that the DOJ had received a ‘truckload’ of Epstein files from the FBI following the Friday 8 a.m. deadline she had imposed on the agency. 

Fox News’ David Spunt and Jake Gibson contributed to this report. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

North Carolina could almost taste it.

For much of the season, the Tar Heels couldn’t get the job done against top-tier opponents. They’d come close, only to fall short and miss out on getting a signature victory.

Needing that mark on their resume, North Carolina hosted heated rival and national championship contender Duke in the regular-season finale. A golden opportunity to prove it belongs in the NCAA Tournament.

Early in the second half, it looked like North Carolina would finally get it done. It had limited Cooper Flagg’s impact on the game and with a seven-point lead, the Dean Dome crowd was in a frenzy. A win − and a spot in March Madness − was in sight.

But as has been the case so many times this season, it all fell apart. The sleeping giant in the Blue Devils woke up and decided to dash dreams. Duke closed the final 13 minutes on a 29-10 run and sucked any life out of those in Carolina Blue en route to an 82-69 victory.

Don’t let the 20-12 record fool you. Thirteen wins came against Quad 3 and 4 opponents, and only one − against UCLA in December − was against a likely March Madness squad. In Quad 1 games, North Carolina entered the night a horrid 1-10. Even with the name on the front of the jersey, North Carolina needed to prove it could beat a quality opponent after failing to do so time and time again.

One of the first four teams out in the latest version of USA TODAY Sports’ Bracketology, a win could’ve catapulted North Carolina into the projected field and fix what’s been a frustrating campaign for Hubert Davis. Instead, the chance was wasted yet again. There’s nothing impressive about its 20-win season.

Barring a perfect run through the ACC tournament, it will be two missed NCAA Tournaments in three seasons for North Carolina, far from the standard expectations in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels fell short when they couldn’t afford it. They lead the bubble winners and losers on the final weekend of the regular season.

Winners

Indiana

What an incredible send-off for Mike Woodson. Coaching in his final home game at Assembly Hall, Indiana overcame a sluggish start against Ohio State with an emphatic finish. A 15-3 run midway through the second half got Indiana back in the game, and a 12-0 run in the final minutes helped cap off the come-from-behind victory to get the season sweep over Ohio State in one of the most pivotal bubble games played Saturday.

The late surge toward a spot in the NCAA Tournament is very much alive for Indiana, shaking off the collapse at Oregon on Tuesday to get its fourth victory in the last five games. The Quad 2 victory pushed the Hoosiers to 5-0 in such games, and it’s notable because even though they have 12 losses, they all came against Quad 1 opponents − they don’t have any bad losses. Plus, they made a case to take Ohio State’s spot in the field. The win gave Indiana the No. 9 seed in the Big Ten tournament to avoid the first round and set up a second-round matchup against the Ducks. The Hoosiers fell just short in their meeting earlier in the week; if they can change their fortune, the Big Dance could be in the cards.

Oklahoma

What a week it was in Norman as Oklahoma snatched two Quad 1 victories to end the regular season. The cherry on top is the last one, which came on rival Texas’ home court. It was a back-and-forth contest that showed how desperate each team was for a win, but Brycen Goodine’s 3-pointer with just over two minutes to go extended the lead to six points and the Sooners were able to hold off the Longhorns the rest of the way for the statement victory.

Things looked grim for Oklahoma heading into the week with six losses in its last seven games, resulting in it being pushed out of the projected bracket. But now, mix Saturday’s win with the one over Missouri on Wednesday and the Sooners are now 6-10 in Quad 1 games. Their chances are much higher.

There’s still plenty of work needed, and it won’t be easy with Georgia in the first round of the SEC tournament and Kentucky awaiting the winner. But Oklahoma was the first team out and Texas was the last team in the field. A flip-flop could be happening; the Sooners could start the final week before Selection Sunday with a First Four projection.

Arkansas

As RJ Melendez’s potential game-winning shot for Mississippi State bounced off the rim, Arkansas felt itself inching closer to dancing. The Razorbacks survived a chaotic ending with a one-point victory over the Bulldogs. A strong start to the second half looked like it would lead to a convincing Arkansas win, but a late 12-0 run from the Bulldogs flipped the script and had the Hogs sweating. Luckily, some clutch shots and a free throw from Jonas Aidoo with 11 seconds left were enough to avoid a disastrous end of the regular season.

Arkansas recovered from the disastrous loss to South Carolina a week ago with two quality wins against Vanderbilt and Mississippi State. The loss to the Gamecocks pushed the Razorbacks back to the bubble. They needed a perfect week to avoid having a shaky fate. One Quad 1 and 2 win each does wonders for John Calipari’s team, and gave them great positioning in the SEC tournament. It will get a crack to avenge the defeat to South Carolina in the opening round. A win in that game may just be enough to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Losers

Ohio State

The win was right in Ohio State’s hands, but it let it slip away when it couldn’t afford to. Entering a hostile environment at Indiana, the Buckeyes settled the crowd down early and Indiana could only muster up nine points in the first 12 minutes. They stayed ahead for much of afternoon and led by 10 points in the second half. Then mistakes happened, Indiana got back in the game and Ohio State could only watch pandemonium unfold inside Assembly Hall. The Buckeyes didn’t hit a field goal in the last five minutes in the six-point loss.

Ohio State couldn’t build off the double-overtime win over Nebraska earlier in the week and missed out on a golden chance to secure its seventh Quad 1 win of the season. Now, the Buckeyes are 6-12 in the category. Their 14 total losses are the most among at-large candidates. As a First Four candidate, Ohio State could see itself fall out of the field and will need an impressive outing in the Big Ten tournament to stay alive. Playing against the No. 15 seed in the first round, that means getting two wins, and possibly a third.

Texas

The Longhorns are going to be haunted by what transpired at home. They uncharacteristically turned the ball over too much, which resulted in 21 Oklahoma points, including the final one that came on a failed last-second shot. It was a night Tre Johnson would love to forget. The Longhorns star has become a potential NBA talent this season, but he was completely off as he 0-for-14 from the field, with all seven of his points coming from the free throw line. An unusual night at the worst time for Texas.

Texas was the last team slated to make the NCAA Tournament, but that spot is likely gone thanks to Saturday’s loss. It was a chance to even its Quad 2 record, but instead it’s now at 3-5. A win could’ve given Texas some cushion on the bubble, but instead it’s now in a must-win situation heading into the SEC tournament. It doesn’t get an easy first matchup with Vanderbilt scheduled on Wednesday, a team it already lost to earlier this season. If the Longhorns want a shot at the NCAA Tournament, it will have to fix their mistakes immediately.

Boise State

Boise State dropped a critical home contest against Colorado State on Friday night. It was back-and-forth for much of the first half and the Broncos had a nine-point lead with 11 minutes to go, but the Rams closed the contest on an impressive 32-13 run for a 10-point victory.

It was a crushing defeat for a Boise State team that entered the night with five straight wins and was gaining momentum toward an NCAA Tournament spot. One of the last four teams in the field, the Quad 2 loss pushes its combined Quad 1 and 2 record to 6-7 and it’s now No. 49 in the NET rankings. While Colorado State is a good team that will be the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, it isn’t projected to be an at-large tournament squad and those are teams Boise State has to beat. Now, with its March Madness hopes hanging in the balance, the Broncos must have a successful Mountain West tournament. It won’t be easy with San Diego State awaiting them in the quarterfinals.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Selection Sunday is just a week away, laying down the foundation for the 2025 March Madness tournament, a single-elimination college basketball tournament that is set to start on March 18. A couple of days prior, the 68-team bracket for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament will be revealed.

The tournament will kick off with four games in Dayton, Ohio, on Tuesday, shortly after Selection Sunday. The first and second rounds will then be held in six cities across the country. Teams from all over the nation will compete in this intense competition, each aiming for a high seed or a prestigious spot that will be revealed on Selection Sunday.

Here’s how to watch Selection Sunday, ensuring you don’t miss any of the action.

How to watch Selection Sunday

The Selection Sunday coverage begins on March 16 at 6 p.m. ET on CBS.

Men’s bracket reveal

Date: Sunday, March 16
Time: 6 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Stream: Paramount+, Fubo, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream 

Watch Selection Sunday with Fubo, which offers a free trial to new users

Women’s bracket reveal

Date:
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Stream: Fubo, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream 

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Jon Moxley will defend his AEW championship Sunday evening against Cope in the main event of AEW Revolution.

Moxley has been wrestling professionally since 2004 and is in his fourth reign as champion, the most of any wrestler in the organization’s six-year history.

Cope brings over 30 years of experience to the match. He missed nine years because of a neck injury before returning to action in 2020 as a surprise entrant in the WWE’s Royal Rumble event. He joined AEW in October.

What time is AEW Revolution?

The AEW Revolution main card starts at 8 p.m. ET. The Zero Hour preshow for the event begins at 6:30 p.m. ET.

How to watch AEW Revolution

AEW Revolution 2025 is available on pay-per-view via Amazon Prime Video PPV, TrillerTV PPV, PPV.com, and YouTube PPV.

AEW Revolution match card

AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Cope
AEW International Championship: Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs. Kenny Omega
AEW Women’s World Championship: ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm (c) vs. Mariah May
Swerve Strickland vs. Ricochet
TBS Championship: Mercedes Mone (c) vs. Momo Watanabe
AEW World Tag Team Championship: The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin) vs. The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd and Truth Magnum)
MJF vs. ‘Hangman’ Adam Page
AEW Continental Championship: Kazuchika Okada (C) vs. Brody King
Steel cage match: Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher

What do we know ahead of AEW Revolution?

Mariah May and Toni Storm were in attendance for the ‘Queen of the Ring’ premiere in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Storm, who is featured in the movie, was in the middle of an interview on the red carpet when she was attacked by May from behind.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

INDIANAPOLIS — The Battle for L.A. has moved to the Midwest.

Eight days after USC beat UCLA, completing a sweep of the regular-season series and clinching its first Big Ten title, the crosstown rivals will face off again with far more than city bragging rights at stake. The conference tournament championship and the automatic NCAA bid that goes with it, for starters. A No. 1 seed, too.

Maybe even the overall No. 1, given the chaos occurring in other conference tournaments.  

“Right after (last weekend’s) game I said, ‘Absolutely. I’d love another opportunity,’ ‘ UCLA coach Cori Close said Saturday night, after her team made it a certainty with a 75-46 rout of Ohio State in the semifinals.

“At this time of year, you want to have the best kind of dress rehearsal for March Madness and the NCAA Tournament as you can,” Close said. “Obviously they’re our only two losses. Obviously they’re our crosstown rival. Obviously this is for a conference tournament championship. There’s just so many levels to it.

“But if you’re a real competitor, you want to be tested against the very best and you want to have opportunities to conquer your previous adversities. And that’s exactly what we’re getting.”

USC has been careful all week not to say anything that could end up on a whiteboard in UCLA’s locker room. But c’mon. Los Angeles is the city of stars, and few are bigger than the Trojans these days. Why would they want to relinquish that spotlight?

“We have three goals: winning the regular season, winning the conference tournament and winning the NCAA Tournament,” Kiki Iriafen said after her big third quarter powered USC to an 82-70 semifinal win over Michigan that was tighter than the score indicated.

“I’m just happy we’re in the title game.”

Fine. Let USC play it straight. The rest of us will do the happy dance that we’re getting round three of this rivalry.

Apologies to the Buckeyes and Michigan, but USC and UCLA have been in a class by themselves all season. Any chance to watch them play each other is a treat.

UCLA spent most of the season at No. 1, not losing until mid-February, and has one of the best defensive players in the country in Lauren Betts. USC is playing as well as anyone down the stretch, and JuJu Watkins is the most exciting player in college basketball. Men’s or women’s.

Watkins is sublime every game — despite having an “off” night, she finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and three assists against Michigan on Saturday — but saves her signature performances for UCLA. In the Feb. 13 game, which was UCLA’s first loss, Watkins had 38 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocks. Eight!

Monstrous as that performance was, USC’s win last weekend was even more dispiriting for the Bruins. They held Watkins to just 30 points, three blocks and three boards, yet still lost by double figures in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicated.

It was the kind of result that could have sent UCLA into a spiral. Instead, Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez called a players-only film session Monday morning, a clear-the-air session the Bruins said was both necessary and effective.

They won their first two games at the Big Ten tournament by double figures, and played with more energy and grit.

But Sunday will be the real test.

“We obviously felt really badly about how we played them the last time and how we showed up, and we don’t ever want to feel that again,” Betts said.

No matter who wins Sunday, both teams will make the NCAA Tournament. Both teams will host first- and second-round games, and neither is likely to be lower than a 2-seed.

There is a difference, however, between riding a wave of momentum into the tournament and going in licking your wounds. Nothing elates more than a win over your biggest rival. Nothing stings more than a loss to them.

The Battle for L.A. continues. Buckle up.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY