Sports Illustrated

1. The last thing any of us need is another podcast (by the way, make sure you're subscribed to SI Media With Jimmy Traina!), but there is an exception.

LeBron James is teaming up with JJ Redick for a new podcast called, Mind the Game.

When one of the greatest, if not the greatest, players in NBA history starts a podcast, you have to give it a try if you’re a basketball fan.

When sports fans have a chance to hear from legends—real, actual legends—it's nothing but a good thing.

That’s why I’m excited to see what Tom Brady does as an analyst for Fox. Guys like Brady and James think differently. They see things differently. They experience the game differently. So when you can get insight into their minds, you have to take the opportunity.

I listened to most of Episode 1 and I can tell you Mind the Game is a must listen.

Redick is already a tremendous podcaster, so the question was whether LeBron would bring the goods—and he did.

James was a natural, and hit on the key for any podcast: He mixed the X’s and O’s with fun and lightheartedness.

Listen to his breakdown of why teams can’t rest players at the end of games anymore. He not only explains the Steph Curry factor but also manages to get a laugh with his description of the Warriors superstar.

Lebron James says Steph Curry is the reason big leads aren’t safe anymore with the 3 point shot

“In 08, 09, whenever that little light skin f*cker came in the league that’s in Golden State”

“He single handily changed the no lead is safe”

🎥 @mindthegamepod 🔥 pic.twitter.com/FgoxHYHdwD

— Emo Jimmy (@WheelerJaylen) March 19, 2024

Here, James breaks down the X’s and O’s on a coverage play like a savant while also pouring himself a glass of wine.

.@kingjames and @jj_redick are obsessed with basketball.

Consider their podcast, Mind the Game, a celebration of the sport as they discuss the state of the game, dissect X’s and O’s (like they do here), and wax poetic about the game they love. pic.twitter.com/lDf8ToVlHE

— Mind the Game (@mindthegamepod) March 18, 2024

James also wasn’t shy about discussing current players and teams ,and discussed them just like regular fans discuss them. At one point, he said the Boston Celtics added Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday for “a bag of Lay’s potato chips.”

LeBron speaks highly of Jayson Tatum in this clip

Also says Celtics got “Porzingis and Jrue for a bag of Lays potato chips”😭😭 pic.twitter.com/t7D07udN9r

— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) March 19, 2024

It’s one thing for an all-time great to do a podcast when he leaves the game, but for LeBron to still play at his level (he’s averaging 25.5 points, 8.1 assists and 7.2 rebounds per game this season at age 39) and host a podcast sharing his insights on all things basketball, it’s a huge win for NBA fans.

The full debut episode of Mind the Game is below.

2. Absolutely electric call (“FROM THE RAFTERS!”) from Minnesota Timberwolves broadcaster Michael Grady on this filthy dunk by Anthony Edwards on Monday night.

ANTHONY EDWARDS OMG 😱🤯 pic.twitter.com/AJP27GCkxG

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 19, 2024

3. After the success of Quarterback, Netflix has announced a new NFL series for later this year: Receiver. The show will feature Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

4. This made me LOL.

This is why ESPN pays Shannon Sharpe the big bucks. ✍️ pic.twitter.com/kNYdysJ8fs

— College Sports Only (@CollegeSportsO) March 18, 2024

5. Cody Rhodes went after The Rock and cut what might have been the best promo of his career on Monday Night Raw last night.

6. The latest episode of SI Media with Jimmy Traina  features a conversation with ESPN NFL analyst, Dan Orlovsky.

Orlovsky gives a breakdown of his unbelievably busy schedule, talks about how the NFL owns most of the sports calendar and shares his thoughts about the wild free-agency spree that took place this week.

Orlovsky also reveals that his ultimate goal is to call top games each week and whether he feels like networks have a bias against putting him in that role since he wasn’t a superstar player. He also weighs in on his relationship with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, Mike Greenberg and Dan “Big Cat” Katz.

Orlovsky also shares some of his famous food takes, talks about what it's like to have triplets and much more.

Following Orlovsky, Sal Licata from WFAN and SNY joins me for the weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment. This week's topics include Aaron Rodgers as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s running mate, the NFL Network moving Good Morning Football from New York to Los Angeles, Tiki Barber vs. Saquon Barkley, Love Is Blind and more.

You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Google.

You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Sports Illustrated’s YouTube channel.

7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: Here's a little vintage Kevin Harlan as we get read for the NCAA Tournament..

Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for college basketball fans, as both the men’s and women’s March Madness brackets were released on Sunday.

As millions of fans fill out their brackets with hopes of winning their NCAA tournament pools or simply earning bragging rights over friends and family, Sports Illustrated compiles expert picks for the men’s Final Four from notable pundits around the college basketball world.

Howard and Wagner will tip off this year’s tournament at the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, at 6:40 p.m. ET Tuesday. That game will be followed by a matchup between Colorado State and Virginia. The tournament begins in earnest Thursday at 12:15 p.m. ET when Michigan State and Mississippi State square off in Charlotte.

Without further ado, here’s a sampling of expert picks for the men’s Final Four and national championship. 

Note: Final Four picks are listed in order by region: East, West, South, Midwest

• March Madness 2024: News & Analysis | Schedule | Bracket
• Forde: 40 Things to Watch in NCAA Men’s Tournament
• Sweeney: 10 Teams That Could Make Cinderella Runs

NCAA Tournament Expert Picks

Pat Forde - Sports Illustrated

Final Four: UConn, Baylor, Houston, Creighton

National championship: UConn over Houston

Kevin Sweeney - Sports Illustrated

Final Four: Auburn, Baylor, Houston, Purdue

National championship: Purdue over Auburn

Jay Bilas - ESPN

Final Four: UConn, Arizona, Houston, Purdue

National championship: UConn over Purdue

Dick Vitale - ESPN

Final Four: UConn, Baylor, Kentucky, Tennessee

National championship: Kentucky over UConn

Seth Greenberg - ESPN

Final Four: UConn, Arizona, Kentucky, Purdue

National championship: UConn over Kentucky

Jay Williams - ESPN

Final Four: UConn, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee

National championship: UConn over Tennessee

Tom Crean - ESPN

Final Four: UConn, Mississippi State, Houston, Tennessee

National championship: UConn over Tennessee

Joe Lunardi - ESPN

Final Four: UConn, Arizona, Houston, Tennessee

National championship: UConn over Houston

UConn and coach Dan Hurley are a popular pick to win it all again as they prepare to defend their 2023 national championship.

David Butler/USA TODAY Sports

Clark Kellogg - CBS Sports

Final Four: UConn, North Carolina, Kentucky, Purdue

National championship: UConn over Purdue

Seth Davis - CBS Sports

Final Four: UConn, Arizona, Houston, Purdue

National championship: UConn over Houston

Jay Wright - CBS Sports

Final Four: UConn, Arizona, Houston, Purdue

National championship: UConn over Houston

Jerry Palm - CBS Sports

Final Four: UConn, Arizona, Houston, Purdue

National championship: Purdue over Arizona

John Fanta - Fox Sports

Final Four: UConn, Arizona, Houston, Tennessee

National championship: UConn over Tennessee

Andy Katz - NCAA.com

Final Four: UConn, Arizona, Kentucky, Purdue

National championship: UConn over Purdue

CJ Moore - The Athletic

Final Four: UConn, Alabama, Marquette, Purdue

National championship: UConn over Purdue

Dana O’Neil - The Athletic

Final Four: UConn, North Carolina, Kentucky, Purdue

National championship: Purdue over UConn

Nicole Auerbach - The Athletic

Final Four: UConn, Arizona, Houston, Creighton

National championship: UConn over Creighton

Paul Myerberg - USA TODAY

Final Four: Iowa State, North Carolina, Houston, Creighton

National championship: Houston over Iowa State

Eddie Timanus - USA TODAY

Final Four: UConn, North Carolina, Houston, Purdue

National championship: UConn over Purdue

Dan Wolken - USA TODAY

Final Four: UConn, St. Mary’s, Houston, Creighton

National championship: UConn over Houston

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson may soon be known for his good deeds off the field—along with his dual-threat QB abilities on it.

Richardson recently lent a helping hand to a complete stranger in a feel-good tale that will likely endear the former first-round draft pick to more Colts fans. After a motorist experienced a tire blowout on Interstate 65 while traveling through Indianapolis, Richardson pulled over to help him get safely back on the road, according to FOX59 News reporter Eric Graves.

Colts QB Anthony Richardson helped this fan stranded on the side of the highway the other day. Parker Suddeth says he had to pullover on the side of I-65 because of a tire blowout and AR stopped to help out. Parker says “I guess I’m a Colts fan now.” @FOX59 @CBS4Indy pic.twitter.com/dx7jKdckbE

— Eric Graves (@ReporterEric) March 19, 2024

The motorist posted a photo with the Colts quarterback on Instagram and wrote in the caption, “Zoe and I had a tire blowout on I-65 and the only man who had the decency to help us was Anthony. HUGE thank you to this guy and Carl from the emergency transportation department for helping us out. I guess I’m a colts fan now.”

Richardson was drafted as the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL draft and started four games in Indy before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. The Florida product threw for 577 yards with three touchdowns against one interception and added 136 rushing yards, compiling a 2–2 record in his shortened rookie campaign.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson stopped on I-65 to help a motorist with a blown out tire. 

Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar/USA Today network

The 21-year-old Richardson appears to be on track in his recovery and was captured throwing the football last month for the first time since his Oct. 24 surgery. 

The Colts quarterback also clearly had the time this offseason to help out a stranded motorist on the side of the highway and, in doing so, make a brand new fan.

Fox Sports analyst Doug Gottlieb is already throwing his name into the mix of potential coaching candidates to take over the Oklahoma State men’s basketball team after coach Mike Boynton was fired on Thursday.

This isn’t the first time the former Oklahoma State player has been interested in this coaching role. He previously interviewed for the position in 2017 before Boynton took over.

That interest doesn’t seem to have gone away over the years.

“You know I want that job,” Gottlieb said on the WWLS The Sports Animal show on Monday. “[I understand] what we have, what we need, what needs to be fixed, how to get the culture back in line, how to bring back the alumni, how we need to connect better with Stillwater and with the students and all of Oklahoma. I fully believe I can fill up the gym and I can get the NIL.”

Oklahoma State basketball alumnus Doug Gottlieb has once again expressed his interest in the Cowboys coaching job.

Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

However, The Oklahoman confirmed that the team told Gottlieb he isn’t considered for the role. He has zero coaching experience.

Gottlieb played for the Cowboys from 1997 to 2000. In that time, he led the NCAA in assists in two different seasons. The team went to the NCAA tournament in all three seasons, with the final year ending in a trip to the Elite Eight.

Welcome back to this year’s men’s NCAA tournament danger rankings! After a chaotic regular season that featured upsets galore, it seems inevitable that we’ll have plenty of surprises at the top of the bracket throughout the tournament. Last year’s rankings did correctly identify three first-weekend exits among the top-four seeds, including the Purdue Boilermakers, which famously lost to the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in the first round.

Here’s a look at the teams that might be facing early exits from the Big Dance this time around.

[ March Madness 2024: News & Analysis | Schedule | Bracket ]

North Carolina Tar Heels (No. 1 seed, West Region)

Five of the last six tournaments have featured at least one No. 1 seed failing to reach the second weekend. There’s not an easy target in this year’s top seed group, but North Carolina feels the most vulnerable. The Heels come in at ninth on KenPom, and the efficiency margin gap between the Heels and third-ranked No. 1 seed Purdue is essentially equal to the margin between the Tar Heels and the No. 9 seed Michigan State Spartans, a potential second-round foe for Hubert Davis’s team.

North Carolina has exceeded its talent level this season thanks to smart role allocation, togetherness and star power at the top in RJ Davis. But continuing that in March won’t be easy. Second-round matchups against the Mississippi State Bulldogs (which sport three wins over teams above the Heels on KenPom this season) or Michigan State (a preseason top-five team) could trip up the Heels.

Davis has led the Tar Heels this season, but challenges are looming in the NCAA men’s tournament.

Amber Searls/USA TODAY Sports

Marquette Golden Eagles (No. 2 seed, South Region)

Marquette went home in the second round of last year’s tournament, upset by Michigan State to end a dream season. Could the same fate be looming this year? It’s a difficult path out of the first weekend for Shaka Smart’s team, and Golden Eagles star guard Tyler Kolek is still nursing an oblique injury that could slow down one of the nation’s best point guards.

Opening-round matchup Western Kentucky won’t be easy. The Hilltoppers are the champions of Conference USA, a league in which the automatic qualifier has won a game in the Dance in five of the last seven tournaments. WKU has a dynamic guard in Don McHenry and veterans from power conference programs on the wings and up front. Assuming Marquette survives that, a tricky second-round meeting with the Florida Gators, Colorado Buffaloes or Boise State Broncos looms. Florida has been a trendy pick to make a deep run thanks to the Gators’ overwhelming size and veteran guards while Colorado and Boise State are each top-40 KenPom teams that have entered March very hot. This is a tough draw.

Related: March Madness Brackets: Expert Predictions for the 2024 Men’s NCAA Tournament

Iowa State Cyclones (No. 2 seed, East Region)

The Cyclones will be a trendy pick to reach at least the Elite Eight, coming into the tournament off the team’s best performance of the season in a blowout win over the Houston Cougars. But the Cyclones’ flaws still make them a vulnerable team should they have a poor offensive performance at the wrong time. Iowa State ranks No. 55 in offensive efficiency per KenPom, the second-worst mark among top-four seeds ahead of only the Kansas Jayhawks. Iowa State is just 7–5 this season when it shoots under 30% from beyond the arc, and both potential second-round foes—Washington State Cougars and Drake Bulldogs—are good at defending the arc. Plus, Iowa State relies heavily on forcing turnovers to key its elite defense, and both Wazzu and Drake have been very solid at taking care of the ball this season.

Plus, we’ve already seen some brutal offensive displays from T.J. Otzelberger’s Iowa State teams in previous seasons. They mustered just 56 points in the Sweet 16 against Miami in 2022, then just 41 against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the Round of 64 a year ago. This is by far the Cyclones’ best team yet under Otzelberger, but all it takes is one terrible night from the floor to leave Iowa State vulnerable.

Related: March Madness: Forty Things to Watch in the 2024 NCAA Men’s Tournament

Baylor Bears (No. 3 seed, West Region)

Baylor won it all in 2021 but has made first-weekend exits in each of the past two seasons. Is a third in store this time around? The Bears have shown some more grit on the defensive end lately after struggling mightily early in the season but still rate well outside the top 50 of KenPom’s defensive efficiency metric. And while Bears freshmen Ja’Kobe Walter and Yves Missi are incredibly talented, they’re also liable to buckle under the pressures of the Big Dance, especially with a potentially tricky second-round matchup against either the Clemson Tigers or New Mexico Lobos. Don’t be surprised if the West winds up being the region with the most chaos this year.

Related: 10 Potential Cinderellas in 2024 Men’s NCAA Tournament

Kansas Jayhawks (No. 4 seed, Midwest Region)

Kansas has wins over the UConn Huskies, Houston, Tennessee Volunteers and Kentucky Wildcats as part of a loaded résumé. But the Jayhawks limp into March Madness both literally and figuratively, losers of four of five and dealing with injuries to their two best players in Kevin McCullar Jr. and Hunter Dickinson. Both are expected to play starting with the Jayhawks’ matchup against the Samford Bulldogs on Thursday, but for a team that already severely lacks depth, dealing with injury woes is the last thing Bill Self wants.

While it’s still going to be difficult for run-and-gun Samford to knock off KU, a second-round meeting with the Gonzaga Bulldogs could be brutal. The Zags are actually higher than Kansas on KenPom and are playing their best basketball of the season at the right time, with Ryan Nembhard surging at the point guard spot and Gonzaga’s deep stable of bigs a commodity against Dickinson and the Jayhawks. It might not be a long stay in the Dance for KU.

One of the coolest parts of Masters week is the champions dinner, which is held each year two nights before the start of the tournament.

The previous year’s champion gets to pick the menu for the dinner, and he always seems to nail it. 

This year is no different, with 2023 Masters champ Jon Rahm picking out a menu that has our mouth watering. The LIV Golf member is from the Basque region of Spain, and his dinner will honor his homeland with a number of tasty dishes. 

The best part might be a tapas dish described as “Mama Rahm’s Classic Lentil Stew."

The Masters shared the complete menu on Tuesday:  

The Champions Dinner, served in honor of Mr. @JonRahmOfficial. #themasters pic.twitter.com/r9oalTrFtf

— The Masters (@TheMasters) March 19, 2024

Well done. 

Editor’s note: If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or is in emotional distress, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK(8255) or at suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

The Miami-Dade Police Department is investigating the death of ex-NHL player Konstantin Koltsov as an apparent suicide, it said in a statement. Koltsov’s death initially was reported to be due to a “detached blood clot,” according to Belarusian media outlet Telegraf.

In the statement, the MDPD said it responded to an incident where a male jumped off a balcony at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in Miami Beach on Monday. Additionally, the MDPD said it doesn’t suspect any foul play in the incident.

Koltsov, 42, is a former pro hockey player who played with the Pittsburgh Penguins for three seasons but spent the majority of his career playing in Russia. He retired from professional hockey in 2016.

Konstantin Koltsov died Monday in an apparent suicide, according to the Miami-Dade Police Department.

Lou Capozzola/USA Today sports

Koltsov had been dating tennis star and fellow Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka since 2021, according to People. He’s survived by three children from a previous relationship.

Sabalenka, the No. 2 player in the world, is currently in South Florida preparing to play in the WTA Miami Open this week.

Fans who tuned in for the game earlier this month between the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs could have sworn they were seeing double. Warriors coach Steve Kerr was in his usual spot patrolling the sideline, but it sure looked like he was also seated in the stands. 

A fan in attendance with the same angular face and graying blond hair as Kerr bore such a striking resemblance to the championship-winning coach that the broadcast couldn’t help but note the similarity. Video of the fan sitting in the stands quickly went viral. 

Now we know who the lookalike is. His name is Steve Gillis, and he’s pretty sure he even fooled some real celebs.

Roger Federer took a selfie with a Steve Kerr doppelganger at a recent Warriors game in San Francisco 😂

(📸: Steve Gillis, h/t @melissarohlin) pic.twitter.com/jD32ut5Kyk

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 19, 2024

Fox Sports reporter Melissa Rohlin spoke with Gillis about his unexpected fame and the reaction he got attending his first Warriors game. Gillis said Kerr’s former Spurs teammate Sean Elliott shook his hand. It also sounds like tennis legend Roger Federer got tricked when Federer walked past Gillis during halftime.

“Roger looks at me and says, ‘Let’s take a picture,” Gillis said. “He takes three selfies with me. And then he pats me on the shoulder and says, ‘Thanks.’ ...The fact that he was so gracious and nice about it, I’m thinking, ‘I wonder if he knew I wasn’t Steve Kerr?’”

Now, would Federer have thought it was appropriate to ask the real Kerr for a picture in the middle of a game, even if it was halftime? Maybe, maybe not. But he was at the game, not watching on TV, so it isn’t as though he was aware of how Gillis was going viral for his resemblance to Kerr. So maybe he really did think he snagged a selfie with a nine-time NBA champ. 

Consider Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James a fan of Ohio State’s recent personnel move.

On Monday, the 20-time NBA All-Star gave a special shout-out to Buckeyes men’s basketball coach Jake Diebler for his promotion from an interim head coaching role to the full-time position.

James, who entered the NBA draft directly after high school in 2003, has famously said that Ohio State would have been his college of choice had he gone down a different path. After news broke of Diebler’s promotion broke, James tipped his proverbial hat to Diebler on social media.

James reposted Ohio State’s graphic on his Instagram story and wrote “Congrats Diebs!!!!” in all caps.

How's that for an endorsement? 👀@KingJames | @JakeDiebler pic.twitter.com/0HhyKOyU4A

— Ohio State Hoops 🌰 (@OhioStateHoops) March 18, 2024

It’s no secret that the Buckeyes were thick in the recruiting race for James’s older son, Bronny, who ultimately commited to USC instead. Ohio State also offered a scholarship to James’s younger son, Bryce, who took an unofficial visit to Ohio State last October. Bryce, a three-star shooting guard in the 2025 class, currently attends Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, Calif., and has yet to commit to a college.

Diebler reportedly was involved in both of James’s son’s recruitments and has been with the Buckeyes since 2019. When seventh-year coach Chris Holtmann was fired in February, Diebler took over as head coach on an interim basis and led the Buckeyes to a 6—2 record to close the season, including key victories over Purdue and Nebraska.

On Sunday, Ohio State officially named the 37-year-old Diebler as its full-time coach. Diebler signed a five-year deal through 2029 and will earn an annual base salary of $2.5 million. 

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James’s newest addition to his off-court portfolio arrived on Tuesday with the debut of his and Mind the Game podcast with former NBA guard-turned-ESPN personality JJ Redick. The duo teamed up for the venture, and while there were a number of noteworthy talking points in episode one, the insight from James on the rival Boston Celtics was noteworthy.

Specifically, James offered exceptionally high praise for Boston’s star forward Jayson Tatum. James praised Tatum’s “elite” ability to win games consistently, citing that at age 25, he’s already made four conference finals and one trip to the NBA Finals. 

James then hit a few former Celtics with a bit of a stray, mentioning that “personnel helps” while giving a candid evaluation of his thoughts on the Celtics’ trade for Jrue Holiday.

“Like I said, personnel helps. Adding [Kristaps] Porziņģis and getting Jrue [Holiday] for a bag of Lays potato chips, that helps as well,” James said.

LeBron speaks highly of Jayson Tatum in this clip

Also says Celtics got “Porzingis and Jrue for a bag of Lays potato chips”😭😭 pic.twitter.com/t7D07udN9r

— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) March 19, 2024

It’s safe to assume Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams, who were included in the trade for Holiday, weren’t expecting to hear that on a random Tuesday morning. For good measure, the Celtics also had to send two first-round picks (2024 via Golden State Warriors, 2029 unprotected) along with the two players in exchange for Holiday.

Holiday’s fit in Boston has been great thus far, and Porziņģis’s addition has contributed to what will likely be the Celtics’ best regular season record since 2007–08 when they went 66–16. At 54–14, Boston is 10 games up in the Eastern Conference.

The final two spots in the Round of 64 will be decided Wednesday evening in Dayton, Ohio, on the second night of the First Four.

The No. 16 seed in the Midwest Region is up for grabs as Grambling State and Montana State are battling it out for the right to play No. 1 Purdue. Elsewhere in the bracket, the No. 10 seed in the South will be decided when Colorado plays Boise State with the winner advancing to face No. 7 Florida.

(Odds via FanDuel.)

No. 16 Grambling State Tigers vs. No. 16 Montana State Bobcats

Game Info: 6:40 p.m. ET | truTV
Spread: Grambling State +3.5 (-105) | Montana State -3.5 (-115)
Moneyline: GRAM (+46) | MTST (-178)
Total: 134.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-100)

MontanaState guard Robert Ford III averages 15.9 points per game and is third in the nation in steals.

Brian Losness/USA TODAY Sports

Grambling State earned a spot in the Big Dance for the first time ever this season. The Tigers won the SWAC tournament Saturday against Texas Southern, 75–66, to cap off a truly impressive run. Grambling is 18–4 since Jan. 1 following a 3–10 start and 9–1 over its last 10. The Tigers’ lone loss came in double overtime against Alabama State, a team they beat in the SWAC tournament in their very next game. Montana State is making its 13th March Madness appearance and first since 2019 after beating in-state rival Montana in the Big Sky tournament title game.

The winner of Wednesday’s game will face No. 1 Purdue, which infamously lost to No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson a season ago. The Knights went from the First Four in Dayton to upsetting a No. 1 seed, a blueprint the Tigers and Bobcats both hope to follow come Friday.

Grambling played a brutal non-conference schedule, which explains why it began the season with such a poor record. Before SWAC play began, the Tigers played — and lost to — six tournament teams: Colorado, Iowa State, Dayton, Washington State, Drake and Florida. Grambling State is one of the lowest-scoring teams in the country (67.6 ppg) and is extremely loose with the ball, committing 13.4 turnovers per game. Guards Kintavious Dozier (13.1 ppg) and Tra’Michael Moton (11.8 ppg) are the team’s top scorers. Though the Tigers have a negative point differential on the year (-1.4), they have a sound defense that surrenders just 69 points per game.

Montana State has a bit more going for it offensively, though its schedule does not stack up to Grambling State’s. The Bobcats went 1–2 against Quad 1 and 2 teams and lost to the two tournament teams they played: Long Beach State and South Dakota State. Opponents have to respect Montana State from beyond the arc as the team shoots just under 37% from deep and makes nine threes per game. Robert Ford III (15.9 ppg) shoots better than 42% from three-point land and threes account for a decent portion of the Bobcats’ 75.1 points per game average. Montana State just barely has a positive point differential, allowing 74.1 points per game. The Bobcats do have active hands as their 8.2 steals per game are tied for the 40th-most in the country — Ford ranks third nationally with 2.94.

Though Grambling State is battle tested, it does not have enough scoring options to keep pace with Montana State. The Bobcats’ shooting and playmaking ability, specifically that of Ford, will be the difference in this game. While Montana State’s 3–8 record as a favorite against the spread is concerning, the Bobcats have covered five of their last six games — each time as an underdog.

Bet: Montana State -3.5 (-110)No. 10 Colorado Buffaloes vs. No. 10 Boise State Broncos

Game Info: 9:10 p.m. ET | truTV
Spread: Colorado -2.5 (-105) | Boise State +2.5 (-115)
Moneyline: COLO (-144) | BOIS (+120)
Total: 140.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

Guard KJ Simpson is Colorado’s leading scorer (19.6 points per game).

Kirby Lee /USA TODAY Sports

Colorado got hot at the right time and almost won the final Pac-12 tournament. Though the Buffaloes lost to Oregon in the title game, 74–66, they still won eight of their final nine games to match the most wins in school history and earn a spot in the field of 68 for the first time since 2021. Boise State, making its third straight March Madness appearance, was one-and-done in the Mountain West tournament after a 76–66 loss to New Mexico in the quarterfinals.

The Broncos and Buffs have matching 24-10 records and are neck-and-neck in the NET rankings — Colorado (25th) is a spot ahead of Boise State (26th) and that gap is a bit more pronounced on KenPom. The winner of Wednesday’s game draws the No. 7 Gators in the Round of 64 on Friday.

The Buffs boast an extremely efficient offense and there’s a lot to like about them on that side of the ball. They’re 50th in scoring average (79.3 ppg), ninth in field goal percentage (49.3), sixth in three-point percentage (39.4) and 17th in free throw percentage (77.8) Led by KJ Simpson (19.6 ppg on 48/87/45 shooting splits), five Colorado players average 10-plus points per game. Though turnovers are a bit of an issue for the Buffs (12.7), they do play sound defense on the other end of the floor, allowing 71.2 points per game and holding opponents to 31.8% from three.

The Broncos have often been able to fall back on their defense to win games, but don’t ignore the offensive talent on this team. Tyson Degenhart (17 ppg) leads the team in scoring and Chibuzo Agbo (13.6 pgg, 41.7% from three) is a lights-out shooter. Boise State averages a respectable 75.8 points per game as a team and takes better care of the ball than Colorado. Both teams have similar rebounding profiles and top-20 margins on the glass this season, so the battle on the boards is one to watch. Where the Broncos separate themselves is on defense as they allow only 67.5 points per game and hold teams to 31.1% shooting from beyond the arc.

The over hits at a high rate for Colorado (20–14) and more often than not in Boise State games (16–14). In the last few weeks, both the Broncos and Buffs have seen the over hit in games with totals in the 150s, so combining for over 140 points is an easy enough ask for these two teams.

Bet: Over 140.5 (-110)

Related: 2024 March Madness: Odds and Spread for Every Round 1 Game

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Every Monday Alex Miceli will share what he learned from the previous week in golf.

You always learn something new at the Players Championship. So I wasn’t surprised when I talked to Joel Dahmen and he had a bone to pick with Netflix over his appearance in Full Swing Season 2.

The 36-year-old was one of the cult heroes in Season 1 of the hit golf docudrama, when he made a run at the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club eventually finishing T10.

Dahmen, with his floppy hat and his sidekick/caddie Geno Bonnalie, made for good television and it brought a ton of recognition.

Joel Dahmen finished T11 at the Players, a better finish than any events he was covered in during Season 2 of "Full Swing."

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

In Season 2, Dahmen was in the spotlight again, specifically in Episode 3, titled “Mind Games.” Now, he and his wife were parents, and the doc's focus was on the family and a golf game that appeared to be in a freefall.

Dahmen didn’t like how producers handled his story, which focused on a six-week stretch when he was playing at his worst.

“Netflix has done a lot for me, and Gino and my wife had a lot of great opportunities,” Dahmen said. “A lot of things that I wouldn't normally do to get random journeymen out of the middle of the pack and make them somewhat famous. The financial opportunities from that have been excellent and I met a lot of amazing people.

“I didn't love necessarily how Season 2 was portrayed.”

Dahmen admitted he was struggling during the six weeks the cameras were on him, starting when he missed the cut at the Memorial and continuing with missed cuts over the next four weeks, including the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club.

Dahmen feels it was an adequate depiction of those six weeks—but not his entire season.

After that stretch, Dahmen finished T10 at the Barracuda Championship, T13 at the Sanderson Farms Championship, T7 at the Shriners. Last week he finished T11 at the Players, earning $606,250.

“It happens,” Dahmen said. “I was struggling with golf. I was struggling with Netflix fame; I was trying to navigate life on Tour with a new kid. I'm not the first one to ever do that and I won't be the last.”

What Dahmen learned and wished was that Netflix would have updated his summer struggle with his success in the fall, to explain that this stuff happens and that players get back off the mat and figure it out.

Instead, he looked a little pathetic—my words, not Dahmen’s—and now he has learned a valuable lesson.

Dahmen is apprehensive to do more with Netflix in the future.

“Looking back like what came out of Geno and I in Season 1, you couldn't top it,” he said. "Like you can only go downhill from there no matter what it was, unless I was literally winning majors. I think in hindsight, maybe leave when you’re on top.”

A valuable lesson for the future.

Konstantin Koltsov, a former NHL and KHL hockey player who was dating tennis star Aryna Sabalenka, has died at age 42, his former Russian team, Salavat Yulaev, confirmed on Tuesday.

Koltsov’s body was found in Miami and, according to the Belarusian media outlet Telegraf, he died from a “detached blood clot.”

Koltsov was born and raised in Belarus and became the Pittsburgh Penguins’ first-round pick in the 1999 NHL draft. He played in the Russian Super League and Belarus between 1997 and ’02 before moving to America and making his Penguins’ debut during the 2002–03 season.

Between 2002 and ’06, Koltsov played 144 games for Pittsburgh over three seasons, totaling 12 goals and 26 assists as a right winger. After becoming a free agent in 2006, Koltsov returned to Russia, where he would spend the next 10 years before retiring. He also played for the Belarusian national team in two Olympics and multiple world championships. 

The Penguins posted a statement on social media mourning Koltsov’s death.

pic.twitter.com/Y9acpNvNBL

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 19, 2024

Koltsov had been dating Sabalenka, a follow Belarusian who’s the No. 2-ranked women’s tennis player in the world, since June 2021, according to People. He also had three children from a previous relationship.

Sabalenka, the back-to-back Australian Open champion, is currently set to play in the Miami Open this week.

Good morning, I’m Dan Gartland. I would have completed today’s newsletter earlier but watched Anthony Edwards’s dunk a few more times. 

In today’s SI:AM:

💸 Blake Snell’s deal

🗽 Soto’s Broadway debut

📝 The 10 best NFL signings

If you’re reading this on SI.com, click here to subscribe to receive SI:AM in your inbox every weekday.

What took so long?

With Opening Day just over a week away, last year’s National League Cy Young winner has finally found a new team.

Blake Snell and the San Francisco Giants reportedly agreed to a deal yesterday on a two-year contract worth $62 million. Snell can opt out of the contract after the first year.

Snell, 31, won his second Cy Young last season after leading the majors with a 2.25 ERA. He’s one of seven pitchers to win a Cy Young in both the AL and NL, having also won one in 2018 as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays. But it took him until the very last moment to find a team for this season.

The New York Yankees reportedly offered Snell $150 million over six years ($25 million per year) back in January, but Snell and his agent Scott Boras turned it down. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported at the time that Snell wanted either a higher average annual value (at least $30 million per year) or a longer contract. His initial asking price was reportedly $200 million. Not only did Snell fall well short of his desired number, he didn’t come close to equalling what the Yankees offered him. New York later rescinded that $150 million offer, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported.

There has been a lot of talk this offseason about how Boras and his clients fared in free agency negotiations. Boras clients Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman also entered the offseason seeking big paydays, only to have to settle for significantly less. Bellinger was said to be asking for $200 million and Chapman was reportedly asking for $150 million. Bellinger returned to the Chicago Cubs for $80 million over three years (with opt-outs after each season) and Chapman got $54 million over three years from the Giants. Another top Boras client, pitcher Jordan Montgomery, remains unsigned.

That ties in with another bit of news from last night. According to multiple reports, dozens of MLBPA players representatives met yesterday to voice their displeasure with the union’s second-in-command, deputy executive director Bruce Meyer. The players reportedly want to replace Meyer with Harry Marino, a former MLBPA lawyer who helped the union negotiate the first CBA for minor league players last year.

One reason players want Meyer ousted is because they believe he is tied too closely to Boras.

“Many players and agents have long grumbled about union leadership, suspecting that agent Scott Boras has outsized influence, which Boras and union leadership have always denied,” The Athletic’s Evan Drellich and Ken Rosenthal reported. “But player agents have maintained those complaints for years, particularly in regard to the fortunes of baseball’s middle class.”

But the main source of the players’ displeasure is this winter’s dramatic decrease in free-agent spending. After teams spent $3.9 billion signing players last offseason, that number has dropped to $2.9 billion this season, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported. A significant portion of that money has gone to just two players, both signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Their contracts ($700 million for Ohtani and $325 million Yamamoto) account for about one-third of all free agent spending this year.

Though rather than the Dodgers’ offseason spending spree enticing other clubs to bid aggressively on players to keep up with the West Coast superteam, most franchises have decided to sit back and not exceed the luxury tax threshold. The limited number of suitors for top free agents means teams aren’t engaging in bidding wars that drive salaries up.

There are a lot of reasons why teams might be hesitant to spend. The luxury tax is one. The most pressing one, though, may be the uncertainty over the future of broadcast revenues. For years, teams have relied heavily on money from TV contracts to support their payrolls. But the bankruptcy of Diamond Sports Group, the parent company of Bally Sports, which airs games for more than a dozen teams, has clubs doubting how much longer they can rely on that TV revenue.

The current CBA between the players and the owners runs through the end of the 2026 season, so the union has less than two years to get its act together before another contentious round of negotiations.

The best of Sports Illustrated

Kim Klement Neitzel/USA TODAY Sports

• The pressure is on for Juan Soto to perform in what could be a one-year cameo with the Yankees. Tom Verducci explains why the deal was a no-brainer for New York—and the one trap that Soto could fall into.
• Albert Breer got the inside scoop on how the Falcons landed Kirk Cousins.
• The Cousins deal tops Matt Verderame’s list of the best NFL free agent signings thus far.
• Ryan Garcia’s erratic behavior has cast doubt over his scheduled fight against Devin Haney next month, but Haney tells Chris Mannix that he’s trying to block out the distractions and prepare for his fight.
• If you’re tired of serious NCAA tournament coverage, Patrick Andres ranked every mascot in the field.
• Joel Embiid has returned to practice for the first time since injuring his knee in January.
• The 49ers will forfeit a draft pick as punishment for a salary cap error that the NFL believes was accidental.

The top five...

… things I saw last night:

5. Kyle Lowry’s effort to try to save a loose ball, flying over the scorer’s table.

4. Sonny Milano’s long backhand assist for the Capitals.

3. Jalen Johnson’s dunk over Austin Reaves and Reaves’s humorous interaction with a reporter when asked about the play.

2. Anthony Edwards’s nasty dunk on John Collins. He slammed it home so hard he dislocated a finger.

1. Edwards’s reaction to seeing the video of the play for the first time.

SIQ

Which team won the first Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women basketball championship on this day in 1972?

• Delta State
• Delaware
• Queens College (N.Y.)
• Immaculata

Yesterday’s SIQ: Though it didn’t officially count because it came in a spring training game, which notable career first did MLB pitcher Jim Abbott (best known for having one hand) achieve on March 18, 1991?

• First home run
• First hit (a triple)
• First shutout
• First stolen base

Answer: First hit (a triple). Abbott was embarking on his third season in the majors, but because he played for the California Angels in the American League, he never needed to step into the batter’s box. But in a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants, he laced a ball into the right-center field gap and motored around to third base for the first hit of his career.

“It was a fastball,” Abbott said after the game. “I think [pitcher Rick Reuschel] was being kind.”

Abbott didn’t come to the plate in a regular season game until he signed with the NL’s Milwaukee Brewers in 1999. He picked up two hits that year—the first a line-drive RBI single over the head of the shortstop and the second a grounder up the middle that drove in two runs. 

The 2024 NFL free agency period continues to roll on, but we’ve already seen plenty of moves that will shape how rosters look heading into the summer months. That means it’s time to dig deep into the updated depth charts and start getting rankings ready for the best-ball and re-draft madness that’s just around the corner.

We’ve already examined the biggest winners and losers among players who have changed teams, so now let’s take a look at how player movement affected those who didn’t see a change of address. Whether it’s based on talent, depth chart or a combination, here’s a guide to which player values might be moving up.

Christian Kirk, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

I’m going to bundle Kirk and Evan Engram, who both see an uptick in value with Calvin Ridley’s departure. The move opens up 136 targets, and this duo will absorb at least some of them. Yes, the Jaguars did add Gabe Davis in free agency, but he’s never seen more than 93 targets in a single season. Kirk is back to being a solid No. 2 wideout, while Engram remains a top-end fantasy tight end in 2024.

Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons

Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports

London is easily one of the biggest free-agent winners, as he goes from catching passes from Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke to Kirk Cousins. So, after two modest statistical seasons, the former USC standout is now in a position to post a breakout campaign in the stat sheets. He’s now a legitimate No. 2 fantasy wide receiver who could be a steal as a flex starter with a ton of upside.

Zamir White, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

The loss of Josh Jacobs to the Green Bay Packers creates a chance for White to be the top running back in Las Vegas. He proved last season that he can be productive in a prominent role, scoring the ninth-most points among running backs in the final four weeks of the season. In that time, he averaged 23 touches and 15.2 points. The addition of Alexander Mattison hurts his ceiling, but White is still moving up.

George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers traded away Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, which leaves Pickens as their top wide receiver. The team is certain to add another receiver in free agency or the draft, but for now it’s Pickens who figures to be the top option in the pass attack for Russell Wilson (or Justin Fields). That could line him up to have a breakout third season. He’ll be on the flex starter radar in fantasy drafts.

Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers are revamping their offense under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, releasing Mike Williams and trading Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears. That opens up a chance for Johnston to emerge as one of the team’s top receiving targets for Justin Herbert. Los Angeles certainly isn’t done adding receivers (maybe even with the fifth pick in the draft), but for now Johnston is an obvious winner.

Michael Wilson, WR, Arizona Cardinals

Wilson showed some flashes of potential as a rookie, starting 12 games and posting 114.5 fantasy points. With Marquise Brown now in Kansas City, Wilson is certain to be a starter and more prominent in the Cardinals offense in Year 2. The potential for the team to add Marvin Harrison Jr. in the draft could throw some cold water on his stock, but Wilson will still have additional value this season regardless.

Marvin Mims Jr., WR, Denver Broncos

Mims didn’t do much as a rookie, scoring single digits in all but two of his 16 games. However, the trade that sent Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns opens up a chance for Mims to play a much bigger role as an NFL sophomore. Remember, he was a draft pick of the new regime, led by coach Sean Payton, so he should see every chance to earn more targets. Mims will be a nice late-rounder.

Will Levis, QB, Tennessee Titans

Denny Simmons/USA TODAY Network

The Titans have stocked Levis with weapons this offseason, adding Ridley and Tony Pollard to an offense that already had DeAndre Hopkins and youngsters with upside like Tyjae Spears, Treylon Burks and Chigoziem Okonkwo. Now, it’s on new head coach Brian Callahan to mold Levis into a productive, consistent NFL starter. With all of this talent around him, Levis will be a potential fantasy sleeper in 2024.

Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Alright, I get it … Williams hasn’t been drafted yet. But come on, we all know he’s going to the Chicago Bears with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. If that comes to fruition, the franchise has showered him with talent in the additions of D’Andre Swift, Keenan Allen and Gerald Everett, who joins incumbents DJ Moore and Cole Kmet. That level of talent will make Williams an attractive option late in drafts.

Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers

I’m listing Young as a winner, not only because the Panthers traded for his new top wideout in Diontae Johnson, but also because I think they’re going to add more pieces this offseason. In fact, the team is looking into potentially adding Mike Williams (he’s meeting with the team this week). I’m also expecting Carolina to focus on its offense in the draft, giving Young a better chance to find success in 2024.

Related: NFL Free Agency 2024: Early Fantasy Winners and Losers

The 2024 NFL draft is the next big event of the offseason, which means this is prime time for mock drafts and trade predictions. 

NFL.com’s latest mock draft by Daniel Jeremiah came out Tuesday morning, and it has a big move in it, with the Minnesota Vikings trading with the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 4 pick and then selecting former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported Monday that the Vikings have interest in McCarthy and will have coaches at his pro day in Ann Arbor on Friday. 

Here’s Jeremiah’s breakdown of what could happen with the No. 4 pick:

Now the fun really begins. After their recent trade with the Texans, it seems the Vikings are situated to aggressively move up to draft Kirk Cousins’ replacement. The Cardinals trade down, bypassing a chance to pick the first receiver off the board, but they address the position later in Round 1 (SEE: Pick No. 23).

You can see the rest of his new mock draft right here. 

Sports Illustrated’s Luke Easterling has the Vikings trading up for the No. 5 pick to get McCarthy in his latest mock draft, which was published last week.

In a memo sent Monday to PGA Tour players, commissioner Jay Monahan confirmed a widely reported meeting in the Bahamas between Tour Policy Board player directors and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) and chairman of LIV Golf.

Monahan did not offer many details but called the meeting “constructive” and part of a continuing process.

“The conversation throughout was constructive and represents an important part of our due diligence process in selecting potential investors for PGA Tour Enterprises," Monahan wrote. “This mirrors the approach we employed earlier this year as we evaluated an investment offer from the Strategic Sports Group. During the session, Yasir had a chance to introduce himself to our player directors and talk through his vision, priorities and motivations for investing in professional golf.”

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan informed Tour players about Monday's meeting in the Bahamas.

David Cannon/Getty Images

Golfweek first reported Friday that a meeting would occur between Al-Rumayyan and the Tour board and that its six player directors were “strongly encouraged” to attend. Patrick Cantlay confirmed the meeting Sunday, which was originally expected to be held in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., the day after the Players Championship ended.

But the meeting ended up in the Bahamas, as Tiger Woods’s plane and yacht plus planes owned by the PGA Tour and the PIF were tracked to Albany, Bahamas, and the Albany Resort where Woods hosts his annual Hero World Challenge. 

In addition to Woods and Cantlay, the other player directors on the board are Peter Malnati, Adam Scott, Webb Simpson and Jordan Spieth.

Rory McIlroy, who resigned from the board in November, said Sunday that he welcomed the meeting and that it should have occurred “months ago.”

“Fundamentally he wants to do the right thing,” McIlroy said of Al-Rumayyan, adding that “the people that have represented him in LIV I think have done him a disservice ... so (Greg) Norman and those guys.”

The PGA Tour and the PIF entered a “framework agreement” on June 6, with Monahan and Al-Rumayyan famously appearing together on CNBC, but the months that followed did not see any significant movement toward unifying the divided pro game.

The Tour signed a deal worth up to $3 billion with the Strategic Sports Group in January, creating a for-profit corporation called PGA Tour Enterprises. With that, Spieth and other players suggested an alliance with the PIF was no longer needed, but Monahan said in a press conference prior to the Players that he had met with Al-Rumayyan in January talks were “accelerating.”

Monahan offered few specifics then and Monday in his memo.

"As we continue these discussions with the PIF, we will keep you updated as much as possible, but please understand that we need to maintain our position of not conducting negotiations in public," he wrote. "To that end, we will provide no further comments to the media at this time."

Anthony Edwards dunked so hard he injured his finger. 

The Minnesota Timberwolves star guard stole the show at the Delta Center on Monday night, as he threw down a monstrous, poster dunk on Utah Jazz power forward John Collins during the third quarter of Minnesota’s 114–104 victory over the Jazz. 

But Edwards’s dunk, which he called the best of his career during a postgame interview, came at a price. The Timberwolves star told Bally Sports North’s Kevin Lynch that he dislocated a finger on his left hand as a result of the vicious slam, per the network’s account on X (formerly Twitter). 

"That was the best dunk of my career, I'm not gonna lie." @theantedwards_ on his poster dunk in the win over the Utah Jazz.#RaisedByWolves | #NBA pic.twitter.com/253frHOXl8

— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) March 19, 2024

“I didn’t react because I dislocated my finger,” Edwards said as he watched a replay monitor on the court showing footage of the dunk. “You see it? I couldn’t react to it. I wish I could have reacted to it.”  

Indeed, Edwards can be seen immediately grabbing his left hand after the poster dunk, which also reportedly left Collins nursing a head contusion, according to The Athletic. 

The Timberwolves star poured in a game-high 32 points, adding eight assists, seven rebounds, a pair of blocked shots, a steal and one dunk for the ages in 38 minutes of action. 

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is paying the funeral expenses of a slain high school football player from Hurts’s hometown of Houston, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Jarvon Coles, an 18-year-old football player from North Shore High School in Houston, was shot and killed at a house party in Humble, a Houston suburb, on March 9. North Shore High School is a rival school of Hurts’s alma mater, Channelview High.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts reportedly is covering the funeral expenses for a slain high school football player in his hometown of Houston.

Joe Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports

Officers responded to a welfare check call after reports of underage drinking at a rental property, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, per KHOU-TV. After arriving on the scene, Coles was found unresponsive. EMS attempted to perform CPR before realizing that Coles had suffered a gunshot wound.

Coles was taken from the scene to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Officers determined that during the party, a car with several people drove by the property and opened fire. To date, no arrests have been made in the killing.

Fantasy baseball draft season is here, and it’s always wise to have a handy list of players that could pay off in later rounds. Third base and outfield are both thin positions this year, so I have chosen to include sleeper hitters who can cover those positions. If you miss out on Julio Rodriguez, Kyle Tucker or Jose Ramirez early, don’t worry – there is upside to be found later in the draft.

Here are five hitters that could easily outperform their current average draft position (ADP). Be sure you also check out my five sleeper pitchers here.

Eloy Jimenez, White Sox (DH/U)

ADP 200

Rick Scuteri/USA TODAY Sports

O.K., I get it. Jimenez has had trouble staying healthy and the White Sox are expected to be a dumpster fire this season, so perhaps the counting stats won’t be massive. But, ADP 200? He’s still expected to bat cleanup behind Luis Robert Jr., and though his DH status limits him to utility for fantasy, it may also help ensure he stays healthy. Jimenez has the upside for 30-plus homers if he plays 150 games and chips in for batting average. Jimenez still hits the ball hard, slugging .561 this spring with 12 RBIs across 41 at-bats.

Tyler O’Neill, Red Sox (OF)

ADP 226

If, and of course it’s a big if, O’Neill can stay healthy, he could be one of the draft's biggest steals. O’Neill has not remained healthy for an entire MLB season; however, in 2021, he hit .286 with 34 home runs and 15 stolen bases across 138 games. He followed up that with a 96-game season with 14 home runs and 14 stolen bases in 2022, then in 2023, he only managed 72 games. However, at pick 226, there’s not a lot to lose. His right-handed power should pay well at Fenway, and O’Neill can potentially be a 30/20 guy in this new stolen base environment. His sprint speed remained in the 80th percentile during the 2023 season.

Jorge Polanco, Mariners (2B/3B)

ADP 247

Polanco should be the everyday second-baseman for the Mariners. The flexible middle-infielder hasn’t played an entire season since 2021, which is likely suppressing his value, but last year he hit 14 home runs in the 80 games he did play. That hints at a 25-plus home run upside, with a little bit of speed thrown in, too. Hitting third for the Mariners, the counting stats could also exceed expectations based on his current ADP. Polanco’s barrel rate was in the 88th percentile of MLB in 2023, and his sweet-spot rate was in the 94th percentile. Add that to the fact that his 14 home runs in 2023 would have been 17 if they were all hit at T-Mobile, and you can call me intrigued.

Henry Davis, Pirates (C/OF)

ADP 273

Davis has been raking this spring, slugging .719 with four home runs and 11 RBIs across 32 at-bats. His most recent round-tripper left the bat at 109.4 mph. The 24-year-old spent the offseason working on his swing path at Driveline, which is paying dividends. Davis was the Pirates' first overall pick in 2021, and he plays two of the shallowest positions in fantasy: outfield and catcher. It may take a few games for Davis to gain catcher eligibility, but I’ll take the talent with the potential for 20 home runs and 10 steals as my backstop after pick 250 every day of the week.

Jackson Merrill, Padres (OF/SS)

ADP 299

Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports

It’s official: Merrill will get the start in center field on Opening Day in Korea. After a strong spring, Merrill will become just the third player under 21 to get an Opening Day start in center field. What’s even more incredible? Merrill has not only never played a Triple-A game, but he has never played a game at center field in his entire career. Merrill was the 27th pick in the 2021 draft. He has an all-fields approach and has confidently attacked in every at-bat this spring. Before heading overseas, Merrill finished the Cactus League hitting .351 with three doubles, two homers, three walks and three strikeouts. Though the rookie will start in the outfield, he should also pick up shortstop eligibility (his natural position) as the season goes on, making him a flexible player you can use both inside and outside the diamond. 

Related: Fantasy Baseball 2024: These Five Pitchers Could Be Late-Round Sleepers

Related: Fantasy Baseball: Ranking the Top 30 Closers