The NBA has opened an investigation into whether or not the Oklahoma City Thunder violated the league’s player participation policy (PPP) during a 107-89 win at home over the Portland Trail Blazers on March 7, according to ESPN.
During the game in question, the Thunder sat their entire starting five, as well as key reserve Cason Wallace, against the lottery-bound Blazers. Here was the injury report for the game:
Shai Gilgeous Alexander: Out (Rest) Cason Wallace: Out (Knee) Jalen Williams: Out (Wrist) Luguentz Dort: Out (Right Patellofemoral Soreness) Chet Holmgren: Out (Lower Leg) Isaiah Hartenstein: Out (Nasal Fracture) All but Holmgren played in the team’s prior game on March 5, a win over the Memphis Grizzlies, and all six suited up in the team’s next game, a win over the Denver Nuggets on March 9.
Thunder vs. Celtics takeaways: Why OKC forced Boston into historic 3-point barrage in possible Finals preview Sam Quinn Thunder vs. Celtics takeaways: Why OKC forced Boston into historic 3-point barrage in possible Finals preview Ahead of the 2023-24 season, the league implemented a new PPP aimed at combating load management and ensuring that stars were more frequently available, particularly for national TV games. Here were the key mandates:
Rest no more than one star player from a game. (For purposes of the restrictions, a “star player” is defined as someone who has been an All-Star or an All-NBA selection in any of the past three seasons. It also will impact for the balance of the schedule players named to that season’s All-Star teams.) Make star players available for nationally televised games and In-Season Tournament games. Balance the number of one-game “rest” absences a star player accrues in home games vs. road games, with a recommendation that a player more often sit out at home. Refrain from any long-term “shutdown” when a star stops participating in games or appears only in a materially reduced role that could affect the integrity of the game. Have any healthy players resting for a game present and visible to fans. The Thunder have two “star players” under that criteria: Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams, who was named to his first All-Star Game this season. Both sat out against the Blazers, and Gilgeous-Alexander was officially listed as a rest day. Thus, the league is likely looking into whether Williams had a legitimate issue with his wrist.
Earlier this month, the Utah Jazz were fined $100,000 for violating the league’s PPP for their handling of Lauri Markkanen, who missed numerous games for “injury management” with a lower back issue. Immediately following the fine, Markkanen was in the lineup for the team’s next game.
If the league deems the Thunder to have broken the rules, they would receive a $100,000 fine as well, which is the punishment for the first violation.
As we approach the business-end of the season, one hoped-for reality of the NBA has come into focus: The league’s goal to create more parity is working.
We’ve got several elite teams, yes, but there are a host of other would-be contenders lurking just below this season’s Big Three — rejuvenated former-juggernauts, here-they-come youth movements, surging question marks and other teams that could, if it all breaks right, surprise everyone.
Even among the elite, some small-market teams are romping, poised to win now and for years to come. The road to the Finals no longer necessarily rolls solely through the lands of LeBron James and Steph Curry, nor through Celtics green. And the future is full of myriad newbies who could, soon, contend.
With exactly one month left before the playoffs, we can spot 10 possible NBA contenders in a hope-filled view of who could win it all.
Tier 1: The elite teams There are just three teams atop the NBA’s season-long, king-of-the-hill marathon. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder are head and shoulders above everyone else.
Each boasts a top-10 offense and defense, historically a strong indicator of a championship-level team. The Cavs (first and sixth), the Celtics (third and fifth) and the Thunder (fourth and first) have that balance associated with the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
And yet.
As great as they are — and they are great — their march to June glory is far from assured. These versions of the Thunder and Cavs have not been to a conference finals, let alone a Finals, and the road to a ring, as the Celtics can surely tell you, is usually paved with fits and starts, including conference finals and Finals letdowns. It’s often a slow, methodical journey.
Yes, one of these unproven teams could win it all this year. But they could also come up short, just as the Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown-led Celtics did in 2023, 2022, 2020, 2018 and 2017. Those were all years Boston made at least the conference finals but failed to win it all.
In every one of those seasons other than 2020, the Celtics finished at least in second place in the Eastern Conference.
Point is: Winning in the regular season is one thing. Winning in the playoffs is something else entirely, and often takes time even for the most formidable organizations.
Speaking of the Celtics, this year’s version is trying to defy recent history and show back-to-back champs can still be a thing. The league is sitting on a streak of seven straight NBA seasons without a repeat champion.
Sure, Boston can win it all. They’re my favorite. But there’s a reason grabbing that glory has gotten harder.
Which brings us to some of the other teams that could keep that revolving-door-of-NBA champions swinging round as the leagues’s parity reality continues to ramp up.
Tier 2: Recalibrated, rejuvenated and utterly dangerous Both the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors are good enough to win it all this year, a statement of fact that would have been preposterous before the trade deadline changed everything.
Yes, the Lakers need LeBron James back and healthy, a hope that’s currently accompanied by a question mark as they await his return from a groin injury. But when he does come back, and if he can stay healthy, the 40-year-old will be at the tail end of a season almost as good as the one from 2012-13, when he last won a Most Valuable Player award.
The Lakers also have the best defense in the league since Jan. 6, a stretch of a whopping 28 games — and, it is worth noting, a stretch in which the now-departed Anthony Davis played only nine times.
Throw in the obvious addition of Luka Dončić, and they can win the whole thing, this year.
The Warriors are in a very similar spot. They’re an outstanding defensive team rejuvenated by the trade-deadline arrival of Jimmy Butler and buoyed by the remarkable level of their own older all-time great.
Since the trade deadline, Golden State has the league’s third-best record, fifth-best offense and fourth-best defense — a team on par with Tier 1. We’ve seen, particularly, a liberated Stephen Curry (who became the founding member of the NBA’s 4,000 career 3-pointers club on Thursday night). With Butler joining Curry, the Warriors are contenders yet again.
Tier 3: The best player means it’s possible Nikola Jokić.
That’s it. That’s the analysis.
Yes, the Denver Nuggets have a lackluster defense. Jamal Murray has a high ceiling but also lulls that can be worrisome, particularly if your goal is title or bust. Michael Porter Jr. is … the same guy he’s been for a long time. And so on.
Same as two years ago, when Jokić carried a mediocre defense and a team many doubted could be great in the postseason all the way. Throw in a vastly improved Christian Braun, a wow-he’s-still-good Russell Westbrook, and, of course, mostly just the best player on earth, and anything’s possible.
Tier 4: So you’re saying there’s a chance Let’s start with the New York Knicks here. While New York fans might bemoan the lack of surety and “respect” in this tier, it’s for good reason. The Knicks have a high ceiling, but they also have a mediocre defense.
Plus an uncertain playoff track record.
Plus having to sweat Jalen’s Brunson’s rolled ankle.
But they do have a high-octane offense supercharged by last summer’s trade for Karl-Anthony Towns, who’s having a banner year. And their individual defensive pieces, particularly on the perimeter, suggest defensive-minded head coach Tom Thibodeau may be able to flip that switch come April.
If Brunson, the favorite for the Clutch Player of the Year Award, is right when it matters most, and the Knicks hold up beneath the minutes Thibs liked to pile upon them, New York could do something special.
The Memphis Grizzlies are in a similar spot, worried about Jaren Jackson Jr.’s own ankle injury. The Grizzlies also have to fret after their own talismanic point guard, Ja Morant — because we always have to fret about Ja Morant’s durability.
But he, like Brunson in New York, is an otherworldly player, and if he stays healthy, and JJJ gets back going by the playoffs, this Memphis team can create some magic. They have one of those top-10 offenses and defenses we talked about like the Celtics, Thunder and Cavs, a nice bit of depth, and more experience together than several other top teams.
Last on this list are the Indiana Pacers.
Yes, the Pacers.
OK, so it’s a pet belief of mine, but hear me out. They made the Conference Finals last year, Tyrese Halliburton has shown flashes lately of what he can do, Pascal Siakam seems grossly underrated, and Rick Carlisle remains one of the game’s best coaches.
On Dec. 13, they were 11-15 and languishing with other bad teams in the play-in zone. Since then, they have the game’s sixth-best record while being fifth in offensive rating and 11th defensively.
That’s a 39-game run in which all the metrics, and last year’s run, suggest not to sleep on Indiana.
Tier 5: Miracles can happen The Minnesota Timberwolves are sitting on a six-game winning streak, and they’re also almost in that elusive club of teams with top-10 offenses and defenses: 11th offensively, seventh in D.
While KAT is now in New York, Anthony Edwards still has it in him to carry a team. They’d be best served fighting off the Warriors for the final guaranteed playoff spot, but we saw last year, when Ant gets going and Minnesota’s defense locks in, that they can beat some real teams come the playoffs.
The Los Angeles Clippers have a similar argument, even if it’s harder, in 2025, to summon the same kind of optimism you’d need to take it seriously, even if I’m the wrong person to push their case. They’ll certainly be a play-in team. But maybe there are reasons to hope.
This plucky Clippers team does have the league’s fourth-best defense, plus James Harden, plus — we said we were going to be optimistic — one Kawhi Leonard.
Yes, trying to talk yourself into believing in Kawhi in March is a lot like trying to talk yourself into believing in the Sixers in early November. Seems smart at the time, only to remember later you’re an idiot. (I’m talking about myself here).
Tier 6: Sorry, but it’s still A Doc Rivers team Wrote this exact same thing last year and got it right then, too.
Yes, while the Milwaukee Bucks did wash out early in the playoffs that time, it’s also true that Giannis Antetokounmpo missed his team’s opening-round series while Damian Lillard struggled with his own injury.
But a full season under Rivers — he just needs a training camp!, they told us — hasn’t exactly given Milwaukee the sheen of an NBA title force. They’re jostling with the Pacers and Pistons for the four, five and six spots in the East, they’re good-but-not-great offensively, and, yes, Doc is still the wrong guy.
Still, what the hell, throw them on the list. They do have Giannis (see: Tier 4). Maybe Rivers, after 15 years, will at least get back to another NBA Finals.
That gives us 12 potential title contenders in 2025. The teams below are not title contenders this season, but still worth mentioning.
Tier 7: Too soon, but that day is coming fast It’s hard not to love the Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic (at least, with the Magic, if you’re my guy, Beyond The Arc co-host John Gonzalez).
All three have young, exciting cores, great coaches, and exciting years ahead. The Rockets and Pistons have shown that this season, and each will be a playoff team able to turn fine seasons into critical experience for future runs.
The Magic have been undermined by injuries this time around, and still need to find an offense, but they have the NBA’s second-best defense, and a Paolo Banchero-Franz Wagner future is a bright one.
Let’s also throw the San Antonio Spurs on here, despite the worries about Victor Wembanyama’s future and the fact De’Aaron Fox just got shut down for the rest of the season. When Wemby is back, they will be a rising force out West.
Tier 8: ‘I coulda been a contender’ Take Marlon Brando dressed in the jersey of one of these teams, put him on the waterfront, and add some forlornness and regret, and you’ve arrived at Tier 8.
All of Atlanta, Miami, Sacramento, Dallas and Phoenix may, in some parallel universe, be in the mix, full of optimism and making plans for playoff basketball in May and maybe beyond.
What if the Heat hadn’t gotten sideways with Jimmy Butler? What if the Kings had made it work with De’Aaron Fox, or at least not tried to create the Chicago Bulls West? What if Phoenix hadn’t allowed Bradley Beal to keep a no-trade clause? What if Atlanta, all those years ago, had drafted Luka Doncic instead of Trae Young or had properly navigated their promise a few years after that when they did indeed make the Eastern Conference finals?
What if Dallas … well, you know.
Just: What if.
Each of these teams are a reminder of the fine line between competing and capitulating, between being somebody and wishing, at least in basketball terms, you were someone else entirely.
Teams on opposite ends of the Atlantic Division standings clash when the Boston Celtics battle the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night. Boston is coming off a 103-91 win over the Miami Heat on Friday, while Brooklyn dropped a 116-110 decision at Chicago on Thursday. The Celtics (48-19), who have won six of seven, are 24-7 on the road this season. The Nets (22-44), who have lost nine of 10, are 10-21 on their home floor. Cam Thomas (hamstring) is out for Brooklyn. Jaylen Brown (knee) and Jayson Tatum (knee) are questionable for Boston. Derrick White (knee) is doubtful, while Kristaps Porzingis is probable after missing Friday’s game with an illness.
Tipoff from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., is set for 6 p.m. ET. Boston has won both previous meetings this season, including a 139-114 win on Nov. 13. The Celtics are 10.5-point favorites in the latest Celtics vs. Nets odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 215.5. Before making any Nets vs. Celtics picks, make sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters Week 21 of the 2024-25 NBA season on a sizzling 148-107 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. It’s also an outstanding 19-10 (65%) on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
Now, the model has simulated Celtics vs. Nets 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Nets vs. Celtics:
Celtics vs. Nets spread: Boston -10.5 Celtics vs. Nets over/under: 215.5 points Celtics vs. Nets money line: Boston -481, Brooklyn +366 BOS: The Celtics are 6-2-2 against the spread in their last 10 games against Brooklyn BKN: The Nets are 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games overall Celtics vs. Nets picks: See picks at SportsLine Celtics vs. Nets streaming: FuboTV (Try for free) draftkings logo rectangle Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets instantly! Claim bonus 21+ and present in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WY, and WV (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH and where prohibited. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS).1 per new customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 3/30/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Data & text rates may apply. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD).21+ and present in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WY, and WV (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH and where prohibited. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS).1 per new customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 3/30/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Data & text rates may apply. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD).21+ and present in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WY, and WV (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH and where prohibited. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS).1 per new customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 3/30/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Data & text rates may apply. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Why the Celtics can cover The health of Tatum and Brown could go a long way in determining this one, and it is encouraging for Boston that neither was ruled out as of Saturday afternoon.
Point guard Payton Pritchard may also be pressed into a bigger role due to injuries. He has been solid off the bench this season. In 28 minutes per game, he is averaging 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists. In a 128-118 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on March 5, he registered a double-double with 43 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in 43 minutes. He had 19 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals in a 123-105 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on March 6. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why the Nets can cover Small forward Cameron Johnson has registered double-digit scoring in each of his last 20 games. In Thursday’s loss to the Bulls, he scored 16 points, while hauling down six boards and adding two steals. He had 26 points, six rebounds and four assists in a 121-119 loss to the Golden State Warriors on March 6. In 50 games, all starts, Johnson is averaging 18.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, three assists and one steal in 31.8 minutes.
Despite a tough year overall, Brooklyn is 34-32 against the spread and 30-26 ATS as an underdog this year.
See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Celtics vs. Nets picks SportsLine’s model has simulated Nets vs. Celtics 10,000 times and is leaning Under the total, projecting 212 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in nearly 70% of simulations. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s NBA picks.
So who wins Celtics vs. Nets on Saturday, and which side of the spread hits in nearly 70% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Celtics vs. Nets spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
Two teams stand above the rest of college football entering the 2024 season with a strong case to rank No. 1 in the preseason polls. Both Ohio State and Georgia play spring games on Saturday with major focus on their programs.
Georgia’s quest for a three-peat fell short in last season’s SEC Championship Game, but the Bulldogs exorcised those demons with a 63-3 evisceration of Florida State in the Orange Bowl. A handful of key playmakers are off to the NFL, but Georgia is focused on setting the tone for 2024 despite missing out on a trip to the national championship.
Conversely, Ohio State limped into the offseason after an embarrassing 14-3 loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl. In response, coach Ryan Day quickly set his eyes on the most important offseason of his career. His strategy will decide everything.
The 2024 season also marks a demarcation in the history of the sport. The SEC and Big Ten grow by a combined six members, bringing 24 new claimed national championships to the leagues. The path to a national championship also gets more difficult as the College Football Playoff expands from four to 12 teams. Including a conference title game, winning a national championship could involve winning as many as four consecutive games against top-eight opponents.
With both programs facing pivotal offseasons, which program faces the most pressure in 2024?
Georgia’s pressure: Taking advantage of a post-Saban SEC For all the success Georgia has put together over the past seven years under Kirby Smart, it’s amazing to think the ‘Dawgs only beat Alabama once: the 2021 CFP National Championship to capture their first title in 40 years. The Bulldogs dodged the Crimson Tide during the second national title run the following year and shockingly lost to them as an undefeated to miss the College Football Playoff and ruin a three-peat bid last season.
Now, Nick Saban is gone and college football is Georgia’s for the taking. The Bulldogs return the best quarterback in college football for the first time in more than 15 years, Carson Beck, who projects as a potential No. 1 pick in 2025 after throwing for nearly 4,000 yards as a junior. Transfers Benjamin Yurosek, London Humphreys and Colbie Young join receiver Dominic Lovett and tight end Oscar Delp to create one of the deadliest passing games in college football. Of course, the defense should continue to be a soulless killing machine, the kind that’s become Smart’s signature.
Needless to say, Georgia is a serious national championship contender in 2024, but after Saban’s retirement, more is on the table. Saban set the highest bar in the history of the sport, but Smart towers above all who remain. Only three active coaches have won national championships: Mack Brown, Dabo Swinney and Smart. Swinney’s titles came more than five years ago, while Brown’s lone national title came nearly two decades ago.
Discussions started during the waning years of the Saban era about whether Georgia has surpassed Alabama as the sport’s signature program. The talk should only get louder this season. At only 48 years old, Smart has an opportunity to take over this sport.
Ohio State’s pressure: Going all-in with rebuilt program After Ohio State lost a third straight game against Michigan for the first time since 1997, Day did anything but rest on his laurels. Instead, he turned to the portal with urgency to try and fill holes. Out is starting quarterback Kyle McCord, rotation running back Chip Trayanum and receiver Julian Fleming. In comes All-American safety Caleb Downs (Alabama), top quarterbacks Will Howard (Kansas State) and Julian Sayin (Alabama), and star running back Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss).
Perhaps the biggest power move was going to future conference-mate UCLA and stealing coach Chip Kelly to run the offense after Bill O’Brien took the Boston College job. Day has been vocal about wanting to find an offensive coordinator, but landing Kelly was beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.
Combined with a couple of key retentions on defense – including potential first round defensive linemen J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer – the Buckeyes are on track to rank No. 1 in the preseason polls. If Ohio State captures the top preseason slot, it would be the first time since 2015.
The roster comes not a second too soon as frustration builds around Day. Since quarterback Justin Fields departed after the 2020 season, Day has not won a Big Ten championship. An eight-game winning streak against Michigan was snapped in 2021, and then Day became the first coach since John Cooper in 1997 to lose three straight to the Buckeyes’ top rival. Against teams ranked in the top five of the CFP Rankings – teams that should be program peers – Day is 1-6.
Like Georgia, the Buckeyes’ boogeyman is gone: Jim Harbaugh departed for the Los Angeles Chargers after leading Michigan to its first title in the BCS/CFP era. First-year coach Sherrone Moore was on the sideline for the Wolverines’ victory over Ohio State last season, but the vast majority of production left with Harbaugh. But in many ways, Michigan taking a temporary step back only adds pressure for Ohio State. There’s no time to waste.
Who faces more pressure? Georgia and Ohio State face differing quests in 2024, but each brings a unique spotlight and opportunity. For one, the goal is clawing back to national contention. At the other, the focus is wrenching away longterm control of the sport.
Circling above both programs are the winds of realignment. The Big Ten championship race over the past three years has essentially been one game: Ohio State vs. Michigan. But now national contender Oregon joins the league. Washington played in the national championship just months ago. Lincoln Riley’s USC factors into the lineup, too. Penn State faces a critical year after a star-studded 2022 recruiting class. In the SEC, Georgia adds Texas to a schedule that already included Alabama, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Clemson.
But while plenty of attention faces Georgia as the Bulldogs face one of their toughest schedules of the Smart era, the pressure on Day and Ohio State hits fever pitch. On paper, there’s plenty to like about Day’s 56-8 record and 39-3 mark in Big Ten play. But at Ohio State, winning regular-season games only gets you so far.
If Georgia fails to win a national championship next season, the Bulldogs will be back and a favorite once more in 2025. If Ohio State loses early in the College Football Playoff – or, God forbid, loses to a reloading Michigan squad – Day might not get another shot.
Saturday marks the debut of Ohio State’s most important team in a decade. The spring game, amazingly, will be broadcast on network television (Fox, noon ET). A quarterback battle remains open and holes need to be filled, but the roster has everything Ohio State needs to win a national championship. Now, it just has to do it.
Spring games are right around the corner, and these scrimmages will give college football fans a first glimpse at what will be a completely different landscape. Waves of change will be implemented during the 2024 season: The College Football Playoff is expanding to 12 teams with a new auto-bid structure surrounding conference champions, the Pac-12 is operating with just two teams and the remaining power conferences — the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 — will each be introducing new members.
More than 40 programs have officially announced dates and times for spring games, while each conference has placed the majority of television and streaming options to watch. As it stands, Alabama is the only team in the country to place its spring game on basic cable, but for good reason because it’ll be a fascinating one to watch. Following the retirement of legendary coach Nick Saban, Kalen DeBoer will lead his Crimson Tide squad onto the field for the first time on ESPN.
The Big Ten’s spring games will air on Big Ten Network, while the Big 12, ACC and SEC will all show up on ESPN streaming. It should also be noted that the Pac-12’s dissolution does not go into effect until July, so the conference still stands at 12 member institutions throughout the spring. As such, Pac-12 spring games will be aired on the Pac-12 Network — potentially for the last time ever.
You can view all the Power Four spring game dates and times below. For convenience, schools have been grouped into the conference in which they’ll be competing in the 2024 season. So, for example, USC and UCLA are included with the Big Ten schools.
This article will be updated as more programs announce dates.
Washington running back Tybo Rogers was arrested Friday and charged with two counts of rape, according to King County court documents. He was released the same day after posting a bond of $150,000. The investigation remains open.
Washington suspended Rogers indefinitely following the arrest. The charges allege two separate incidents of assault, one of which was directly reported to the Washington Title IX office and led to a temporary suspension in December, ESPN reports. Both coach Kalen DeBoer and athletic director Troy Dannen have left the program since the incident.
“The University of Washington Intercollegiate Athletics Department is aware of the arrest of a football student-athlete by the Seattle Police Department,” Washington said in a statement. “The student-athlete has been suspended from all team activities until further notice. The UW will continue to gather facts and cooperate with law enforcement, as requested.”
ESPN reports the first assault is alleged to have occurred in October 2023 and involved a student at Seattle Central Community College. Weeks later, a University of Washington student reported an assault to the university’s Title IX department on Nov. 28.
According to documents obtained by ESPN, Rogers was suspended in late November. He he did not appear on the travel roster for the Pac-12 Championship Game. However, Rogers was active for Washington’s run in the College Football Playoff. The university did not confirm the suspension was due to the alleged assaults.
The alleged suspension would have occurred under DeBoer, who left the program in January to take over for Nick Saban at Alabama. In a written statement, DeBoer said he couldn’t comment on specifics due to federal privacy laws, but asserted that Rogers’ case was handled in accordance with “institutional policies”.
“While I am not able to comment specifically on the situation involving an individual at my former institution because of federal privacy laws and the ongoing criminal matters, I do want to make it clear that I take any allegation of sexual misconduct very seriously,” his statement read. “I always have and always will follow established institutional policies and procedures to ensure prompt reporting and proper handling of allegations by the appropriate authorities.”
New Washington coach Jedd Fisch said his staff was unaware of the allegation until the arrest.
“As soon as we found out about any allegation, we suspended him immediately from the program,” Fisch told reporters.
Rogers played in 11 games as a freshman out of Bakersfield, California. He rushed for 184 yards on 44 carries for the Huskies, and received six carries in the College Football Playoff after his suspension.
Four-star combo guard Justin Pippen, the son of NBA Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame player Scottie Pippen, announced his commitment to Michigan on Friday during a ceremony broadcast on the 247Sports YouTube channel. He chose the Wolverines over fellow finalists Florida, Stanford, Cal, and Texas A&M.
A product of Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California, Pippen ranks as the No. 62 overall player and the No. 9 combo guard in the 2025 cycle. Pippen is the first high school or transfer portal commit for new Michigan coach Dusty May, who left his post at FAU to succeed former coach Juwan Howard.
Pippen also marks the highest-ranked high school recruit in the 247Sports database that May has landed in his coaching career. May recruit three-star guard Elijah Elliott to FAU from the 2024 recruiting cycle before leaving for Michigan.
Pippen has been a late riser in the 2025 recruiting cycle. He debuted in the 247Sports rankings last fall as the No. 191 overall player in his class and has rocketed up the rankings since. Justin’s older brother, Scotty, played three seasons at Vanderbilt from 2019-22 before heading to the NBA.
“He’s grown nearly two inches in the last eight months while also continuing to improve and expand his skillset both as a scorer and playmaker,” 247Sports National Basketball Analyst Travis Branham wrote. “Pippen is a naturally talented guard with instincts for the game. He is very comfortable with the ball in his hands to score from all three levels and also set the tables for those around him. As he continues to grow and fill out his frame, Pippen can become a highly impactful high major guard, much like his brother did at Vanderbilt before him.”
One of college basketball’s must-see players is following his coach to a new destination. Former Indiana State star Robbie Avila committed to Saint Louis on Saturday. The move was expected ever since Josh Schertz left ISU to coach SLU earlier this month.
Avila became a cult hero-type figure in college basketball this past season for his outstanding skillset combined with his everyman physique. Nobody else in college basketball quite looked or played like Avila, who by early March had become one of the most recognizable faces in the sport — all while doing so for a seldom-good program out of the Missouri Valley.
Avila — whose nicknames have ranged from Larry Nerd to Steph Blurry to Cream Abdul-Jabbar — is ranked 12th among all guys in the portal, per our David Cobb. He averaged 17.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and shot 39.4% from 3-point range. Saint Louis is getting an outstanding player and, if his ascent continues, a potential All-American next season. If Avila’s game continues to improve and the Billikens can be a team competing to make the NCAAs, he’s got a shot at being one of college hoops’ biggest stars.
Avila isn’t the only big Billiken get here. He’s not even the only former Indiana State player committing to Schertz. Guard Isaiah Swope, who was Indiana State’s second leading scorer behind Avila, is also heading to SLU, per a source. Swope averaged 15.9 points and will be a vital scoring presence under Schertz at Saint Louis.
With Avila and Swope set to follow Schertz, the Billikens can claim to be one of the biggest mid-major winners of the portal this cycle. Avila’s game highlights led him to stardom on social media over the prior three months. Few men’s players generated attention on TikTok, Instagram and X/Twitter the way he did. Listed a 6-foot-10, 240 pounds, Avila effectively played point center for the Sycamores, who made it to the NIT championship game after barely missing on the NCAA Tournament.
The Sycs finished 32-7, marking the program’s second-best season — in terms of win total — in school history. The Larry Bird-led 1978-79 team won 33 games and lost in the national championship to Michigan State and Magic Johnson. This team would have made the NCAAs as an at-large if not for so many bid thieves taking automatic bids in conference tournaments.
Schertz was hired at Saint Louis on April 6 on a five-year deal that will pay him north of $2 million annually, sources previously told CBS Sports. With Avila and Swope in the fold — and more transfers expected to commit in the next couple of weeks — the Billikens are poised to be a major factor in the A-10 in Year 1 under Schertz.
When Ohio State fired Chris Holtmann on Valentine’s Day, not many people believed Jake Diebler would turn his interim tag into the permanent job.
But he did.
Diebler flipped the season, went 8-3 down the stretch (with wins over Purdue, Nebraska and Michigan State) and just generally did enough to gain the confidence of OSU’s administration. So he got the job. Still, you never really know how these things will go until they start going. But there’s no denying Diebler is off to a great start — first by showing himself to be a competent game-manager over the final six weeks of the season, then by recruiting at a level that suggests Ohio State should be a factor in the Big Ten again soon.
In the first few weeks of April, Diebler kept All-Big Ten guard Bruce Thornton and added All-SEC guard Meechie Johnson from South Carolina and former five-star recruit Aaron Bradshaw from Kentucky. Then, this weekend, he also added Micah Parrish, the 6-foot-6 guard who averaged 9.3 points and 4.1 rebounds as a starter at San Diego State this past season.
Now a possible OSU lineup looks like this:
G: Bruce Thornton G: Meechie Johnson G: Micah Parrish F: Devin Royal F: Aaron Bradshaw On paper, that’s nice — and why the Buckeyes are up to No. 15 in Version 8.0 of the 2024-25 CBS Sports preseason Top 25 And 1 college basketball rankings. Other developments that created change in Version 8.0 are Duke adding Syracuse transfer Maliq Brown, Alabama adding Auburn transfer Aden Holloway, Baylor adding Duke transfer Jeremy Roach, Clemson adding Boston College transfer Jaeden Zackery, Florida adding FAU transfer Alijah Martin, Indiana adding Stanford transfer Kanaan Carlyle and Providence adding Chicago State transfer Wesley Cardet Jr. The Blue Devils, Crimson Tide, Bears, Tigers, Gators, Hoosiers and Friars are now ranked No. 6, No. 9, No. 10, No. 13, No. 17, No. 20 and No. 23, respectively, in the Top 25 And 1.
Duke landed its second commitment from the transfer portal on Monday in Purdue sharpshooter Mason Gillis. The 6-foot-6 forward played a critical role in the Boilermakers reaching the Final Four earlier this month for the first time since 1980. He could find himself positioned to earn a starting role with the Blue Devils after coming off the bench during the 2023-24 campaign.
The news of Gillis’ commitment comes days after Duke landed a pledge from Syracuse forward Maliq Brown.
The Blue Devils have lost seven players to the transfer portal: Jeremy Roach, Mark Mitchell, TJ Power, Jaylen Blakes, Christian Reeves, Jaden Schutt, and Stewart. Duke stars Kyle Filipowski and Jared McCain declared for the 2024 NBA Draft earlier this month. Both players are in the conversation to be lottery picks this summer.
Year 3 of the Jon Scheyer at Duke will look drastically different. The Blue Devils returned four starters ahead of the 2023-24 campaign and reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the post-Mike Krzyzewski era. With the top-ranked recruiting class arriving, expectations for the Blue Devils will remain sky-high.
Duke’s starting backcourt during the 2024-25 season is shaping up to be a pair of returners in Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster. Proctor bypassed the 2023 NBA Draft to return to school for his sophomore season and decided to return for another season to raise his stock ahead of next summer’s draft.
Foster was a highly touted recruit in Duke’s 2023 recruiting class that ranked No. 2 in the 247Sports rankings behind Kentucky. With McCain and Roach no longer with the program, the door is open for Foster to take on a larger role ahead of next season.
CBS Sports is tracking the status of the Duke roster and recruiting class in real time. Here’s where every current Duke player and commit currently stand.
Gillis was one of the more underrated players in the transfer portal. Gillis could have a chance to start next to Proctor, Foster, Flagg, and Maluach. Gillis ranked as the No. 64 overall player in the CBS Sports Transfer Portal Rankings. Gillis shot 46.8% from distance on 3.2 attempts per night. He will provide valuable shooting for Duke after McCain departed the program for the NBA.
Maliq Brown (Transfer from Syracuse) GP: 32 | GS: 18 | PPG: 9.5 | RPG: 7.2
After spending the last two seasons at Syracuse, Brown entered the transfer portal and committed to Duke shortly after. Brown started 18 games this past season for the Orange and should be a valuable rotation piece this upcoming season. Brown, Gillis and Proctor are currently the only upperclassmen on the Duke roster.
Duke players expected to return Tyrese Proctor GP: 32 | GS: 25 | PPG: 10.5 | APG: 3.7
Proctor will be the most experienced player on the Duke roster next season (pending any veteran additions via the transfer portal). Proctor had an up-and-down season, which included missing a handful of games due to various injuries. Proctor came off the bench seven times in his 32 total appearances and will play a key role in merging experience with the six first-year players on the roster.
The No. 23 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class showed flashes of his four-star billing last season. Foster was ruled out of the NCAA Tournament due to a stress fracture in his ankle and missed the previous five games with the same injury. Foster is the only player (currently) remaining from Duke’s star-studded 2023 recruiting class.
Duke players not expected to return Jared McCain (Declared for NBA Draft) GP: 36 | GS: 36 | PPG: 14.3 | RPG: 5.0
McCain was Duke’s best 3-point shooter this past season. He finished the season connecting on 41.4% of his shots from distance on 5.8 attempts per game. While McCain could be considered undersized at the combo guard position, he makes up for it with his tenacious rebounding ability. McCain recorded at least five rebounds in 19 of the 36 games he played in. He projects as a lottery/mid-first-round pick this summer.
Kyle Filipowski (Declared for NBA Draft) GP: 36 | GS: 36 | PPG: 16.4 | RPG: 8.3
Filipowski proved to be a steady presence for Scheyer during his two seasons in Durham. He started all 72 games for the Blue Devils and earned ACC Rookie of the Year as a freshman and second-team All-American honors from CBS Sports this past season. Filipowski is another player who projects as a lottery/mid-first-round pick this summer.
Jeremy Roach (In transfer portal) GP: 35 | GS: 35 | PPG: 14.0 | APG: 3.3
Roach spent the first four seasons of his college career with Duke and was a key contributor on Duke’s last Final Four team during the 2021-22 season. After averaging a career-high 14 points per game on 42.9% shooting from distance, Roach elected to enter the transfer portal and play his final season elsewhere. There should be plenty of suitors for his services.
Mark Mitchell (Committed to Missouri) GP: 33 | GS: 32 | PPG: 11.6 | RPG: 6.0
After starting 67 games over the last two seasons with the Blue Devils, the former five-star recruit entered the transfer portal. Mitchell ranked as the No. 6 player in the CBS Sports Transfer Rankings and should help Missouri bounce back from an 0-18 showing in SEC play.
TJ Power (In transfer portal) GP: 26 | GS: 0 | PPG: 2.1 | RPG: 0.7
The former No. 17 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle appeared in 26 games during his first season with Duke. Power entered the transfer portal earlier this week.
Sean Stewart (In transfer portal) GP: 33| GS: 0 | PPG: 2.6 | RPG: 3.2
The former No. 22 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle appeared in 33 games during his first season with Duke. He entered the transfer portal on Friday.
Jaylen Blakes (In transfer portal) GP: 31| GS: 1 | PPG: 1.8 | RPG: 0.8
Blakes spent the first three seasons with Duke and made 31 appearances in consecutive seasons. Blakes ranked as a three-star recruit from the 2021 cycle.
Christian Reeves (In transfer portal) GP: 3 | GS: 0 | PPG: 1.7 | RPG: 1.7
Reeves spent the first two seasons with Duke and made 16 total appearances. Reeves ranked as a three-star recruit from the 2022 cycle.
Jaden Schutt (In transfer portal) GP: 0 | GS: 0 | PPG: 0 | RPG: 0
Schutt used a redshirt season after undergoing knee surgery. He averaged 2.1 points in 14 total games as a freshman.
Ryan Young (Out of eligibility) GP: 36 | GS: 2 | PPG: 2.8 | RPG: 3.4
The former Northwestern transfer is out of eligibility. Young spent the last two seasons with Duke and was a key backup center for the team.
Duke’s incoming recruiting class Duke’s 2024 recruiting class is loaded. It all starts with five-star forward Cooper Flagg, who is considered one of the best high school prospects in quite some time. The Blue Devils have six first-year players arriving on campus, which includes four five-stars and five players inside the top 20 of the 247Sports rankings. Five-star center Khaman Maluach, the No. 3 overall player in his class, committed late in the cycle from NBA Academy Africa to give the Blue Devils even more firepower. Flagg and Maluach should start in the frontcourt next to Proctor and Foster.
Here is a look at Duke’s incoming recruiting class with 247Sports rankings.
No. 1 Cooper Flagg Flagg is the best two-way prospect in the country and the top overall high school player in America regardless of class or position. Flagg should fit in right away with the Blue Devils because he is an engaged defender that uses his size to block shots around the rim and he crashes the boards hard on both ends. On offense, Flagg has shown he can be a three-level scorer and has a killer instinct that makes him one of the more intriguing prospects in some time.
No. 3 Khaman Maluach The latest commitment from Duke’s recruiting class could be in line to start at center this season. The 7-foot-1, 250-pound big man committed to Duke over Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA, and more. Maluach should pair exceptionally well next to Flagg in the frontcourt because they can both do a little bit of everything.
No. 12 Isaiah Evans With a spot in the starting lineup open (assuming Proctor, Foster, Flagg, and Maluach are the other starters), Evans could have a chance to be the fifth and final starter. The five-star wing committed to Duke over Florida State, Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Memphis, and Tennessee.
No. 17 Kon Knueppel The five-star forward should get consideration to start at SF, depending on how Duke elects to fill the remaining spots on the roster. The top-ranked player from the state of Wisconsin committed to Duke over Wisconsin, Alabama, Virginia, and Marquette.
No. 18 Patrick Ngongba ll Ngongba signed with Duke over UConn, Kansas State, Kentucky, Michigan, and more. The five-star center was sidelined earlier in his high school season after having successful foot surgery in November. He projects as a potential backup to Flagg and Maluach.
No. 51 Darren Harris Harris was the first player from the 2024 recruiting cycle to commit to Duke. The 6-foot-6 wing is known for his 3-point shooting. He committed to the Blue Devils over George Mason, Georgetown, Maryland, Virginia Tech, and more.
