No. 1 seed St. John’s defeated No. 2 seed Creighton 82-66 in the Big East Tournament Championship on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York, marking the Red Storm’s first Big East title since 2000. 

St. John’s guard RJ Luis Jr. showed exactly why he was named Big East Player of the Year. Despite being held to only two first-half points, Luis finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block, marking his 10th double-double of the season. Luis went 11-of-18 from the field, a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc and 3-of-3 from the free throw line. He was named the Big East Tournament’s most outstanding player.

‘I’m just so blessed to be here. This is an amazing opportunity to play this level of basketball,’ Luis said. ‘We are just a bunch of fighters. We are a bunch of dogs. We are very hungry. We hate losing. We want to win. The goal this year is to win big and that’s what we’re doing.’

With the win, Rick Pitino cements his status as the first coach in NCAA history to win the conference tournament at five different schools (Boston, Kentucky, Louisville, Iona and St. John’s). 

Creighton led by as many as eight points in the first half, but 14 team turnovers led to the Bluejays’ demise. St. John’s scored 21 points off Creighton’s turnovers and outscored the Bluejays 48-32 in the paint and 14-3 off fast break points. 

Ryan Kalkbrenner led Creighton with 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Jamiya Neal and Steven Ashworth both added 13 points. Here’s a recap of the Big East championship game:

St. John’s makes 14 straight field goals; up 72-57 over Creighton

St. John’s has bust the Big East Championship game vs. Creighton wide open. The Red Storm made 14-straight field goals to take a 72-57 lead with 4:14 remaining in the game, marking their largest of the night. St. John’s guard RJ Luis Jr. is up to a game-high 23 points — 21 of those points came in the second half. 

Bad call? St. John’s guard RJ Luis Jr. called for questionable tech

Luis knocked down a three to extend St. John’s lead to 52-48, but he was called for a technical foul for his celebration. After knocking down the shot, Luis flashed three fingers in celebration and officials gave him a tech. St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino argued with the officials, clarifying that Luis was displaying three fingers for the three, not using his hands to symbolize a weapon. Creighton’s Steven Ashworth knocked down both free throws to come within two of St. John’s, 52-50. 

St. John’s responded with a 6-0 run to take their largest lead of the night with 7:28 remaining in the game, 58-50.

St. John’s takes first lead; up 43-41 over Creighton

St. John’s has its first lead of the game. Red Storm’s Vince Iwuchukwu hit a jumper to give St. John’s a 43-41 lead with 11:55 remaining in the second half. St. John’s guard RJ Luis Jr., the Big East player of the year, is starting to heat up. After being held to only two points in the first half, Luis exploded for nine points to open the second half. He’s shooting 5-of-12 from the field and 1-of-1 from three. 

Creighton’s Steven Ashworth answered back with a 3-pointer to snatch the lead back and put the Bluejays up, 44-43. The Red Storm’s Deivon Smith responded with a jumper and teammate Kadary Richmond followed up with a layup to give St. John’s its largest lead of the night with 10:26 remaining in the contest, 47-44.

Halftime: Creighton 28, St. John’s 25

The Big East Championship game has been a low scoring affair so far as Creighton leads St. John’s 26-23 at halftime. The Bluejays jumped to a 10-2 lead, but their scoring slowed down as the half went on. Creighton shot 40% from the field and 4-of-13 from three. Jamiya Neal has a team-high nine points and five rebounds. Ryan Kalkbrenner, the four-time Big East’s Defensive Player of the Year, has four points, five rebounds and two blocks. 

Zuby Ejiofor, the Big East’s Most Improved Player, leads St. John’s with seven points, three assists and two rebounds. RJ Luis Jr. has been held to two points in the first half, shooting 1-of-5 from the field. The Red Storm is collectively shooting 33.3% from the field and 3-of-8 from three. 

St. John’s goes on 12-5 run

St. John’s trailed by as many as eight points in the first half, but the Red Storm responded and went on a 12-5 run to cut into Creighton’s lead 22-21 with 3:27 remaining in the first half. St. John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor knocked down a three-point shot to bring the Red Storm within on point of the Bluejays. Ejiofor has a team-high seven points. St. John’s run has been spurred by Creighton’s five turnovers, which the Red Storm converted into six points. 

Creighton’s Fedor Zugic goes down with apparent injury

Creighton’s Fedor Zugic went down with 11:54 remaining in the first half after giving up a turnover. Zugic was called for a travel after he took an extra step with the shot clock winding down. To make matters worse, Zugic appeared to tweak his ankle on the travel after St. John’s guard Aaron Scott inadvertently clipped Zugic’s ankle as he planted his foot. Zugic immediately grabbed his right ankle in pain, before being subbed out of the game. Creighton leads 17-11.

Creighton jumps to early lead over St. John’s

The Creighton Bluejays have jumped to a 10-2 lead over the St. John’s Red Storm in the Big East Championship game with 15:53 remaining in the first half. Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner got the Bluejays on the board with an emphatic dunk. Kalkbrenner leads all scorers with four points. Creighton also knocked down a pair of threes, one by Jackson McAndrew and one by Jamiya Neal.

When is the Big East Tournament Final between St. John’s and Creighton?

The Big East Tournament Championship game between the Creighton Bluejays and the St. John’s Red Storm is scheduled for Saturday, March 15, and tips off at 6:30 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

How to watch Creighton and St. John’s in the Big East Championship

The Big East Championship game between the St. John’s Red Storm and the Creighton Bluejays will be televised nationally on Fox, with streaming available on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.

Watch the Big East Championship with a Fubo subscription

Creighton vs. St. John’s: Big East Championship odds

The St. John’s Red Storm are favorites to defeat the Creighton Bluejays, according to BetMGM.

Odds as of Saturday, March 15

Spread: St. John’s (-6.5)
Moneyline: St. John’s (-295); Creighton (-230)
Over/under: 141.5

Big East Championship predictions: St. John’s vs. Creighton

Sportsbook Wire: St. John’s 73, Creighton 65

Kevin Erickson writes, ‘The second-seeded Bluejays ousted the 2-time defending champion UConn Huskies in the semifinals Friday, winning 71-62 as 4-point underdogs, with the Under (138.5) cashing. It was a nice bounce-back game after Creighton was nearly shown the door by lowly DePaul in a narrow 85-81 OT win in the quarterfinals Thursday.

‘Creighton has won 4 in a row, going 3-1 against the spread (ATS) during that span. The Over has cashed in 3 straight, although the Under hit against UConn in their last matchup.’

ClutchPoints: Creighton +6.5

Matthew Zemek writes, ‘We lean Creighton, but the real key is that if you like the Jays, make a pregame bet. If you like St John’s, wait until halftime. The game might be very close, or SJU might be a few points behind. You could get St John’s at a smaller line and a better price, either on the spread or moneyline. You could also consider Creighton’s first-half moneyline and set up St John’s moneyline at halftime or early in the second half.’

Big East Tournament Bracket, Results

All times ET

Thursday, March 13 — Quarterfinals

St. John’s 78, Butler 57
Marquette 89, Xavier 87
Creighton 85, DePaul 81 (2OT)
Connecticut 73, Villanova 56

Friday, March 14 — Semifinals

St. John’s 79, Marquette 63
Creighton 71, Connecticut 62

Saturday, March 15 — Championship

Creighton vs. St. John’s | 6:30 p.m.

Big 12 bubble teams heading into Selection Sunday

Myerberg writes, ‘Xavier spent most of this season on the bubble but has moved into solid tournament position with a current seven-game winning streak, even if these wins have come against the bottom of the Big East. An opportunity awaits against Marquette in the quarterfinals. A win there should make the Musketeers feel better about their chances. Villanova is not currently a realistic bubble team due to a 2-7 mark in Quad 1 games and some absolutely dreadful losses, including Columbia and St. Joseph’s in non-conference play. The Wildcats will likely need to win the conference tournament to get into the bracket on Selection Sunday.’

How to watch Selection Sunday: Time, date, TV and streaming

The March Madness bracket reveal will start at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 16. It will be broadcast by CBS.

Date: Sunday, March 16
Time: 6 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Stream: Paramount+, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream and Fubo, which offers a free trial subscription for new users

Watch Selection Sunday with Fubo

Bracketology: NCAA Tournament field projection

March Madness bracket bubble teams:

USA TODAY’S Eddie Timanus, Erick Smith and Paul Myerberg have the following predictions ahead of Selection Sunday:

Last four in

Ohio State, Oklahoma, Xavier, Indiana.

First four out

Boise State, Texas, Colorado State, North Carolina.

NCAA Tournament bids conference breakdown

Multi-bid leagues: SEC (13), Big Ten (10), Big 12 (8), Big East (5), Mountain West (3), ACC (3), West Coast (2).

Selection Sunday: When does men’s March Madness bracket come out?

The full 68-team bracket will be announced on Sunday, March 16, with the selection show beginning at 6 p.m. ET. It will air on CBS with streaming available on Paramount+ and Fubo.

When does the women’s March Madness bracket come out?

The complete women’s March Madness bracket featuring 68 teams will be revealed on Sunday, March 16, with a Selection Sunday broadcast set for 8 p.m. ET. The reveal will broadcast on ESPN.

When does March Madness begin?

The men’s and women’s tournaments will begin with the First Four matchups next week. The men’s side will be played on March 18 and 19 at the University of Dayton.

The women’s First Four will begin a day later, with all four games taking place between March 19 and 20.

March Madness schedule: Bracket dates

Men’s tournament

First Four: March 18 – 19
Round of 64: March 20 – 21
Round of 32: March 22 – 23
Sweet 16: March 27 – 28
Elite Eight: March 29 – 30
Final Four: April 5
NCAA Championship: April 7

Women’s tournament

First Four: March 19 – 20
Round of 64: March 21 – 22
Round of 32: March 23 – 24
Sweet 16: March 28 – 29
Elite Eight: March 30 – 31
Final Four: April 4
NCAA Championship: April 6

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.

The Los Angeles Dodgers returned to Japan, where they will play their season opener next week — but that hasn’t stopped the buzz and excitement from starting early.

The defending MLB champions played the Yomiuri Giants early Saturday morning in Tokyo in an exhibition game. The game had the atmosphere of a playoff game, with fans filling up the Tokyo Dome. The game’s attendance was 42,064, according to Dodger Blue.

The Chicago Cubs also played the Hanshin Tigers and had an announced attendance of 41,978.

The trip is an opportunity for the Dodgers and MLB to showcase some of its international talents such as Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki. Here are some of the sights and sounds from the Dodgers’ latest exhibition game.

Shohei Ohtani hits home run in Tokyo

The Dodgers had already taken a 2-0 lead against the Giants when Ohtani sent the ball into right field with a two-run home run in the top of the third inning.

Michael Conforto contributes early in Dodgers’ win

Before Ohtani’s home run, Michael Conforto got things started for the Dodgers with a home run on the first pitch of the third inning. Conforto is currently in his first season with Los Angeles after spending the first seven seasons of his career with the New York Mets. He spent the past two seasons with the San Francisco Giants.

Teoscar Hernandez piles it on with a home run

Teoscar Hernandez added to the scoring attack in the third inning with a blast to left field. Hernandez’s blast gave the Dodgers a 5-0 lead.

Final: Dodgers 5, Yomiuri Giants 1

The Dodgers finished the game with all three of their home runs coming in the third inning and key contributions from its pitching staff.

The pitchers produced 11 strikeouts against the Giants.

Dodgers’ popularity is unmatched in Tokyo

The Dodger players were treated like rockstars in Tokyo as they attracted crowds during games and workouts. MLB announced 10,507 paying fans were in attendance for the Dodgers’ workout at the Tokyo Dome, according to multiple reports.

When is Dodgers’ 2025 MLB season opener?

The Dodgers and the Cubs will open the MLB season in Tokyo with games on March 18 and 19. Both games are scheduled for 6:10 a.m. ET.

NFL free agency provides teams with the platform to take care of their most pressing needs. But it can also create or exacerbate roster problems, with several franchises learning that harsh lesson this week.

While many organizations clung to dreams of leveraging massive cap space to bring aboard proven playmakers, this year’s market thinned out considerably before the bidding ever officially opened, as several of the top players opted to re-sign with their current teams. Between that shortage of high-end talent and a handful of teams facing key defections, several franchises are facing uneasy questions at certain spots.

Here are five teams that have big holes to address after the initial run of free agency:

New England Patriots: Wide receiver

Armed with more than $125 million in cap space – more than any other team – the Patriots were certainly active in the early run of free agency. Defensive tackle Milton Williams was the splashiest signing with a four-year, $104 million deal that goes down as the richest in franchise history.

Yet despite New England totaling more than $141.4 million in total guaranteed money doled out in the organization’s early spending spree, two glaring areas of need – wide receiver and left tackle – look less settled than ever. On both fronts, the Patriots were frozen out of the top potential options before free agency began, as Tee Higgins was franchise-tagged by the Cincinnati Bengals and Ronnie Stanley re-upped with the Baltimore Ravens. From there, the choices narrowed considerably, as Chris Godwin took less money to remain with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to multiple fronts.

New England should be able to look to the draft to fill the void at blindside protector, with LSU’s Will Campbell potentially being a consideration with the No. 4 pick. But a wide receiver class that lacks last year’s high-end options of Malik Nabers, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Rome Odunze could leave the Patriots without a natural answer for a No. 1 target. That could be a significant impediment to Drake Maye’s development after the No. 3 overall pick showed immense promise as a rookie but too often was left to overcompensate for subpar protection from his front and a lack of separation from his receiving corps.

And while a second-tier veteran pass catcher or another rookie could aid Maye in some form, neither will likely change the complexion of a group that didn’t have a single player average more than 43 yards per game last season.

New coach Mike Vrabel didn’t sound the alarm on the lack of movement at either spot, saying ‘there’s a lot of time.’

Patriots fans, however, might be feeling a much more heightened sense of urgency.

Washington Commanders: Edge rusher

With 25 players added or re-signed through Friday, the Commanders were arguably busier than any other team this week. Yet their mark wasn’t made merely in volume of moves. In trading for left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr., Washington took bold action to import marquee veterans at some of the roster’s least stable positions.

Still unresolved: A pass rush that could threaten to drag down the defense.

Dan Quinn managed to piece together a group that ranked seventh in ESPN’s pass-rush win rate group last season despite having not made a serious investment on the edge. Now, however, Dante Fowler Jr. has gone back to the Dallas Cowboys after leading the team with 10 1/2 sacks last season.

Could another trade be the answer? Washington would be a natural fit for the Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson given the team’s abundant cap space and willingness to spend big on veterans throughout its roster thanks to Jayden Daniels’ rookie deal. But the previous deals have sapped the team’s draft assets considerably – the team has just three choices through the first five rounds – and general manager Adam Peters might be reticent to part with his top selection and undermine any draft-and-develop method to establish homegrown talent.

If Washington won’t budge in any talks for Hendrickson, the fallback plan could be eyeing an edge threat with the No. 29 pick. Marshall’s Mike Green and Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku would make ample sense if either is available.

Los Angeles Chargers: Defensive tackle

In the franchise’s second offseason under Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers continue to lean into their distinct identity. Between the arrival of hard-charging running back Najee Harris and massive offensive guard Mekhi Becton, Los Angeles should continue to grind defenses down with its ground game.

But the outlook on the other side of the ball is a different story. With Poona Ford defecting to the Los Angeles Rams, the Chargers are now relying on a patchwork group to command the line of scrimmage. Da’Shawn Hand and Naquan Jones were brought on to provide depth after the team also returned Teair Tart, but a defense that ranked 27th last season with 4.7 yards allowed per carry looks even more vulnerable now.

If Los Angeles is intent on adding an immediate difference-maker up front, it might need to do so through the draft. Michigan’s Kenneth Grant and Oregon’s Derrick Harmon could add plenty of heft as first-round targets, while Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams and Texas’ Alfred Collins could be in play on Day 2.

San Francisco 49ers: Defensive line

Welcome back, Robert Saleh. The 49ers defensive coordinator landed back with the same team that helped him launch into the head-coaching world four years ago – only now the team’s once-fearsome front is a shell of its previous form.

With San Francisco cutting defensive end Leonard Floyd and defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins, Nick Bosa is the lone fixture remaining on the unit. Worse yet, there aren’t many in-house options whom Saleh should feel comfortable with taking on starting roles.

The free-agent possibilities have rapidly dried up, particularly at defensive tackle. And in an offseason defined by a salary-cap reset necessitated by quarterback Brock Purdy’s expected extension, it seems unlikely that anything more than a stopgap solution will be forthcoming.

Even as holes rapidly pop up throughout the roster – the outgoing veterans have combined to sign for more than $320 million – defensive line almost demands to be addressed at some point on the first two days. Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham and Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart could be candidates for the No. 11 overall selection, though San Francisco could take advantage of deep groups at both positions.

Green Bay Packers: Wide receiver

Last August, Packers coach Matt LaFleur pushed back against criticisms of the composition of his receiving corps, saying ‘I want to vomit every time I hear ‘No. 1 receiver,’ to be honest with you.’ If Green Bay doesn’t add a top-flight pass catcher, however, LaFleur might be queasy for a different reason.

While the quartet of Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks has shown plenty of collective promise, none emerged as a go-to target for Jordan Love when things got difficult. Beating man coverage was a persistent problem, with only Wicks – who struggled mightily with drops – posting an open score of more than 70 in ESPN’s metric.

But Green Bay’s issue is not one that can be easily solved, especially in an exorbitant free-agent and trade market at the position. With the Packers prioritizing their heaviest spending elsewhere – offensive guard Aaron Banks landed a four-year, $77 million contract, while cornerback Nate Hobbs secured a four-year, $48 million deal – general manager Brian Gutekunst might be left to ponder whether a fix is available in either the second wave of free agency or, more likely, the draft. Texas’ Matthew Golden would fit the bill of a first-round receiver who can regularly create separation, while Iowa State’s Jaylin Noel and Mississippi’s Tre Harris could be help round out the group.

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 Tournament selection committee uses a combination of predictive and results-based metrics to determine at-large bids and seeding.
Predictive metrics such as NET, KenPom, BPI, and Torvik rankings focus on a team’s efficiency and strength of schedule.
Results-based metrics like KPI, SOR, and Wins Above Bubble consider a team’s actual wins and losses.
Teams like Gonzaga, Memphis, VCU, and Oregon present intriguing cases due to the variance in their predictive and results-based metrics used for March Madness.

There’s always going to be somebody unhappy with the March Madness selection process. It’s the nature of the beast with 364 Division-I men’s basketball programs playing only up to 31 regular-season games with just 68 NCAA Tournament berths available. Perceived snubs are inevitable and seeding that makes people shrug is almost as likely, no matter how many advanced metrics the NCAA employs to decipher between teams.

But the seven metrics listed this year on team sheets for the NCAA Tournament selection committee are more than ever before, with each ranking or rating separated into two distinct categories ‒ predictive metrics and results-based metrics. The NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET), KenPom, ESPN’s BPI and the Torvik rankings are considered predictive rankings that measure how good a team is based on its offensive and defensive efficiency, adjusted for opponent strength and location. The KPI, ESPN’s Strength of Record (SOR) and Wins Above Bubble (WAB) are results-based rankings that judge how hard it was for a team to attain its resume.

For many teams, the two types of ratings largely converge by the end of the season. For others, however, there can be a wide swath of outcomes based on how a game was played and whether it was won or lost. These are the schools from major and mid-major conferences that could inspire the most robust conversation and debate among committee members, either over their selection into the 2025 NCAA Tournament and/or their potential seeding in the field, due to the differences between their ranking in predictive metrics and results-based metrics.

Here’s a look at the most polarizing teams ahead of Selection Sunday based on the metrics used for the men’s NCAA Tournament:

March Madness 2025: NCAA Tournament metrics’ most polarizing teams

All rankings as of Saturday, March 15

Gonzaga (25-8)

NET: 8
KenPom: 9
BPI: 10
Torvik: 11
KPI: 28
SOR: 39
WAB: 35

The West Coast Conference tournament champions have predictive metrics on their side because they’re among the top 10 in offensive efficiency and top 30 in defensive efficiency this season, according to KenPom. Gonzaga’s win over Saint Mary’s Tuesday in the WCC was also its second quad one win this month. But the Bulldogs only have two other quad one wins the rest of the season.

Memphis (27-5)

NET: 48
KenPom: 51
BPI: 43
Torvik: 60
KPI: 14
SOR: 16
WAB: 25

The Tigers will be hard for the selection committee to seed because their results-based metrics far outpace their predictive metrics thanks to an impressive run against one of the nation’s toughest nonconference schedules early in the season and a lot of closer-than-expected wins in the depleted American Athletic Conference.

VCU (26-6)

NET: 31
KenPom: 30
BPI: 33
Torvik: 28
KPI: 38
SOR: 48
WAB: 54

VCU will be a fascinating test case for the selection committee if it doesn’t grab the Atlantic-10 Conference’s automatic berth. The Rams have lost just twice in 2025 and racked 11 double-digit wins that boosted their efficiency (and pushed their predictive metrics into the top-30). But VCU also has just one quad one win the entire season and didn’t schedule aggressively in nonconference play.

Oregon (24-9)

NET: 29
KenPom: 31
BPI: 36
Torvik: 38
KPI: 10
SOR: 20
WAB: 13

Oregon is another team safely in the NCAA Tournament field, but its potential seeding varies because of the difference in its predictive and results-based metrics. Nonconference wins over Alabama and Texas A&M have aged well and the Ducks have countered a five-game losing skid with a seven-game winning streak entering the Big Ten tournament.

Ole Miss (22-11)

NET: 28
KenPom: 25
BPI: 32
Torvik: 29
KPI: 18
SOR: 22
WAB: 12

The metrics for Ole Miss reflect the depth of the SEC, with its results-based rankings still inside the top-20 despite four losses in its last six games to close the regular season.

Wake Forest (21-11)

NET: 68
KenPom: 72
BPI: 62
Torvik: 71
KPI: 59
SOR: 44
WAB: 51

Wake Forest is squarely on the bubble for this year’s NCAA Tournament field, largely because an inefficient offense is a drag on the Demon Deacons’ predictive metrics. Late-season losses to Florida State, North Carolina State and Virginia haven’t helped during another down year for the ACC.

Ohio State (17-15)

NET: 41
KenPom: 37
BPI: 37
Torvik: 41
KPI: 53
SOR: 57
WAB: 55

Ohio State could wind up on the outside looking in of the NCAA Tournament because its shaky results-based metrics might overshadow efficiency numbers that are more line with a team in the field. The Buckeyes have played a lot of quad one games (17) but went 2-7 against the Big Ten’s best eight teams, according to the NET.

Drake (30-3)

NET: 56
KenPom: 58
BPI: 73
Torvik: 58
KPI: 33
SOR: 32
WAB: 41

UC San Diego (29-4)

NET: 35
KenPom: 39
BPI: 58
Torvik: 46
KPI: 49
SOR: 47
WAB: 47

It’d likely make life easier on the selection committee if UC San Diego capped off its great regular season with the Big West Conference’s automatic berth because the Tritons could present a fascinating at-large profile. Their predictive metrics vary, with KenPom and the NET viewing them more favorably than Torvik and especially BPI. That’s unusual. Their results-based metrics aren’t as strong, but a nonconference win over Utah State and a 15-game win streak has UC San Diego potentially positioned for the school’s first NCAA Tournament berth in men’s basketball.

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

Ovechkin, 39, entered this season needing 42 goals to break Gretzky’s record of 894 career goals, which has stood since 1999. The Washington captain, who scored on Saturday, has 34 goals this season and needs eight more with 15 games left to become the NHL’s all-time leader.

Ovechkin scored 15 times in his first 18 games before suffering a fractured left fibula during a Nov. 18 game against the Utah Hockey Club. He has scored 19 times in 33 games since he returned on Dec. 28.

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

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

Here’s where Ovechkin stands in his chase of Gretzky’s goal record (stats through March 15):

OVECHKIN VS. GRETZKY: Comparing the two greats

OVECHKIN’S REMAINING GAMES: How he has fared vs. teams

How many goals does Alex Ovechkin have?

Ovechkin has 887 career goals.

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

Ovechkin needs eight goals to break Gretzky’s record.

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

Ovechkin has 34 goals and 21 assists in 51 games. Factoring in the 16 games he missed, that is a 44-goal pace, giving him a chance to reach the 42 goals he needs to break the record this season. As of Saturday, Ovechkin has played in 10 fewer career games than Gretzky.

What did Alex Ovechkin do in his last game?

Ovechkin had one goal, one assist and four shots in a 5-1 win against the San Jose Sharks. He scored in the third period with a defection goal against Georgi Romanov, the record 182nd different goalie that Ovechkin has scored on during his career.

When is Alex Ovechkin’s next game?

The Capitals play Tuesday, March 18 at home against Detroit. Ovechkin has 25 goals in career 37 games against the Red Wings, including one goal in two games this season.

Alex Ovechkin goals in 2024-25

Oct. 19: 1 vs. New Jersey
Oct. 23: 1 vs. Philadelphia
Oct. 29: 2 vs. N.Y. Rangers
Oct. 31: 1 vs. Montreal
Nov. 2: 1 vs. Columbus
Nov. 3: 1 vs. Carolina
Nov. 6: 1 vs. Nashville
Nov. 9: 2 vs. St. Louis
Nov. 17: 3 vs. Vegas
Nov. 18: 2 vs. Utah
Dec. 28: 1 vs. Toronto
Dec. 29: 1 vs. Detroit
Jan. 2: 1 vs. Minnesota
Jan. 4: 1 vs. N.Y. Rangers
Jan. 11: 1 vs. Nashville
Jan. 16: 1 vs. Ottawa
Jan. 23: 1 vs. Seattle
Jan. 30: 1 vs. Ottawa
Feb 1: 1 vs. Winnipeg
Feb. 4: 1 vs. Florida
Feb. 6: 1 vs. Philadelphia
Feb. 23: 3 vs. Edmonton
Feb. 25: 1 vs. Calgary
March 1: 1 vs. Tampa Bay
March 5: 1 vs. N.Y. Rangers
March 9: 1 vs. Seattle
March 15: 1 vs. San Jose

Alex Ovechkin career goals breakdown

Even strength: 561, third overall

Power play: 321, a record

Short-handed: 5

Empty net: 65, a record

Game winners: 135, tied for first with Jaromir Jagr

Overtime goals: 27, a record

Multi-goal games: 178, second overall

Goalies scored against: 182, a record

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

20-goal seasons: 20, tied for second

30-goal seasons: 19, a record

40-goal seasons: 13, a record

Alex Ovechkin empty-net goals

Ovechkin has a record 65 empty-net goals, but Gretzky is up there, too, with 56. Ovechkin passed Gretzky in that category last season.

Alex Ovechkin goals per season

Season: Goals, career total

2005-06: 52, 52
2006-07: 46, 98
2007-08: 65*, 163
2008-09: 56*, 219
2009-10: 50, 269
2010-11: 32, 301
2011-12: 38, 339
2012-13: 32*, 371
2013-14: 51*, 422
2014-15: 53*, 475
2015-16: 50*, 525
2016-17: 33, 558
2017-18: 49*, 607
2018-19: 51*, 658
2019-20: 48*, 706
2020-21: 24, 730
2021-22: 50, 780
2022-23: 42, 822
2023-24: 31, 853
2024-25: 34, 887

*-led league in goals that season

NHL all time goal leaders

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

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

2. Alex Ovechkin, 887 goals in 1,477 games

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

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

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

6. Marcel Dionne, 731 in 1,348 games

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

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

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

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

11. Mario Lemieux, 690 goals in 915 games

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

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

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

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

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

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

18. Sidney Crosby, 615 goals in 1,339 games

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

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

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

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Bud Cauley was in The Players Championship field.

And then he was out.

Then on Monday, he got the call. Lee Hodges had withdrawn. He was back in.

Now, Cauley, a Palm Beach Gardens resident for the last decade, enters the final round of The Players in second place after shooting a 6-under 66. He is one shot out of the lead held by J.J. Spaun, who held onto the solo 54-hole lead with a 25-foot putt that rolled around the cup before dropping.

Spaun sits at 12-under. Cauley has a two-shot lead over Jupiter’s Lucas Glover and Alex Smalley.

The final round has been pushed up and golfers will play in groups of three because of an incoming cold front. Leaders will tee off at 10:01 a.m.

Cauley, who turns 35 Sunday, was in the original Players field released March 7 before Karl Vilips’ victory at the Puerto Rico Open last Sunday knocked him out.

As first alternate, he learned Monday he was back in.

Bud Cauley practicing at Jack Nicklaus’ Bear’s Club when call came

Cauley was practicing at Jack Nicklaus’ Bear’s Club in Jupiter when he got the call.

‘I was kind of hopeful that being one out I might get a chance, but you never know,’ Cauley said. ‘But it was nice that it was on Monday, also where I didn’t have to sweat it until Wednesday afternoon or something. I was able to come out here Tuesday and Wednesday and have a normal couple days.’

Cauley equaled the low round of the day Saturday, but the others — Danny Walker and Jupiter’s Corey Connors — played before the winds started whipping to about 20 mph sustained and gusts of 30.

Cauley grew up in the Jacksonville area and played TPC Sawgrass several times as a young golfer. He was asked if he’s ever seen the wind this gusty.

‘If it was blowing this hard, I probably would have just went home,’ Cauley said. ‘Probably not.

‘Seemed like every hole was a challenge with the wind and just trying to somehow get it on the fairway and get it on the green and roll in a putt. But it was tough.’

Cauley has played three previous Players Championships, missing the cut three times. He has never finished higher than third in 206 PGA Tour events.

Cauley, ranked 251st in the world, was tied for 16th entering the weekend after shooting 68-71. On Saturday, he carded seven birdies, three bogeys and an eagle on No. 9, where he chipped in from 35.6 feet.

‘I’ve been driving the ball pretty well all week and I’ve also been putting well,’ Cauley said. ‘I feel like when I’ve had those 10-, 12-, 15-footers for birdie, I’ve been able to make most of them, and that’s helped a lot.’

Bud Cauley playing last 13 months on major medical extension

Cauley has been playing the last 13 months on a major medical extension. He was in a serious car accident in 2018 in which he broke five ribs, his lower left leg and suffered a collapsed lung.

Although he returned later in 2018, Cauley was missed more than three years starting in 2021 due to complications from the accident.

Cauley had 27 events to retain his PGA Tour card once he returned early in 2024. He played 17 tournaments in 2024 and The Players is his fifth this year. He has two top 30s at the Phoenix Open and Sony Open.

Now, he needs a top 18 to earn enough FedEx Cup points for his card.

‘I’ve tried to just really practice with a purpose and just make little changes and just get a little bit better,’ he said. ‘I feel like some things are starting to come together that I’ve been working on for a while now.’

Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.

The decision to promote Hubert Davis as Roy Williams’ successor seemed inspired after North Carolina went all the way to the national championship game in Davis’s debut, eventually losing to Kansas in a battle of college basketball blue bloods.

Since then, however, the Tar Heels’ results have come in short of expenses and expectations.

That UNC could miss the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years has raised serious questions about Davis’s ability to keep this program among the nation’s best. At $3.75 million in total compensation for the 2024-25 season, Davis is the highest-paid coach at a public university in the ACC — without the recent results to show for this investment.

The list of the sport’s most overpaid coaches begins with Davis, who is in danger of becoming just the second UNC coach since 1975 to miss the tournament twice in the span of three seasons.

Hubert Davis, North Carolina

Winning twice in the ACC tournament could get UNC into the 68-team field and take some of the heat off Davis amid another forgettable season. But the administration and fan base expect much more, of course, and it’s hard not to compare Davis’s struggles to get things off the ground with the way Duke’s Jon Scheyer — hired one season after Davis — has the Blue Devils surging toward a No. 1 seed in this year’s bracket. Davis will be under extreme pressure to deliver in the regular season and postseason in 2025-26.

Bobby Hurley, Arizona State

Hurley has three NCAA Tournament appearances in his decade at Arizona State and now six losing seasons, capped by this year’s extremely disappointing 13-17 finish. In a make-or-break year for Hurley’s job security, the Sun Devils finished one spot from the bottom in the new-look Big 12 and failed to win more than one league game in a row after posting solid non-conference victories against Grand Canyon, St. Thomas, New Mexico and Saint Mary’s. They lost in the first round of the Big 12 tournament. Hurley earned $3.54 million in compensation this season.

Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska

The Cornhuskers’ late-season collapse from firmly inside the bracket to off the bubble entirely erases the good vibes from last year’s tournament appearance and raises the temperature on Hoiberg’s seat heading into the 2025-26 season. The former Iowa State and NBA coach has the support of his athletics director and remains popular with the fan base, so Hoiberg will be given the chance to turn things around. But at 80-108 overall and with just one tournament bid in his six seasons — and this year’s team finishing third from the bottom in the Big Ten — the returns on the program’s investment haven’t been there. Hoiberg ranks fifth among Big Ten coaches in compensation at $4.75 million, including a one-time payment of $500,000, as part of a contract that runs through the 2029 season.

Jamie Dixon, TCU

The most recent document related to Dixon’s salary, from the 2022 calendar year, showed the TCU coach making $4.1 million, including bonuses. That compensation would rank fifth in the Big 12 in 2024-24, behind Kansas’s Bill Self, Baylor’s Scott Drew, Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd and Houston’s Kelvin Sampson. That’s lofty company for a coach who has four tournament bids since behind hired in 2016 but has yet to get TCU out of the opening weekend. After making three appearances in a row, this year’s team flirted with the bubble before ending the regular season with four losses in five games, including a dreadful road loss to Colorado, to sit at 16-15 entering the Big 12 tournament. TCU lost, 69-67, to Colorado in the opening round.

Fran McCaffrey, Iowa

Give him credit for longevity: McCaffrey has been at Iowa since 2010, winning one Big Ten tournament title, posting eight 20-win seasons and making seven trips to the NCAA Tournament, though the Hawkeyes haven’t advanced past the round of 32. But Iowa has been on a recent slide, winning 19 games in 2022-23, another 19 games with an NIT appearance last year and bellyflopping at 16-15 and in a tie for 12th in the Big Ten this season. McCaffrey is making $3.4 million this season.

Follow colleges reporter Paul Myerberg on social media @PaulMyerberg

The Houston Cougars, ranked No. 2 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, won the Big 12 tournament championship after a 72-64 victory over the No. 24 Arizona Wildcats on Saturday night.

Houston receives an automatic bid to the men’s NCAA Tournament. The bracket will be announced on Selection Sunday.

Houston (30-4, 19-1 Big 12) has been one of the best teams in the nation all season and hasn’t lost since its one-point squeaker to Texas Tech, 82-81, on Feb. 1. The Cougars earned the top seed in the Big 12 tournament and advanced to the championship game after routing 18th-ranked and No. 4 seed BYU 74-54 in Friday’s semifinals.

It’s been a much more up-and-down season for Arizona (22-12, 14-6 Big 12). Still, the Wildcats, who earned the No. 3 seed in the Big 12 tournament, have scored some impressive wins. That includes Friday’s 86-80 win over ninth-ranked and No. 2 seed Texas Tech in the semifinals.

Arizona and Houston met earlier this year, with the Cougars winning 62-58 in Houston on Feb. 15.

USA TODAY Sports has the best highlights and analysis from the Big 12 tournament championship:

Highlights: Houston beats Arizona

Milos Uzan scored a game-high 25 points along with four rebounds for Houston in the victory.

Emanuel Sharp added 17 points for the Cougars.

Caleb Love scored 19 points for Arizona while Jaden Bradley added 14 points in the loss.

Final: Houston 72, Arizona 64

Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp lead Houston to the Big 12 Tournament Championship.

The Cougars finished the game on an 11-2 scoring run.

Arizona will fall short in its first season as a member of the conference.

Houston tries to hold on in final seconds of regulation

Milos Uzan and the Cougars hold a four-point lead over Arizona with 42 seconds left in the second half.

Arizona is back in front of Houston

Arizona has rallied to retake the lead at 62-61 with 5:20 left in the second half. The Wildcats trailed by as much as 10 points in the period.

Houston starting to pull away

Milos Uzan collected a rebound on defense before coming down the other end and making a jumper to give the Cougars a 10-point lead.

Houston’s 56-46 lead against Arizona with 11:20 remaining in the second half was the largest lead of the game.

Arizona’s Jaden Bradley made a layup with 11:04 left in the period to cut into Houston’s lead and make it an eight-point game.

Houston and Arizona continue to keep the game close

The Cougars lead the Wildcats 49-44 with 13:08 left in the second half. Emanuel Sharp has a game-high 15 points and two rebounds while Milos Uzan has added 13 points, three assists and two rebounds for the Cougars.

Arizona’s Caleb Love has not managed to score so far in the second half after scoring 14 in the first half.

Arizona vs. Houston first half highlights:

Houston took the early lead during the first half but it was Caleb Love and Arizona that managed to keep it close before taking over the lead prior to halftime.

Big 12 Tournament court reaction

The court used for the Big 12 men’s basketball isn’t for everyone. Honestly it’s not easy on the eyes at first glance.

I initially felt like I was watching the game from a screen door or window because of the ‘XII’ logo-patterned design on the hardwood. XII is the Roman numeral for 12.

The court received mixed reviews from several others but Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark wanted a “profound statement” during the conference’s basketball tournaments, according to Front Office Sports.

The court was used during the women’s tournament in early March in Kansas City.

Yormark indicated during an interview with Big 12 studios that the XII pattern could also appear on branded luggage and hoodies in the future.

Halftime: Arizona 33, Houston 28

The Wildcats will take the lead into the locker room after halftime.

Henri Veesaar was credited with the offensive rebound and scoring on a tip shot after Caleb Love missed a jumper in the final seconds of the first half. Love had a game-high 14 points in the first half. Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp each scored eight points for Houston in the first half.

Arizona pulls ahead for first time against Houston

Tobe Awaka made a jumper to provide the Wildcats with their first lead of the game. Arizona leads Houston 21-19 with 5:52 left in the first half.

Mylik Wilson of Houston made a jumper to tie the game back up at 21 but Arizona worked its way down the court to get back in front.

Jaden Bradley made a three-pointer off an assist from Carter Bryant to take the 24-21 lead with 5:01 left in the first half.

Arizona on a scoring run to tie game

Caleb Love and the Wildcats have tied the game with Arizona at 19 with 5:53 left in the first half after an 8-0 scoring run. Love has nine points and two rebounds.

Emanuel Sharp, Houston continues to hold lead

Emanuel Sharp has made both of his 3-point attempts and has a team-high six points as the Cougars lead early against the Wildcats 17-9 with 10:32 left in the first half.

Milos Uzan has five points and two rebounds for Houston.

Houston leads Arizona in early minutes of first half

Houston’s L.J. Cryer makes a jumper with 16:17 left in the first half to extend the lead to five points in the first half. Arizona would get on the board with its first points of the game after Henri Veesaar received a pass from KJ Lewis and dunked the ball.

J’Wan Roberts not playing for Houston in Big 12 title game

J’Wan Roberts has been spotted in street clothes and will not play tonight for Houston. The team decided to sit out the star forward as a precaution. The sixth-year player has a brace on to protect his sprained right ankle.

Houston strikes first to start game vs. Arizona

Houston won the jump ball to start the game. Emanuel Sharp puts the Cougars on the scoreboard first with a three-pointer off an assist from Milos Uzan.

When is Big 12 Championship Game between Houston and Arizona?

The Big 12 Championship game between the No. 2 Houston Cougars and the No. 24 Arizona Wildcats is scheduled for Saturday, March 15, and tips off at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local) at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

How to watch Houston and Arizona in the Big 12 Championship

The Big 12 Championship game between the Houston Cougars and the Arizona Wildcats will be televised nationally on ESPN, with streaming available on ESPN+ as well as Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.

Watch the Big 12 Championship with a Fubo subscription

Houston vs. Arizona: Big 12 Championship odds

The Houston Cougars are favorites to defeat the Arizona Wildcats, according to BetMGM.

Odds as of Saturday, March 15

Spread: Houston (-6.5)
Moneyline: Houston (-275); Arizona (-220)
Over/under: 135.5

Big 12 Championship predictions: Houston vs. Arizona

The Arizona Republic: Houston 76, Arizona 74

Jeremy Cluff writes, ‘These teams played a close game in Tucson on Feb. 15, with Houston earning a 62-58 win at McKale Center. Could we be in for another close game in the Big 12 title game? The Cougars are among the favorites to win the national title.’

Sports Illustrated: Houston to win and cover

Iain MacMillan writes, ‘Houston is also second in the country in extra scoring chances, creating +7.9 per game. That’s an area they can take advantage of against the Wildcats. Arizona ranks outside the top 100 in turnovers, coughing up the ball on 15.7% of possessions.

‘If the Cougars can win the turnover battle in this game and continue the hot shooting they’ve had in this tournament, they’re going to win and cover.’

Big 12 Tournament Bracket, Results

All times ET

Thursday, March 13 — Quarterfinals

No. 4 BYU 96 def. No. 5 Iowa State 92
No. 1 Houston 77 def. No. 16 Colorado 68
No. 2 Texas Tech 76 def. No. 7 Baylor 74
No. 3 Arizona 88 def. No. 6 Kansas 77 

Friday, March 14 — Semifinals

No. 1 Houston 74 def. No. 4 BYU 54
No. 3 Arizona 86 def. No. 2 Texas Tech 80

Saturday, March 15 — Championship

No. 3 Arizona vs. No. 1 Houston | 6 p.m.

Big 12 bubble teams heading into Selection Sunday

The Big 12 is projected to send eight teams to the NCAA men’s tournament, and the nice part is all of the projected teams aren’t in the bubble or at risk of missing out. The real story is teams are fighting to position themselves for the best possible seed on Selection Sunday. Teams at risk of being double-digit seeds in March Madness include West Virginia and Baylor. — Jordan Mendoza

How to watch Selection Sunday: Time, date, TV and streaming

The March Madness bracket reveal will start at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 16. It will be broadcast by CBS.

Date: Sunday, March 16
Time: 6 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Stream: Paramount+, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream and Fubo, which offers a free trial subscription for new users

Watch Selection Sunday with Fubo

Bracketology: NCAA Tournament field projection

March Madness bracket bubble teams:

USA TODAY’S Eddie Timanus, Erick Smith and Paul Myerberg have the following predictions ahead of Selection Sunday:

Last four in

Ohio State, Oklahoma, Xavier, Indiana.

First four out

Boise State, Texas, Colorado State, North Carolina.

NCAA Tournament bids conference breakdown

Multi-bid leagues: SEC (13), Big Ten (10), Big 12 (8), Big East (5), Mountain West (3), ACC (3), West Coast (2).

Big 12 tournament court garners buzz for its design

The Big 12 partnered with another streetwear brand, ‘Undefeated,’ for its court design in 2025 — which hasn’t received the best reviews so far. The court takes inspiration from Undefeated’s ‘iconic 5-strike logo,’ according to the conference. — Austin Curtright

Selection Sunday: When does men’s March Madness bracket come out?

The full 68-team bracket will be announced on Sunday, March 16, with the selection show beginning at 6 p.m. ET. It will air on CBS with streaming available on Paramount+ and Fubo.

When does the women’s March Madness bracket come out?

The complete women’s March Madness bracket featuring 68 teams will be revealed on Sunday, March 16, with a Selection Sunday broadcast set for 8 p.m. ET. The reveal will be broadcast on ESPN.

When does March Madness begin?

The men’s and women’s tournaments will begin with the First Four matchups next week. The men’s side will be played on March 18 and 19 at the University of Dayton.

The women’s First Four will begin a day later, with all four games taking place between March 19 and 20.

Houston men’s basketball roster

23 – Terrance Arceneaux, G

4 – L.J. Cryer, G

5 – Ja’Vier Francis, F

0 – Kordelius Jefferson, G

2 – Cedric Lath, C

24 – Chase McCarty, F

12 – Jacob McFarland, C

25 – Mercy Miller, G

13 – J’Wan Roberts, F

21 – Emanuel Sharp, G

11 – Joseph Tugler, F

7 – Milos Uzan, G

3 – Ramon Walker Jr., G

8 – Mylik Wilson, G

Arizona men’s basketball roster

2 – Addison Arnold, G

30 – Tobe Awaka, F

0 – Jaden Bradley, G

9 – Carter Bryant, F

24 – Luke Champion, F

21 – Jackson Cook, G

3 – Anthony Dell’Orso, G

42 – Sven Djopmo, G

8 – Jackson Francois, G

14 – Motiejus Krivas, C

12 – Will Kuykendall, G

5 – KJ Lewis, G

11 – Liam Lloyd, G

1 – Caleb Love, G

55 – Conrad Martinez, G

33 – Will Menaugh, F

34 – Emmanuel Stephen, C

4 – Trey Townsend, F

13 – Henri Veesaar, F

15 – Grant Weitman, G

March Madness schedule: Bracket dates

Men’s tournament

First Four: March 18 – 19
Round of 64: March 20 – 21
Round of 32: March 22 – 23
Sweet 16: March 27 – 28
Elite Eight: March 29 – 30
Final Four: April 5
NCAA Championship: April 7

Women’s tournament

First Four: March 19 – 20
Round of 64: March 21 – 22
Round of 32: March 23 – 24
Sweet 16: March 28 – 29
Elite Eight: March 30 – 31
Final Four: April 4
NCAA Championship: April 6

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.

In the waning seconds of the Huskies’ 71-62 loss to Creighton in the Big East semifinals at Madison Square Garden, there was a scuffle between the two teams after Bluejays guard Jamiya Neal threw down an uncontested dunk with 1.5 seconds remaining.

Neal hung and swung on the rim for about two seconds. After he landed back down on the court, he was confronted by UConn’s Hassan Diarra, who shoved Neal and held up his fists as though he was ready to fight before getting in Neal’s face.

Neal, who finished the night with a game-high 19 points and three assists, apologized after the game.

“I got caught up in the moment of the game, just a lot of emotions going on,” he said in a postgame news conference. “I’d like to apologize for that. I respect (UConn) coach (Dan) Hurley and those guys over there. They’re a great program, obviously.”

With the victory, Creighton advanced to Saturday night’s Big East championship game against Rick Pitino and conference regular-season champion St. John’s, which is appearing in the league’s title game for the first time since 2000. UConn, meanwhile, fell to 23-10 and will await its seed and matchup for the NCAA Tournament, an event it has won each of the past two years.

Friday night wasn’t the first time this season the Bluejays and Huskies have shared a contentious moment, though this one didn’t directly involve Hurley, UConn’s combustible head coach.

Following a Feb. 11 win against Creighton in Omaha, Nebraska, Hurley taunted the disappointed home fans as he walked back to the tunnel at CHI Health Center, waving goodbye to the crowd and pointing to his finger while saying “Two rings,” a reference to the Huskies’ recent national championships.

After Neal and Diarra had been separated, Neal turned to the UConn bench and appeared to point to the ring finger on his right hand. Right after doing so, he was hit with a technical foul.

Maybe Aaron Rodgers will make his decision known to the world today.

Then again, maybe not. Maybe tomorrow. Or Monday. Or Palm Sunday.

Waiting on the big reveal is so Rodgers.

The free agent market has been open for business for nearly a week, yet the NFL universe has been enlisted into some sort of darkness retreat when it comes to the most notable quarterback-for-hire.

Will Rodgers join forces with Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers? Does he seriously want to stay in the Big Apple for the New York Giants rebuilding project? Would A-Rod return to the NFC North, delaying J.J. McCarthy’s ascent with the Minnesota Vikings?

I’m guessing (advising) that Rodgers will make his way to the ‘Burgh, where so many pieces are in place to make a legitimate playoff run. Reportedly, the Steelers have made an offer – layered onto the huge acquisition of big-play receiver DK Metcalf — but it’s unclear where that stands in the mix with other options.

After all, the notion that the four-time NFL MVP is bullish on the Vikings is gaining steam. Minnesota needs a veteran presence after the free agent move of single-season sensation Sam Darnold, and now apparently mulls whether to seek a vet backup-bridge type or a swing-for-the-fences choice embodied in Rodgers.

So, with Rodgers again commanding the NFL’s center stage for attention, we wait.

(And so does Russell Wilson, who might wind up back with the Steelers if Rodgers doesn’t claim the seat in what feels like an NFL version of musical chairs).

Hey, if Rodgers wants to take his time and carefully contemplate his next move, so be it. That’s his business, his life. He’ll have to live with it. This is the first time in Rodgers’ 20-year NFL career that he’s been a free agent. And if the contract terms weigh on this – one or two years, one or two gazillion dollars – that’s NFL bidness.

As tempted as we are to demand a puff of smoke, like they do at the Vatican, this process – even if there’s some negotiating leverage attached – must run its course.

It’s striking, though, that the New York Jets opted for Justin Fields rather than trying to run it back for a third year with Rodgers, as new coach Aaron Glenn takes charge. Sure, Fields is young and mobile. But his passing aim can be sketchy. The Jets still preferred that unknown rather than Rodgers – even if it costs $49 million in dead money against the cap. They wanted a clean break from the man with all of those stats and individual awards.

With that, the Aaron Rodgers Experience moves on. Is he that cooked?

Next question: Is Rodgers a good fit for Pitt? On one hand, it’s not a stretch to think that Rodgers, 41, could duplicate Tom Brady’s championship feat with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021. Brady was the aging quarterback who found the ideal landing spot, which included a great balance of his leadership and skill, the team adding a few complementary pieces and a stable front office-coaching dynamic.

Pittsburgh offers similar potential, including an established culture and well-respected coach who, let the chorus sing, has never had a losing season. Rodgers is talented enough. Still. And given the inability of Tomlin and Rodgers to win a second Super Bowl – Pittsburgh capped the 2008 season with a crown, two years later Rodgers led the Green Bay Packers to the title – you’d think they’d connect on the mission of proving they can do it again.

A major question, though, looms about fit. And maybe the fit begins from within. What does it say about Rodgers that the first thing that comes up has nothing to do with his physical skills. His arm still has zip. And he demonstrated last season that, even though he’s not as nimble as he used to be, he has seemingly fully recovered from the torn Achilles that wiped out his 2023 campaign. He started all 17 games in 2024, passing for 3,897 yards and 28 TDs, with 11 interceptions.

His mind, undoubtedly, is a major asset, too. Rodgers has seen every scheme, coverage or blitz that you can imagine – and over and over again.

No, the questions have more to do with his vibe and chemistry. Is Rodgers the one to energize a team like Brady? Or is he a smug, bad actor?

Surely, Tomlin has a strong enough presence to deal with Rodgers’ eccentricities. In public, that might include whatever the quarterback says during his weekly hits on the ‘Pat McAfee Show’ or whenever, well, somebody asks his thoughts on vaccinations or what happened on the disconnect that resulted in the interception. Behind the scenes, I’d suspect the coach has an even stronger presence.

And Tomlin has had no shortage of experience in dealing with strong-willed players. See Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown or James Harrison.  

Check out the creative spin, though, that Ryan Clark used on an episode of ESPN’s “Get Up” this week, weighing the prospect of Rodgers going to Pittsburgh:

“Mike Tomlin can work with anybody,” said Clark, a former Steelers safety. “But let’s say you put Scar on the team. You know, Scar from the ‘Mufasa’ movie and The Lion King…

“Do you know what Scar’s name was before Scar? It was Taka. Do you know what Taka meant? Garbage. Wasted. That’s exactly what could happen if you bring Aaron Rodgers in there. You could have a wasted season. A garbage season.”

Clark scores only so many points with his metaphor. He compared A-Rod to a Disney villain! But in dropping the corporate cousin reference, his conclusion brings to mind some back-and-forth banter with Rodgers last season. Even if Clark swears by his analysis, it might also come off as a free shot amid a long-running beef.

‘More to it than just the money’: Chris Godwin left cash on the table to stay home.

We’ll see. I mean, let’s witness a “wasted” season before declaring one.

Then again, that’s part of the Rodgers experience. He can sure ignite some passionate reaction. I’m thinking that includes some fire within himself, too. Going out on top certainly fits his profile. No, it didn’t work out with the Jets. But he had the right idea in joining a team that seemed positioned to make a run as a contender.

Now, he can try again. And even for an old head, there must be lessons from that last chapter that can be beneficial on the next stop.

In other words, perhaps the stage is set for Rodgers to come out of the darkness and see the light.

Follow Jarrett Bell on social media: @JarrettBell