After the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs opened the campaign in Tokyo, Major League Baseball’s 2025 season gets underway with a full opening day on Thursday, March 27.

The New York Yankees look to repeat as American League champions, coming off the franchise’s first World Series trip since 2009. It was a wild offseason for the team, which lost the bidding war for Juan Soto, responded by acquiring a $218 million ace, two former MVPs and baseball’s best closer – but then lost ace Gerrit Cole to Tommy John surgery during spring training.

Other teams expected to contend for the AL crown include the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers and Cleveland Guardians.

Here’s a look at the keys to victory for every AL team in 2025:

American League East

(Originally appeared in USA TODAY Sports Weekly)

Baltimore Orioles

Injury I: The Orioles can’t afford to lose Gunnar Henderson for any length of time, but his availability for opening day may be in question. The All-Star shortstop was diagnosed with a mild right intercostal strain, an injury he sustained in a spring game. No player has been as valuable in the lineup over the past two seasons than Henderson. The 2023 American League Rookie of the Year finished fourth in AL MVP voting in 2024.

Injury II: Grayson Rodriguez’s return tothe rotation will “take a while,” said manager Brandon Hyde. Rodriguez will start the season on the injured list with an elbow issue and will have to fully restart his throwing program all over again, which essentially means he needs to go through spring training all over again. When healthy, the 25-year-old is a potential frontline ace. The Orioles are counting on him, given that they’ve lost Corbin Burnes and John Means in free agency.

Payoffs? After quick exits in each of the previous two seasons, it’s time to capitalize on their recent regular-season success. The O’s took a huge hit losing Cy Young pitcher Burnes to Arizona, but they added Charlie Morton. They also added catcher Gary Sanchez and outfielder Tyler O’Neill, who hopefully can displace Anthony Santander. But the key could come down to catcher Adley Rutschman. The two-time All-Star catcher hopes to get back to the production he showed prior to the All-Star Game last July.

– Scott Boeck

Boston Red Sox

Enough arms to go around: They’ll begin the year with three starters – Lucas Giolito, Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford – on the injured list. Sure, Giolito just had a barking hamstring, but that it nipped him in his first inning of Grapefruit League work a year after flexor tendon surgery was like a recurring nightmare. Blockbuster trade acquisition Garrett Crochet should be dominant, and Bello (sore shoulder) should be fine. The key to this season might be Walker Buehler, who made 16 starts for the Dodgers last year with wildly varying results before recording the final out of the year to close out the World Series.

Raffy on a rampage: We’ll just go ahead and assume Alex Bregman will bang enough balls off the Green Monster to fully justify his $40 million salary this season. The grander concern will be the health and production of the man he’s likely supplanting at third base – Rafael Devers. They’ll need him strong and healthy all season after a shoulder injury dogged him at the end of last year’s campaign.

The terrific trio touches down: There’s still questions about what kind of role infielders Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer and outfielder Roman Anthony might play this year. Right now, Campbell has the clearest path to a job, should Bregman stick at third base and second base remain available. But Mayer may only be a Trevor Story injury away from a summons from Worcester.

– Gabe Lacques

New York Yankees

Another MVP-type season: After forming a historic offensive tandem with Juan Soto in 2024, Aaron Judge might find pitchers avoiding him more often. The Yankees’ lineup has better balance with the additions of Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt, and a full year of Jazz Chisholm Jr., but it’s further compromised without Giancarlo Stanton – out indefinitely with elbow issues. In 2024, the Yankees scored 815 runs with Soto. Can they get near 800 runs again?

No more pitching injuries: During spring training, the Yankees went from a starting pitching surplus to a deficit. A week after 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil was diagnosed with a high lat strain, possibly keeping him out of the rotation until July, ace Gerrit Cole had Tommy John surgery. That puts more responsibility on veteran lefties Max Fried and Carlos Rodon, challenges Clarke Schmidt and Marcus Stroman to stay healthy and productive, and tests the organization’s pitching depth – an area weakened by recent trades. Rookies Will Warren and Yoendrys Gomez, who might begin in the bullpen, could be asked to fill the void before the trade deadline.

Better defense: GM Brian Cashman said: “I thought we were bad defensively’’ in 2024, and the fifth inning breakdown in World Series Game 5 still echoes. Former Gold Glove Award winners in Bellinger and Goldschmidt helps as does moving Chisholm Jr. to second base, his original position.

– Pete Caldera

Tampa Bay Rays

Take it easy on Shane McClanahan: Tampa Bay’s ace returns from Tommy John surgery, and while he’s probably the team’s most important player, there is enough depth in the rotation that the Rays can afford to give the lefty an extra day between starts here and there. McClanahan, 27, is 33-16 with a 3.02 ERA in 74 starts since his debut in 2021. He won’t be a free agent until the 2027-28 winter.

Let Junior Caminero cook: The 21-year-old didn’t light it up when he was promoted last season, but the Rays expect big things from their young infielder, who hit .307 with a .921 OPS in 282 minor league games. There may be some struggles for Caminero in his first full MLB season, but Tampa Bay needs to stand behind him in 2025 if the team hopes to get back to the postseason after missing out last year. The youngster hit .346 in a small sample size against lefties.

Get Carson Williams to the majors: The organization’s top prospect should start the season at Class AAA and be knocking on the big-league door early in the season. Williams, 21, has averaged more than 21 homers and 27 steals in his first three full years in the minors. Taylor Walls (.188 BA in 379 MLB games) is expected to begin the season as the Rays’ starting shortstop, with Ha-Seong Kim still on the shelf after surgery. Williams has only played short as a pro, but the Rays have positional flexibility in their infield and second baseman Brandon Lowe could serve as the DH.

– Jesse Yomtov

Toronto Blue Jays

A voracious Vladdy: Toronto’s failure to agree with first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on a long-term extension was an organizational failure that exacerbated several others in previous years. Yet a short-term gain could be reaped if Guerrero, 26, has a monster season similar to his MVP runner-up performance in 2021. Perhaps he can gift Toronto one more playoff berth.

Maximize the rotation: With lineup stalwarts like George Springer and Bo Bichette struggling through 2024, the onus fell on the starting pitchers to keep Toronto afloat. Now, there’s another year on their collective odometer and lefty Yusei Kikuchi is long gone. Enter Max Scherzer, 40, who made just nine starts last year due to back surgery and other ailments. He hasn’t pitched more than 152 innings since 2021, but if Scherzer can at least provide 25 solid starts, it would greatly stabilize things in the event Kevin Gausman, 34, Chris Bassitt, 36 and soon-to-be 31-year-old Jose Berrios can’t bear the weight of carrying the team.

To heck with it all: After years of bobbing around the 88- to 90-win mark and maybe or probably not making the playoffs, the team could use a loose and nothing-to-lose ethos this summer. Bichette, like Guerrero, is entering a walk year and seems intent on proving his .225/.277/.322 campaign was an aberration. The joyous Anthony Santander has been added to the middle of the lineup. Springer is 35 and entering the final two years of his contract.

– Gabe Lacques

American League Central

Chicago White Sox

New face as manager: The White Sox lost 121 games in 2024 – a single-season MLB record for the modern era (since 1901). It led to manager Pedro Grifol being fired in the middle of his second season. The White Sox tapped Will Venable. The 42-year-old has served as a special assistant to Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein, as well stints as a base coach for the team. Venable also worked as the Boston Red Sox bench coach (2021-22) and as associate manager to Bruce Bochy the past two years.

No trade deficits: Trading ace Garrett Crochet brought an impressive haul of prospects from the Red Sox: catcher Kyle Teel, (No. 25 overall prospect on MLB Pipeline’s top 100), outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez. The sooner any of them can contribute, the better. Most might take time before they yield positive returns, but Teel might be the closest to reaching the majors. Otherwise, the White Sox have high hopes for homegrown prospect shortstop Colson Montgomery (No. 39, per MLB Pipeline), perhaps for an early-season call-up. However, he has dealt with back issues this spring.

Next bargaining chip: Talented but often-injured outfielder Luis Robert Jr. could be the White Sox’s best remaining trade chip. But for that to happen, he must play closer to the level of his 2023 All-Star season (.264 with 38 home runs, 80 RBIs and 20 stolen bases) than his injury-plagued 2024 campaign.

– Cesar Brioso

Cleveland Guardians

Filling offensive gaps: Replacing Josh Naylor’s production (31 home runs, 108 RBIs in 2024) won’t be easy, but Cleveland is confident Kyle Manzardo is ready to take the next step. Manzardo played 53 regular-season games and hit .316 with a .842 OPS in the postseason. The Guardians also brought back a familiar face in 38-year-old Carlos Santana, who crushed left-handed pitching but put up a .219/.318/.358 line against righties with the Twins last year. Replacing second baseman Andrés Giménez will be more difficult on defense than on offense.

Starters stepping up: Outside of Tanner Bibee, the Guardians’ starting pitching has a ton of question marks. The organization brought back former ace Shane Bieber, but the former Cy Young Award winner won’t be ready until at least June. Gavin Williams didn’t make his season debut until July due to an elbow injury, but the team’s former top pitching prospect has been a spring training standout.

Bullpen dominance: Most of the core pieces are back from a dominant bullpen. Led by closer Emmanuel Clase and lockdown setup guys Cade Smith (1.91 ERA), Hunter Gaddis (1.57 ERA) and Tim Herrin (1.92 ERA), the Guardians led the majors in ERA (2.57), WHIP (1.05) and opponents’ batting average (.203). They were 63-2 when leading after the sixth inning in 2024, and the relievers’ ability to shorten the game for an inexperienced starting staff played a huge role in making it to the ALCS.

– Casey Moore

Detroit Tigers

Hinch wins at chess: Nobody was better than Tigers manager A.J. Hinch at getting all 26 players on the roster – plus another 5 to 10 rotating in from Class AAA – to buy into in-game roster moves that prioritized the team over the individual, especially when it came to matchup advantages with pinch-hitters and the unorthodox pitching strategy with openers and bulk relievers. The buy-in from the players reflects the culture Hinch has instilled throughout his four-year tenure. The Tigers look to continue winning on the margins. The team culture enables Hinch to outmaneuver opposing managers in the chess match.

Leading the rotation: The Tigers won’t continue the “pitching chaos” strategy that helped snap their decade-long postseason drought. Instead, they’re returning to a traditional five-man rotation led by Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty and Reese Olson. Skubal will be central to their success as he looks to defend his title as the 2024 AL Cy Young win. The Tigers went 21-10 in his 31 starts last season, but in the 131 games he didn’t start, they finished just 65-66.

Unlocking upside: As the leadoff hitter and center fielder, Parker Meadows has the all-around potential to impact the Tigers more than any other player. In 2024, the Tigers went 49-26 (.653) when he started and 31-11 (.738) when he recorded a hit. He is an elite defender, one of the fastest players on the bases and features high upside on offense.

– Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press

Kansas City Royals

Witt stays healthy: Royals fans’ hearts skipped a beat last week when star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was hit in the forearm by a pitch, sending him to an exam and treatment. X-rays were negative, but the scare underscored how important Witt is to the team’s success. Just 24, he took a huge step forward last season as he claimed the AL batting title (.332) and won Gold Glove and Silver Slugger honors. Just having Witt on the field makes the Royals a contender, as their second-half run to the postseason (and wild-card sweep of the Orioles) demonstrates. Can he get even better?

India adds offense: Third baseman Maikel Garcia had by far the most at-bats in the leadoff spot in 2024, hitting in front of Witt. However, he managed to post an anemic .281 on-base percentage. That’s where free agent Jonathan India can provide a major upgrade. Though he isn’t a good fit defensively, his .352 career OBP is just the ticket for the offense – combining with Witt to set the table for Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez and Co.

Mound stability: Thanks to the signing of veteran right-handers Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha and midseason acquisition of reliever Lucas Erceg, the Royals greatly improved their pitching over the 2023 version. They went from a 5.17 ERA to 3.76, as Lugo finished second in the Cy Young voting and Cole Ragans coming in fourth. The club solidified the bullpen with the signing of former Angels closer Carlos Estévez.

– Steve Gardner

Minnesota Twins

Solid relief: The Twins may have the best bullpen in baseball. Jhoan Duran returns as the closer, and setup men Griffin Jax and Cole Sands form one of the American League’s best pre-closer combos. And now with the addition of Danny Coulombe, the Twins added a much-needed lefty to a bullpen that is stacked with right-handers. Coulombe, 35, will play a key role. If he can be a lockdown option, the whole unit will look better.

Formidable three: The Twins don’t have an overpowering, Cy Young-contending ace type, but the top three pitchers in their rotation would be the envy of most teams. Right-handed pitchers Pablo López, Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober anchor a solid rotation, followed by Simeon Woods Richardson and Chris Paddock. But the hope is they stay healthy this time around. Paddack and Ryan both suffered season-ending injuries last season and that’s when the wheels fell off.

A healthy Buxton: For the first time in several years, Byron Buxton was able to have a normal offseason. That’s because he finished the 2024 season healthy. Unlike past offseasons, the star center fielder has spent nearly every winter rehabbing or recovering from an injury. This year he is coming off a healthy 2024 campaign and played in 102 games – the most in one season since 2017 when he played in 140 games. He headed into camp with no limitations. But the injury-prone Buxton’s status can change at any moment.

– Scott Boeck

American League West

Athletics

Commanding home field: The Athletics are spending the next three seasons at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, a minor league stadium with the smallest visiting clubhouse in baseball. The A’s expect the place to be sold out virtually every night. They also should have an advantage knowing the ballpark’s quirks with many players not having any experience playing there.

Butler becoming a star: Outfielder Lawrence Butler emerged as one of the best players in baseball in the second half last season and was rewarded with a seven-year, $65.5 million contract extension. Butler showed off his prowess in his final 73 games last season after being demoted to the minors, hitting .302 with a .597 slugging percentage, with 20 home runs and 14 stolen bases. It was quite the turnaround after a .179/.281/.274 slash line in his first 121 plate appearances. He and Brent Rooker, the only players on the team locked up until the team moves to Las Vegas in 2028, could provide quite the powerful 1-2 punch in the middle of the lineup.

Leading a young pitching staff: The A’s shelled out a franchise-record $67 million for veteran starter Luis Severino and also traded for left-hander Jeffrey Springs from the Rays. The A’s need Severino and Springs to lead the way. Their experience and presence is needed to help guide a young rotation with Osvaldo Bido, Joey Estes and Mitch Spence combining for only 69 career starts.

– Bob Nightengale

Houston Astros

No rain on the Paredes: The franchise seemingly was not hyper-motivated to keep Alex Bregman, and the two-time World Series-winning third baseman clearly had eyes for elsewhere. Those bad vibes can be at least partially washed away if Isaac Paredes showers the Crawford Boxes with home runs. It’s rare that one player shoulders two burdens: Paredes at least partially is expected to replace Bregman at third, and he also was acquired in exchange for Kyle Tucker, the Silver Slugging outfielder who will now patrol right field for the Cubs. Paredes hit 31 homers for the Rays in 2023, a number that dipped to 19 last year with the Rays and Cubs.

Forward march: Justin Verlander is gone, and Framber Valdez can join him as an ex-Astro after this season. So it’s more than imperative that young pitchers such as Hunter Brown and Spencer Arrighetti to alleviate strain on a staff still missing Cristian Javier, who’s recovering from Tommy John surgery. Arrighetti made adjustments in pitch usage and calmed the waters, with a 3.69 ERA in his final 21 outings, with 128 strikeouts in 1071/3 innings.

An MVP campaign: Kind of amazing to think that Yordan Alvarez is still just 27 – considered the prime of a slugger’s career. Perhaps only Juan Soto is a better all-around hitter, and perhaps minus Bregman and with the Astros needing him more than ever, Alvarez – who hit 35 homers with a .973 OPS last year – will somehow find an extra gear.

– Gabe Lacques

Los Angeles Angels

Trout’s health: If the Angels are going to be competitive, they need Mike Trout, 33. Trout, the three-time MVP, has played only 111 games the past two years and hasn’t played more than 140 games since 2016. Trout hit 10 home runs with 14 RBIs in his first 29 games last year, stealing six bases, but then tore the meniscus in his left knee in late April and suffered the same injury attempting to rehab in the minors. If he can stay healthy, perhaps he can once again resemble the player who hit .308 with a 1.009 OPS, averaging 35 homers and 92 RBIs a year from 2012 to 2019.

Is Moncada the answer at third base? The Angels lost third baseman Anthony Rendon for the season before he played a game, having hip surgery. Now, it’s Yoan Moncada’s turn. The Angels signed the veteran to a one-year,$5 million contract after being a bust with the Chicago White Sox. If he can’t cut it, they could turn to utilityman Kevin Newman. Moncada produced a .254 batting average, a .331 on-base percentage, and one 20-homer season for the White Sox, never stealing more than 12 bases. He played in 12 games last season because of a left adductor strain.

A lethal bullpen? Ben Joyce, who has been lighting up the radar gun this spring camp, hitting 105 mph on his four-seam fastball. He would normally be the closer but they also signed veteran closer Kenley Jansen (447 career saves) to provide confidence to a young team learning how to win.

– Bob Nightengale

Seattle Mariners

Who’s on third? The Mariners are trying their third different third baseman in four years with Jorge Polanco. Polanco, who re-signed as a free agent on a one-year, $7.75 million contract, is trying to learn the position after knee surgery but realizes it’s a gamble. He’s just one of eight third basemen the Mariners have used this spring. They believe he can bounce back after badly struggling last season with a career-low .651 OPS and career-high 29.2% strikeout rate.

Bounce-back from J.P. Crawford: He was limited to just 105 games and hit a career-low .202 with a career-low .625 OPS, while his strikeout percentage climbed to 22.6%. This spring, he believes he found his groove again in the batting cage, rediscovering strength in the lower half of his body. If he can return to his 2023 form when he hit a career-high 19 homers and ranked second among all shortstops with a .818 OPS, he can be the difference on whether the Mariners are playing in October.

Healthy starting pitching: The Mariners used just six starters in 161 games last season, producing the lowest ERA in MLB. Yet they already sustained a key injury this spring to George Kirby, who will open the season on the injured list with shoulder inflammation. If Kirby’s stay on the IL is longer than two weeks, the Mariners will be relying on 25-year-old Emerson Hancock, the sixth pick in the 2020 draft. Hancock made 12 starts last season, yielding a 4.75 ERA in 602/3 innings.

– Bob Nightengale

Texas Rangers

Rotation, rotation, rotation: The Rangers boast one of the best rotations in the majors. Jackon DeGrom is back for (hopefully) a full season after Tommy John surgery. Tyler Mahle is back from Tommy John surgery, too. Nathan Eovaldi re-signed and Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter are promising rookies. But they need deGrom to stay healthy. The two-time Cy Young winner hasn’t pitched 100 innings in a season and has started only 47 games since 2019. His workload will be monitored closely and he may skip a start to keep him healthy. Texas suffered a setback with left-hander Cody Bradford starting the season on the injured list.

Closing time: Who replaces Kirby Yates, the All-Star closer who saved 33 games and had a1.17 ERA in 2024? The Rangers rebuilt their bullpen and added on several arms via trades and free agency, such as Chris Martin, Jacob Webb, Chris Martin, Hoby Milner, Robert Garcia and Shawn Armstrong. With that being said, there’s no telling who of this group will come out being the closer. Martin, 38, is the most experienced reliever of the group, and Webb pitched a handful of high-leverage innings in Baltimore.

Adding pop: Looking to increase the power in their lineup, the Rangers acquired Jake Burger from the Marlins and signed Joc Pederson in free agency. Burger will take over first base with the loss of Nathaniel Lowe. Pederson will slide into the DH spot, where they got little production over the last few seasons.

– Scott Boeck

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

So far, March hasn’t had a whole lot of its trademark madness.

Though the 2025 NCAA men’s basketball tournament got off to a rousing start — with a full-court pass leading to a last-second, game-winning layup for Alabama State over Saint Francis — the first round of the event gave fans across the country little in the way of close games, thrilling finishes and stunning upsets.

Only four of the opening 32 games were decided by three points or fewer and one of those, McNeese’s 69-67 win over Clemson, was only that close because of a garbage-time basket as the clock expired. A handful of teams had a chance at game-tying shots in the final seconds — UC San Diego against Michigan, Vanderbilt against Saint Mary’s and Mississippi State against Baylor — but none of them were able to convert those opportunities.

Most of all, though, there were precious few upsets. 

The top four seeds all advanced to the second round of the tournament for just the second time since 2008. Those games weren’t particularly close, either, with an average margin of victory of 22.7 points per contest. Only three teams won games in which they were seeded at least five spots lower than their opponent – and in one of those matchups, No. 12 seed Colorado State over No. 5 seed Memphis, the lower seed was actually the favorite.

Were some of the thrills that were so noticeably absent for the tournament’s first round make a long-awaited appearance in the second round?

Here’s a look at some potential upsets for Saturday’s slate of NCAA Tournament second-round games:

Men’s March Madness second round upset picks

These upset picks do not include games in which there’s a seed difference of fewer than four.

No. 11 Drake over No. 3 Texas Tech

Coach Ben McCollum, guard Bennett Stirtz and the Bulldogs had their way with Missouri, leading the Tigers virtually from the opening tip to the final buzzer in a 67-57 victory on Thursday.

All-American JT Toppin and the Red Raiders should provide a stiffer test, especially for a stout Drake defense that will try to limit the nation’s fifth-best team in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom. However, the kind of size that could really put a mid-major team like the Bulldogs at a major disadvantage isn’t something Texas Tech has. The Red Raiders, for all of their accomplishments this season, aren’t particularly big, with none of its top six players in minutes per game taller than 6-foot-9.

No. 8 Gonzaga over No. 1 Houston

The Bulldogs were one of the most underseeded teams by the NCAA Tournament selection committee, getting handed a No. 8 seed despite ranking in the top 10 in both the NET rankings and on KenPom. It gave coach Mark Few’s team a harder path to the Final Four, but conversely, it handed the team’s second-round opponent a much more difficult task than it otherwise would have had.

Unfortunately for Houston, that burden falls on it. The Cougars have been dominant over the past four months, with a 27-1 record since the start of December, but enter their matchup against Gonzaga as just a 5.5-point favorite, according to BetMGM, despite the seven-seed difference between the teams. The Bulldogs are balanced and well-rounded offensively, with five players averaging at least 10 points per game, which could stretch one of the nation’s best, most relentless defenses.

Gonzaga is familiar with winning at this stage of the tournament, too. The Zags are aiming to make it to their 10th-consecutive Sweet 16.

No. 10 Arkansas over No. 2 St. John’s

John Calipari’s Razorbacks are a No. 10 seed, but have a wildly talented roster, with five former top-100 recruits and some of the most coveted players from the transfer portal last offseason, namely guard Johnell Davis and forward Jonas Aidoo. After a 1-6 start in SEC play, Arkansas is 9-5 since the start of February, which included seven wins against NCAA Tournament teams.

The Razorbacks will be without injured leading scorer Adou Thiero, but St. John’s, for all of its success this season, is vulnerable. Of the 24 No. 2 seeds in NCAA Tournament history that started the season unranked and entered the tournament ranked in the top 10 nationally, 15 failed to make the Sweet 16. Two teams this year fit that bill: Michigan State and St. John’s.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

The NCAA men’s tournament field has been cut in half during the past two days, leaving 32 teams still alive entering the second round. The field will be further pared down by half over the next two days as winners advance and losers go home.

The schedule for Saturday features a little bit of everything. There’s a pair of No. 1 seeds, a trio of double-digit seeds and a host of other potential Final Four contenders set to take the floor across four different sites.

Who will advance? Will there be more drama to unfold as we see every March Madness? Those questions will be answered and more. A breakdown of the eight matchups that will solidify half of the Sweet 16 that will take place next week:

No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 12 McNeese State

Time/TV: 12:10 p.m., CBS

Can the Cowboys follow their upset of Clemson with another against a power-conference opponent? The drama surrounding coach Will Wade and his future didn’t deter them Thursday. The Boilermakers, however, will provide a different challenge with the veteran backcourt of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer balanced by the frontcourt strength of Trey Kaufman-Renn.

No. 2 St. John’s vs. No. 10 Arkansas

Time/TV: 2:40 p.m., CBS

Coaching matchups in the tournament don’t get much better than this. Rick Pitino and John Calipari both won national titles at Kentucky and are both members of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Pitino’s team had a much better season, with the Red Storm running through the Big East in their best season this century. Calipari had some growing pains in his first season with the Razorbacks before turning things on in the second half of the season. Both teams play like their fiery coaches, so expect a frantic pace with the most-efficient team prevailing.

No. 4 Texas A&M vs. No. 5 Michigan

Time/TV: 5:15 p.m., CBS

This will be the first matchup of the SEC and Big Ten in the tournament and shapes up to be a tight struggle. The Wolverines will be playing their fifth game in nine days after winning the conference tournament and a tight win Thursday against UC San Diego. If fatigue is an issue, the Aggies aren’t the team you want to play. They love to play at a frenetic pace with guards Wade Taylor IV and Zhuric Phelps capable of scoring and playing pressure defense. Michigan will hope its size with Vladislav Goldin and Danny Wolf can negate A&M’s speed edge against its backcourt.

No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 11 Drake

Time/TV: 6:10 p.m., TNT

Like low-scoring rock fights? This is your game. Tech isn’t as proficient on defense but still is able to limit opponents. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are second in fewest points allowed – a product of their ball-possession game reliant on screening. JT Toppin is the top option for the Red Raiders after a breakout season. Drake will counter with star guard Brandon Stirtz in his first season with the team after following coach Ben McCollum from Division II.

No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 9 Creighton

Time/TV: 7:10 p.m., TBS

If you like big men, this is the game for you with two of the country’s best playing on opposite sides. Auburn’s Johni Broome, the reigning SEC player of the year, averages 18.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner is one of the nation’s premier shot-blockers, while also averaging a double-double. The Bluejays got huge games from Jamiya Neal (29 points) and Steven Ashworth (21 points) in the first round against Louisville. That’s the recipe for surprising the Tigers.

No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 6 Brigham Young

Time/TV: 7:45 p.m., CBS

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better second-round matchup with more entertainment value than the Badgers and Cougars. Both like a fast tempo and average 80 points per game. You’ve got two standout players – John Tonje of Wisconsin and Richie Sanders of BYU – who can take over a game. And there’s plenty of support for each from the 3-point line. Buckle up and hydrate for this one.

No. 1 Houston vs. No. 8 Gonzaga

Time/TV: 8:40 p.m., TNT

Gonzaga has been to nine consecutive Sweet 16s, but that streak is in serious jeopardy considering its opponent. Houston doesn’t have the notoriety of other No. 1 seeds, but the Cougars have won 14 games in a row with one of the elite defenses in college basketball. The Bulldogs have proven to be more efficient in their last five games. It will take big efforts for leading scorers Graham Ike and Kahlif Battle to keep the streak alive.

No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 7 UCLA

Time/TV: 9:40 p.m., TBS

The closer for the late crowd that will likely be up past midnight on the East Coast before all the action is done. Tennessee’s troubles in the tournament are well-documented, and this is the kind of tricky matchup that needs its full attention. UCLA with Mick Cronin as coach is short on elite scoring but long on defense and grit. It shapes up to be a grind-it-out affair where one critical run in the second half can be pivotal.

Major League Baseball removed references to ‘diversity’ from its careers website, the latest organization to acquiesce to the Trump administration’s executive order aiming to purge diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in America.

‘Our values on diversity remain unchanged,’ MLB said a statement Friday. ‘We are in the process of evaluating our programs for any modifications to eligibility criteria that are needed to ensure our programs are compliant with federal law as they continue forward.’

‘Our values, particularly our values on diversity, remain unchanged. But another value that is pretty important to us is we always try to comply with what the law is,’ MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said last month after an owners’ meeting.

‘There seems to be an evolution going on here. We’re following that very carefully. Obviously, when things get a little more settled, we’ll examine each of our programs and make sure that while the values remain the same that we’re also consistent with what the law requires.’

In 2023, a right-wing legal group founded by Trump advisor Stephen Miller brought a complaint against MLB with with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging that baseball’s Diversity Pipeline Program, Diversity Fellowship Program, Diversity in Ticket Sales Training Program and the Diverse Business Partners Program were racially discriminatory. MLB is just one of many companies that Miller’s America First Legal has taken action against over DEI policies in recent years.

Earlier in the week it was discovered that Trump’s Department of Defense had taken down a webpage celebrating the military achievements of Jackie Robinson, who broke MLB’s color barrier in 1947. The page was later restored and the Pentagon blamed the use of artificial intelligence for the content being ‘mistakenly removed’ amidst the department’s scrubbing.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Legendary boxer George Foreman has died at 76, according to a statement released by his family Friday night on his official Instagram account.

The cause of death was not initially revealed by the family.

Foreman was a two-time world heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist who is regarded as one of the hardest punchers in boxing history. One his most memorable punches was the knockout blow he landed against Michael Moorer in 1994 when Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion in history at 45.

He was inducted into both the World Boxing Hall of Fame and the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

‘But my life is much more than boxing – I’ve been knocked out more outside the ring than in the ring,’ Foreman told USA TODAY in 2023.

Remembering those we lost: Celebrity Deaths 2025

He was married five times. He had 12 children, and one of them, Freeda, died in 2019 by apparent suicide.

One of his most famous fights came against Muhammad Ali in the so-called ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ that took place in 1974 in Zaire. He vowed to kill Ali in the ring. Instead, it was Ali who knocked out Foreman.

But Foreman said he was less demoralized by being knocked out than failing to knock out Ali.

‘I just knew no one could stand up to my punch,’ Foreman told USA TODAY in 2014. ‘But Muhammad did. His taking those punches, I went away thinking, ‘What is going on here? That’s not supposed to happen.’ That bothered me more than anything.’

A late friendship with Ali

Just three years later, he retired from boxing. But in 1979, he returned to the ring at 39 – and eventually stunned the boxing world.

In 1994, two decades after his loss to Ali, Foreman fought Michael Moorer, then 26, for the world championship. He won by knockout in the 10th round and news of the feat elevated him to champion for the second time of his career.

He retired for good at 48 with a record of 76-5 with 68 knockouts.

But his life outside the ring marked a striking transformation in the public eye.

Foreman evolved from a villainous boxer who once promised to kill Ali in the ring. A few years later, Foreman experienced what he referred to as a religious awakening, and he later became a preacher and businessman who sold millions of George Foreman Grills.

And Foreman and Ali, who died in 2016, went from bitter enemies to close friends.

After becoming the oldest heavyweight champion, Foreman said he received a congratulatory letter from his old nemesis.

‘Can you imagine that?’ Foreman said during a 2014 interview with USA TODAY. ‘Who would think almost 20 years later, there’s Muhammad, my conqueror, congratulating me in fighting for the championship of the world and winning it. …

‘I was pretty close to hating him; I wanted revenge. He became the best, and one of the longest friends, I’ve ever had. I love him to this day.’

An Olympic gold medal, 40-0 record

Foreman was born Jan. 10, 1949 in Marshall, Texas and, by his own admission, was a troubled youth. He dropped out of school at 15. Boxing provided salvation. He took up the sport at 16 and a mere three years later he won an Olympic gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

He turned pro in 1969 and his power became legendary. He knocked out 10 of his first 11 opponents, and most of his fights ended with opponents on the canvas. In 1973, he became heavyweight champion for the first time when he beat Joe Frazier by second-round TKO.

His record improved to 40-0 before Foreman suffered his first defeat – against Ali in the ‘Rumble in the Jungle.’

The loss to Ali became a defining moment, but during a 2014 interview with USA TODAY, Foreman recalled another moment with Ali.

In 1989, Foreman said, he and Ali were in England with Frazier, Kenny Norton and Larry Holmes as part of a ‘Champions Forever’ tribute. It was five years after Ali had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

‘He was still mouthy,’ Foreman said. ‘And he made a statement, and it was on the front of some London paper, that ‘God is Black.’ They had a picture of him on the front page, and Frazier didn’t like it. Frazier didn’t like Muhammad.’

Later, Foreman recalled, the boxers were putting on tuxedos for a photo shoot.

‘(Ali) came down and he was alone,’ Foreman said. ‘He couldn’t put on his cuff links. He couldn’t even put the bow tie around his neck. And I made certain there wasn’t any cameras around and I took him in the room and I fixed him up because I wanted to make sure they see the beautiful Muhammad Ali.’

Frazier saw what happened, and on a ride back from the event that night, he was livid, according to Foreman.

‘Frazier said, ‘Don’t help him. Don’t help him. Where are all those people that were screaming Ali? Where are all those hangers-on now? Nobody better help him. Leave him alone,” Foreman said. ‘And I remember telling him, ‘Joe, we are our brother’s keeper.’

‘There I was for the first time protecting what I was trying to destroy.’

As a boxing analyst for HBO, Foreman further cultivated his likable persona and he was engaging and readily available for interviews. Although as Mike Tyson prepared to fight Jake Paul on Nov. 15, Foreman communicated by text message.

‘If he gets in shape like he’s in now, and then gets his timing back, and all the other things fall into place, he can have an opportunity to fight for the title,’ Foreman said before Tyson lost to Paul by unanimous decision.

While Foreman withdrew from the public eye, lawyers were fighting on his behalf.

At the time of his death, Foreman faced civil lawsuits from three woman who said he sexually abused them in the 1970s. He denied the charges.

Athletes and boxing figures from across the world paid tribute to Foreman as news of his death spread Friday night.

‘Tonight I am flooded with tears after learning of the death of my dear friend and broadcast partner George Foreman,’ Hall of Fame boxing announcer Jim Lampley said in a statement. ‘ I loved him.  He was a great fighter and a far, far greater human being. Every great thing that ever happened to him, and there were many extraordinary blessings, was richly deserved. My thoughts and prayers tonight are with his family and his friends and his congregation. It’s a massive loss, but I feel blessed and privileged to have known him and spent countless hours in his presence. He’s with Ali now, and they are at peace with each other.’ 

‘Condolences to George Foreman’s family. His contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten,’ Tyson wrote on X.

‘George was a great friend to not only myself but to my entire family. We’ve lost a family member and are absolutely devastated,’ Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said in a statement.

This story was updated for editing changes and to add new information.

This story was updated to add a video.  

LOS ANGELES – JuJu Watkins arrived for practice Friday with the Southern California women’s basketball team starkly unready for the Trojans’ opening-round game in the NCAA Tournament.

Which is to say her hair was in an imperfect low bun rather than the magnificent, crisp high bun she wears on game days.

The hair transformation will take place before No. 1 seed Southern California plays No. 16 seed UNC Greensboro Saturday at the Galen Center. The Trojans (30-2) will be led by Watkins, a sophomore sensation, along with her trademark bun.

On Friday, she tried to remember the last time she played without it. Probably in high school, she said.

‘It just kind of became a thing,’ Watkins added during a session with the media before practice began. ‘I started to realize that I played better with it.’

A first-team All American, Watkins, 19, is trying to lead USC to its first national title since 1984. She’s averaging 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals. A 6-foot-2 guard, she’s also tied for the team lead in blocked shots with 1.9 per game. She had eight blocks in Southern California’s 80-67 victory over then-No. 1 UCLA March 1.

Turns out she’s a far better basketball player than hairstylist.

“I’d rate her like a strong four,’ said her mother, Sari.

That’s four of out 10. Fortunately, Sari Watkins handles the hair. The signature bun is literally in her hands, before home games and road games, too. (The low bun is not an uncommon sight at practices.)

“I try to make sure that my energy is perfect to produce the most perfect artwork for her by the end of our 45 minutes to an hour and a half, whatever (it takes),’ Sari Watkins told USA TODAY Sports. “And I think it is a part of this character, this JuJu character…

“I feel like I’m being challenged every time I’m doing her hair, too.”

If you’re wondering, ‘But how does she do it?’ Sari Watkins isn’t revealing any secrets just yet.

‘The secret behind the bun is don’t tell the secret behind the bun,’ she said during an interview with NBC Sports’ ‘On her Turf.’ But JuJu Watkins said just days ago that ‘something’s in the works’ when asked if they would reveal hair products or a hair care line.

JuJu Watkins without a bun? It’s true

USC basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb acknowledged something about Watkins’ bun.

“Once in a while, like when she doesn’t have the bun in for practice, I kind of do a double take just because you’re used to seeing her in season in the bun,’ she said.

There are other double-take moments.

On July 11, Watkins wore her hair down to the ESPYs in Los Angeles when she accepted the award for “Best Breakthrough Athlete.’ She’s also sported braids and a ponytail. But it’s the high bun on game days.

The bun has become so iconic — young fans regularly show up to her games with the ‘JuJu bun’ — it’s understandable if Watkins feels a tad exasperated having to talk about it all the time.  

“I love that’s the first question,’ Watkins said with a grin Friday after USA TODAY Sports opened a press conference with this question:  Juju, when is the last time you’ve played without a bun? And how did this become a tradition?

‘I don’t really know. Probably in high school. I used to wear like a puff,’ she said.

And, courtesy of USA TODAY Sports, the second question of the press conference: Whether it’s the ritual with your mom and the bonding or just something about the hair itself, is there some power to it? Is there something that gives you added confidence?

‘Yeah, for sure. I think that’s really our time to kind of talk about the game and talk about different things,’ Watkins said. “I never really take that for granted. It’s just a cool thing for me and her.’

JuJu’s bun is not indestructible

Kayla Padilla, a grad student guard on last year’s team, said of Watkins’ gameday hair bun: ‘The biggest thing that everyone noticed is it was always perfect and it was never out of place.’

Then again, there was USC’s game at UCLA during Watkins’ freshman year.

‘I’m sitting in the first row and one of the girls (from UCLA) knocked the bun out and she’s on the bench trying to fix it,’ Sari Watkins said of JuJu. ‘So I go over there…and I pull her hair back and I try to tie her bun up so that she could relax and concentrate on winning the game.’

Sari Watkins said she had the bun repaired in about 15 to 20 seconds. Watkins scored 27 points, but USC lost to UCLA, 71-64 — after the bun had been undone.

‘So stuff like that, I think she’s extremely superstitious about it,’ Sari Watkins said.

Watkins appears to be protective of the bun, too.

A video clip shows USC players with water bottles chasing after Watkins in celebration and the superstar fleeing, clearly avoiding her teammates drenching her bun.

‘Everyone is very conscious of one another’s hair,’ Gottlieb said. ‘We do know that they feel better when they look better,’ Gottlieb said. ‘So anyone with fresh braids or a bun in, everyone’s pretty respectful of one another, for sure.’

The bun has ‘superpower’

McKayla Williams said she wasn’t sure what to expect when Watkins joined the varsity team at Windward School, a private school in Los Angeles, as a ninth grader. Williams was a senior and the team captain.

“A lot of girls with that much hype, usually they come in and they want to run everything or everything has to be about them.’ Williams said. ‘But she was always a humble person.’

They spent time off the basketball court — in the bathroom, doing their hair, Williams said.

“I remember she used to always be serious about her hair,’ Williams said. ‘My bun, she would say it looked too pointy or it looked like Mickey Mouse.’

Vanessa Nygaard, who coached Watkins at Windward, shared a hairy memory.

‘I do remember for Halloween, she dressed up as Snoop Dogg,’ Nygaard. said. ‘She had the two little braids and the sunglasses and the flannel. So she didn’t have a bun that day for sure.’

Before Watkins junior year, she transferred to Sierra Canyon in Southern California. She no longer wore the puff hairdoo on the court, said Alicia Komaki, the head coach of the girls basketball team at Sierra Canyon. As a junior, Watkins led Sierra Canyon to the Open Division state title with a 30–2 record. As a senior, she led the team to a 31-1 record and the CIF-Southern Section Open Division.

“That bun does have superpower,’’ Komaki said.

Now, as the bun goes, so go the Trojans.

Rick Pitino coached his first game at Hawaii in 1976, under odd circumstances. Before Pitino ever won a game, a newspaper cartoonisted predicted his great career.
NCAA probe resulted in Rick Pitino being elevated to acting coach at Hawaii. He left after that 1976 season finished for assistant job at Syracuse.
Rick Pitino, coaching St. John’s, is trying to become the first coach to reach a March Madness Final Four with four different programs.

A newspaper cartoonist forecasted the legend of Rick Pitino, nearly 50 years ago.

“Personally, I’d like to see Rick Pitino get a good, fair, reasonably long-term shot … at coaching the UH basketball team,” Lyons wrote in a column that February, accompanied by a cartoon depiction of Pitino coaching the Rainbow Warriors.

Lyons wouldn’t get his wish. Pitino left the island state following the conclusion of that tumultuous season for an assistant’s job on Jim Boeheim’s Syracuse staff. But Lyons proved right in his prediction that Pitino would become something special.

If Pitino takes St. John’s to the Final Four, he’ll become the first coach ever to reach a Final Four with four different programs. His second-seeded Red Storm will play No. 10 Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament’s second round on Saturday.

Nearly all of Pitino’s career victories came while coaching teams in the Eastern Time Zone, but not his first victories. Those came at Hawaii, amid a wacky season that attracted an NCAA probe and a cartoonist’s praise.

How Rick Pitino’s coaching career began at Hawaii

Pitino began the 1975-76 season as an assistant for Hawaii coach Bruce O’Neil, but things quickly soured for O’Neil after the Honolulu Advertiser reported that four basketball players violated NCAA rules by appearing with O’Neil in a television commercial for a local car dealership.

O’Neil accepted responsibility for the commercial, and Hawaii relieved him of his coaching duties that February.

The university elevated Pitino to acting head coach. Hawaii lost its first game under Pitino by two points in overtime to Long Beach State. Next came a one-point loss to San Jose State in overtime, then a 15-point loss to UNLV.

With Pitino’s coaching career off to an 0-3 start, Lyons, the Honolulu cartoonist, had seen enough. He wanted Pitino as full-time coach.

“It isn’t often that a coach gets a pat on the back for losing three out of his first three games,” Lyons wrote in a column that published Feb. 24, 1976, “but here’s one. Rick Pitino, the acting coach of the UH Rainbows, has done a great job.

“Pitino took charge in a hurry when the whole program could have tumbled into a very deep, very dark hole.”

Lyons went on to praise Hawaii’s “admirable finishes under rugged odds.”

Harry Lyons: cartoonist, Hawaii sports fan, Rick Pitino supporter

The Advertiser’s 1989 obituary for Lyons described him as a whimsical man who enjoyed smelling the flowers, drinking Beefeater on the rocks and watching sports. Lyons, like Pitino, was a New York native – the coach from the city, the cartoonist from Scarsdale. Lyons came to Hawaii in 1959 to be the Advertiser’s cartoonist, back when local newspapers employed such positions. He stayed on in that role for 20 years and earned high acclaim. President Lyndon Johnson reportedly collected his cartoons.

Lyons also had a knack for the written word, and, in 1973, he started writing sports columns for the Advertiser while still a cartoonist. In this particular column in 1976, he threw full support behind Pitino.

“The majority of folks I’ve talked to think he’s something special,” Lyons wrote, “despite the fact that his team has yet to win.”

Lyons went on to quote a few Hawaii fans’ opinions of Pitino. One fan praised the coach’s cool demeanor and his interest in his players. Another lauded Pitino’s four-corner offense and the team’s improving defense, but one fan hoped Hawaii would swap Pitino for John Wooden.

Yes, even before internet message boards and social media, fans harbored visions of “big fish” hires during times of transition.

Lyons finished that column by opining on the Hawaii band’s musical selection for games. He quipped that the Hawaii band put the crowd to sleep with its music, in contrast to Missouri’s band that played ‘brassy pep songs.”

Hawaii would lose a fourth straight game under Pitino before finishing with back-to-back victories against Portland, giving Pitino a 2-4 record as acting coach.

And then he was gone, off to Syracuse.

Months later, the NCAA released findings that Pitino, too, broke rules at Hawaii.

NCAA found Rick Pitino broke rules at Hawaii; he says otherwise

The television commercial that landed O’Neil in hot water in 1976 wasn’t the only rule-breaking activity occurring within the program. The NCAA, in a 1977 infractions report, detailed a slew of violations involving improper recruiting inducements and extra benefits for athletes that occurred during O’Neil’s tenure.

Pitino, who was at Syracuse when the NCAA’s report published, committed several rules infractions, according to the NCAA. Hawaii basketball received two years’ probation.

Among its findings, the NCAA ruled that Pitino arranged for multiple commercial flights between New York and Hawaii for athletes and recruits, at no cost to the athletes. The NCAA also found that Pitino and O’Neil arranged for the same car dealership involved in the TV commercial to give two athletes used cars, in exchange for two season tickets. Also, the NCAA said, Pitino gave coupons to athletes so they could eat free meals from McDonald’s.

O’Neil and Pitino “acted contrary to the principles of ethical conduct,” the NCAA wrote, and “their involvement in various violations in this case demonstrates a knowing and willful effort on their part to operate (Hawaii basketball) contrary to NCAA legislation.”

The NCAA ordered Hawaii to sever ties with O’Neil, Pitino and former athletic director Paul Durham. By then, though, none of the three were working for Hawaii.

The Honolulu Advertiser, in an editorial, wrote that Hawaii basketball “got off easy” by receiving two years’ probation.

“I guess the ban won’t hurt me too much,” O’Neil quipped to the newspaper after the NCAA’s report. “I never expected to be a coach at the University again, anyway.”

As for Pitino’s part in the saga, he adamantly denied involvement in most of the infractions.

“The only one that’s true is the one about handing out McDonald’s coupons,” he told the Honolulu newspaper. He denied knowing anything about cars or flights for athletes.

Pitino maintained that stance when interviewing to become Kentucky’s coach in 1989.

“I didn’t make any mistakes (at Hawaii),” Pitino told reporters. “I don’t care what anybody says.”

Pitino accepted the Kentucky job, ending his NBA tenure with the New York Knicks after two seasons.

By then, it was becoming clear that Pitino’s career would become “something special,” just as a newspaper cartoonist in Honolulu had predicted.

Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer. Subscribe to read all of his columns.

After a first day of the women’s NCAA Tournament in which South Carolina, Notre Dame, Duke, and UCLA made emphatic statements to advance to the second round, Paige Bueckers and the No. 2 UConn Huskies will look to do the same against No. 15 Arkansas State.

Bueckers leads the five-time defending Big East champions into the tournament hoping for UConn’s first national championship win since 2016. The Huskies have proven they can beat anyone, having notched a win over South Carolina already. However, this is March, where anything can happen on any given day.

Bueckers leads UConn with an average of 19.1 points in 28.6 minutes per game, while also notching 4.8 assists and 4.7 rebounds. Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd are also averaging double digits at 16 and 12.8 points per game, respectively.

If Arkansas State is to play spoiler, the Red Wolves will have to lean on their trio of Zyion Shannon, Kennedie Montue, and Crislyn Rose.

To Geno Auriemma’s credit, his UConn teams are hardly ever snakebitten in early rounds of the tournament. UConn hasn’t lost on the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament since 1993, and has made the Final Four in 16 of the past 17 seasons.

What time is UConn vs Arkansas State?

Date: Saturday, March 22
Time: 1 p.m. ET

Bueckers and UConn tip off their respective 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament at 1 p.m. against Arkansas State from Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut.

Connecticut is the No. 2-seed in the Spokane 4 Region.

What channel does Paige Bueckers play on today?

Channel: ABC
Stream:Fubo (free trial)

Bueckers and UConn will play on ABC Friday, part of the Disney family of networks that includes ESPN, which is broadcasting the entire women’s NCAA Tournament.

UConn vs Arkansas State betting odds, spread, moneyline

Odds courtesy of Bet MGM as of Saturday, March 22

Spread: UConn (-44.5)
Over/Under: 148.5
Moneyline: N/A

UConn schedule

Sunday, March 2: UConn 97, Marquette 52
Saturday, March 8: UConn 71, St. John’s 40
Sunday, March 9: UConn 82, Villanova 54
Monday, March 10: UConn 70, Creighton 50
Saturday, March 22: (2) UConn vs (15) Arkansas State, 1 p.m. ET

Arkansas State schedule

Wednesday, Feb. 26: Arkansas State 56, Southern Miss 54
Friday, Feb. 28: Arkansas State 89, Troy 85
Sunday, March 9: Arkansas State 81, Troy 66
Monday, March 10: Arkansas State 86, James Madison 79
Saturday, March 22: (2) UConn vs (15) Arkansas State, 1 p.m. ET

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, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.