SBNation.com - All Postshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46737/sbn-fave.png2024-03-18T23:33:21-04:00http://feeds.sbnation.com/rss/current/2024-03-18T23:33:21-04:002024-03-18T23:33:21-04:00Anthony Edwards’ dunk of the year gave John Collins a head injury
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<p>Anthony Edwards’ dunk of the year on John Collins injured both players.</p> <p id="md87AD">Anthony Edwards is no stranger to the dunk of the year contest. Back in his rookie year of 2021, Edwards absolutely <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyNodFiofS8">baptized Yuta Watanabe for one of the best dunks</a> you will ever see. Believe it or not, he may have outdone himself on Monday night against the <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com">Utah Jazz</a>. </p>
<p id="5MkIE2">As the Timberwolves were on their way to a 114-104 win in Utah, Edwards unleashed an all-timer that gave John Collins a head injury, and will probably be viewed across all media platforms tens of millions of times. </p>
<p id="Vd1fr1">In the third quarter, the ball came Edwards’ way as he was running the floor full speed in transition. He loaded up off two feet, leapt from the dotted line, and threw down one of the nastiest posters ever over Collins. Watch the broadcast view of the dunk here:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">HOLY CRAP ANT <a href="https://t.co/tPxrijxGUB">pic.twitter.com/tPxrijxGUB</a></p>— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) <a href="https://twitter.com/cjzero/status/1769914045484700097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2024</a>
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<p id="ueTXsl">I screamed. There’s a chance that, 20 years from now, this dunk is the first play they show on Edwards’ Hall of Fame induction montage. It will still be just as awesome then, because this play already looks like it’s from the future.</p>
<p id="KOyCf2">This view is even better:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">NAH YOU NEEDA WATCH THIS AGAIN. <a href="https://t.co/wraIyHA4Uk">pic.twitter.com/wraIyHA4Uk</a></p>— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Timberwolves/status/1769915252244635865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2024</a>
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<p id="h0VZy2">The impact was so forceful that it injured both players. Edwards said he dislocated his finger after the game. Collins exited the game for concussion evaluation and didn’t return. Doctors ruled he doesn’t have a concussion, but he does have a head contusion. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Utah's John Collins has suffered a head contusion from play contesting Anthony Edwards' poster dunk tonight, sources say. Head injury but no concussion for Collins.</p>— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1769925642303553740?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2024</a>
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<p id="WJb1ts">Edwards watched the dunk on a monitor after the game in a TV interview, and his reaction was priceless. </p>
<p id="o02nNG">“Oh my god!” Edwards said watching the slam. He called it the best dunk of his career. Edwards also confirms his finger injury in this video.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Anthony Edwards reacting to a replay of the dunk <a href="https://t.co/yEfQYXVfy0">pic.twitter.com/yEfQYXVfy0</a></p>— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChristopherHine/status/1769926333596115203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2024</a>
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<p id="q7jlFW">Edwards is just a supernova. <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2019/1/15/18139281/anthony-edwards-basketball-recruiting-nba-draft">I remember interviewing him as a high school senior in 2019 for this feature on the origin story of basketball’s next superstar in the making</a>. It’s so cool to think back to that conversation now as his career has taken off.</p>
<p id="4QqHIJ">Edwards is one of the greatest run and jump athletes you will ever see. This is his magnum opus. Let’s just hope both players can recover from these injuries and get back on the court.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2024/3/18/24105535/anthony-edwards-dunk-video-john-collins-head-injury-reactionRicky O'Donnell2024-03-18T19:39:28-04:002024-03-18T19:39:28-04:00Valspar Championship 2024: Odds, prediction, value picks for PGA Tour event
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<img alt="PGA Tour, Valspar Championship, Taylor Moore" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sf7KZ3IwH0Dd22y-Ec3dTYAkllw=/0x508:2618x2253/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73216657/1474705659.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Taylor Moore smiles after winning the 2023 Valspar Championship. | Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The PGA Tour continues its Florida Swing on the West Coast, where the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook awaits.</p> <p id="Nz7PDY">A full field of 156 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/16/24103344/pga-tour-board-member-peter-malnati-liv-golf-fake">PGA Tour</a> professionals will head to the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook for the Valspar Championship this week.</p>
<p id="L7FmNW">This tournament marks the fourth—and final—PGA Tour stop in Florida, with the “Snake Pit” taking center stage in the golf world.</p>
<p id="5KR7qn">The 16th, 17th, and 18th holes at the Copperhead Course comprise the “Snake Pit,” as they rank among the most challenging three-hole stretches on the PGA Tour.</p>
<h2 id="opCoUA"><strong>Valspar Championship Odds</strong></h2>
<p id="T8vCwu">Here are the current <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/golf/valspar-championship">odds</a> for players to win, per DraftKings:</p>
<ul>
<li id="DUFvMt">Xander Schauffele +800</li>
<li id="zbQ2ti">Sam Burns +1200</li>
<li id="kjAuM1">Justin Thomas +1400</li>
<li id="qbYu4c">Jordan Spieth +1400</li>
<li id="706wP7">Tony Finau +2200</li>
<li id="VNizDw">Cameron Young +2200</li>
<li id="ZcJhcK">Brian Harman +2200</li>
<li id="thhNlD">Sungjae Im +2500</li>
<li id="TpuhPH">Nick Taylor +3500</li>
<li id="3T6ObR">Min Woo Lee +3500</li>
<li id="rIA0S9">Keegan Bradley +4000</li>
<li id="HKVUV9">Eric Cole +4000</li>
<li id="JoPqIV">Keith Mitchell +4000</li>
</ul>
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<cite>DraftKings</cite>
<figcaption>Odds provided by DraftKings.</figcaption>
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<h2 id="lXtnpJ"><strong>Valspar Championship Predictions</strong></h2>
<p id="PKwRS7">Last year, American Taylor Moore birdied the difficult 16th hole to take a one-shot lead during Sunday’s final round. He then made par on 17 and 18, and claimed his first PGA Tour victory by one stroke over Adam Schenk.</p>
<p id="ehLcHM">Finishing two strokes behind were <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2023/10/1/23898215/ryder-cup-tommy-fleetwood-clinches-rickie-fowler-concession">Tommy Fleetwood</a> and <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/2/1/24057638/pga-news-jordan-spieth-saudi-pif-liv-golf-ssg-deal">Jordan Spieth</a>.</p>
<p id="Mkfhse">This year, five of the top 20 players in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) will tee it up at Innisbrook. </p>
<p id="ecuMYQ">Xander Schauffele and Brian Harman, fresh off their runner-up finishes at <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/17/24103888/players-championship-rickie-fowler-altercation-with-fan-viral">The Players</a>, will crisscross the state to the Tampa Bay area for the Valspar Championship. </p>
<p id="BUyX55">Schauffele last played in this event in 2022, tying for 12th. Harman, meanwhile, has had more appearances at Innisbrook, but more on the former Georgia Bulldog follows below.</p>
<p id="yPB21q">Keegan Bradley, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/16/24103175/pga-news-the-players-sam-burns-tpc-sawgrass-value-36-hole-cuts">Sam Burns</a>, and Spieth are also in the field, as are <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/1/17/24041529/justin-thomas-enforces-alabama-bet-sam-burns-consequences">Justin Thomas</a>, Lucas Glover, and Min Woo Lee.</p>
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<img alt="Valspar Championship" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/luLgAskx1T3U11z6QOpHTewk2tQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25343173/515409794.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>A copperhead statue signifying the “Snake Pit” portion of the course sits near the 16th tee at Innisbrook.</figcaption>
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<h3 id="6NJvW1"><strong>Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth bounce back</strong></h3>
<p id="X7V4DW">Despite both players missing the cut last week at <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/12/24097805/pga-tour-players-championship-tpc-sawgrass-toughest-4-holes">TPC Sawgrass</a>, we believe that both Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth will bounce back at the Valspar Championship. These two major champions will arrive at Innisbrook refreshed thanks to their early exit in Ponta Vedra Beach.</p>
<p id="TqiJFw">Over his last three appearances at Innisbrook, Thomas has tied for 13th, third, and 10th. Shotmakers typically do well on this golf course, and Thomas has every shot required in his arsenal. We like him to finish in the top 5 at +330 this week.</p>
<p id="MSK4p0">As for Spieth, he also bodes a strong record on the Copperhead Course. </p>
<p id="TsDraz">He won the Valspar Championship in 2015 in a playoff over Patrick Reed and Sean O’Hair, perhaps foreshadowing his major breakthrough at <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/the-masters-golf-augusta-national">Augusta National</a> a few weeks later. </p>
<p id="8Zv5Ty">Spieth most recently tied for third there a year ago, but it could have been a better result if not for two bogies on his final three holes. He hit it into the water on 16, which ultimately sealed his fate.</p>
<p id="2QsiX5">Nevertheless, we like Spieth to record his third top 10 finish of the season at a price of +175.</p>
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<img alt="Jordan Spieth, PGA Tour, Valspar Championship" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CtC6KWdmFdTA_oOnA9b8-85OyRk=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25343165/1474715537.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Jordan Spieth lines up a putt during the final round of the 2023 Valspar Championship.</figcaption>
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<h2 id="LCaBGh"><strong>Brian Harman struggles</strong></h2>
<p id="8BOmLV">Coming off his best finish of the season at the Players Championship, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/16/24103425/players-championship-sahith-theegala-brian-harman-tpc-sawgrass-easy">Brian Harman</a> is now headed to a course that has routinely stumped him during his career.</p>
<p id="ERv3U6">Of the nine times he has played in this event, Harman has missed the cut six times, including last season when he carded rounds of 70 and 75 on the par-71 layout. With that said, Harman did tie for fifth at Innisbrook in 2022, finishing three strokes out of a playoff won by Sam Burns.</p>
<p id="f9PcqE">But this week will mark a third straight event for Harman. Even though it looks as if he is rounding into form as the major season approaches, we believe that Harman should be avoided as a pick this week. This course just does not fit his eye.</p>
<h3 id="IGTEYK"><strong>Valspar Championship Longshot Pick</strong></h3>
<p id="lMK64G">This could be the week for one of golf’s favorite players.</p>
<p id="DRyUeM">We like <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/18/24104762/joel-dahmen-players-championship-nearly-cost-him-cash">Joel Dahmen</a> to parlay his success from The Players Championship into the Valspar Championship. He tied for 11th at TPC Sawgrass, shooting two 67s and a 4-under 68 over the final three rounds to tie for 11th. </p>
<p id="5Gn55E">Dahmen ranked 15th in strokes gained approaching the green last week, as TPC Sawgrass puts a premium on iron play. The Copperhead Course is similar, as strong iron play is required to win at Innisbrook.</p>
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<img alt="Joel Dahmen, PGA Tour, Valspar Championship" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7-WuJESIHwfAFuomLeflyQTqXB0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25343198/1473931636.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Joel Dahmen during the 2023 Valspar Championship.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="Zk3ArQ">Last year, when Dahmen tied for 61st at the Valspar, the former Washington Husky ranked 6th in strokes gained approaching the green. He could not putt to save his life, which explains why he finished 15 strokes behind Taylor Moore. He ranked 68th in strokes gained putting, losing almost five strokes on the greens.</p>
<p id="lu0fRc">But Dahmen has never missed the cut at this event, as his best finish came in 2019, when he tied for 30th.</p>
<p id="UEF3ve">Picking him to win at +10000 this week is a little ambitious, especially considering that this field features numerous high-caliber players. But we like Dahmen to finish in the top 10 at +850. Surely, golf fans everywhere will be rooting him on all weekend long.</p>
<h2 id="oq3otL"><strong>Valspar Championship Pick</strong></h2>
<p id="Es5xte">Outside of the recent Scottie Scheffler domination, the theme of this PGA Tour season has been first-time winners.</p>
<p id="QcLn87">We believe that another first-time winner will emerge victorious this week at Innisbrook. </p>
<p id="7joQkS">As such, we are going to with long shot Eric Cole to prevail at +4000.</p>
<p id="62C0hC">Although he has missed two cuts within the last three weeks, Cole won the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year award last season. He seemingly plays every week, no matter where the tournament is.</p>
<p id="hLue1L">Cole has played in every single event thus far this season, with his best finish being a tie for 10th at the Genesis Invitational. He also finished 21st or better four other times, most recently at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.</p>
<p id="kd2B4Z">Plus, like Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, Cole will arrive in the Tampa Bay area well-rested and ready to go. He is due for a win, and we believe he finally breaks through at the Valspar Championship.</p>
<p id="lMoBb9">For all other sports betting content, check out <a href="https://dknetwork.draftkings.com/">SB Nation’s DraftKings site</a>.</p>
<p id="N1YW4d"><em>Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out </em><a href="https://twitter.com/_PlayingThrough"><em>@_PlayingThrough</em></a> <em>for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter </em><a href="https://twitter.com/jack_milko"><em>@jack_milko</em></a><em> as well.</em></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/18/24105075/pga-tour-valspar-championship-2024-odds-prediction-value-picksJack Milko2024-03-18T19:22:45-04:002024-03-18T19:22:45-04:00SB Nation’s Playing Through nails Scottie Scheffler pick at The Players; Who’s Next?
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<img alt="Scottie Scheffler, The Players Championship" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PLBzjuIQ0Vqd426w1Lu1EGepe1A=/0x110:3585x2500/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73216631/2092404154.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Scottie Scheffler poses with the trophy after winning the 2024 Players Championship. | Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Scottie Scheffler won The Players, and SB Nation’s Playing Through called the pick. So, who’s next up at the Valspar Championship?</p> <p id="zxafm1"><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/17/24104289/scottie-scheffler-players-championship-history-miracle-win">Scottie Scheffler won The Players</a> in dramatic fashion, overcoming an ailing neck and a five-shot deficit on Sunday to win by one.</p>
<p id="C4qzsc">Although the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf">Playing Through</a> crew did not envision how things would play out, they correctly picked Scheffler to repeat as Players champion—and becoming the first player in the tournament’s illustrious history to go back-to-back.</p>
<p id="6MK8Zi">As staff writer <a href="https://twitter.com/jack_milko">Jack Milko</a> wrote ahead of The Players:</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="CGBTC6">Scottie Scheffler is playing in a league of his own, and I cannot pick against him. He leads the tour in scoring average, strokes gained overall, and strokes gained off the tee. He has hit 78% of his greens in regulation, also ranking at the top of the PGA Tour. </p>
<p id="OEvRQF">His recent play resembles prime <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/18/24104678/scottie-scheffler-tiger-woods-comparison-closer-than-you-think">Tiger Woods</a>, and Scheffler will achieve something that not even Woods has done this week: repeat at TPC Sawgrass. </p>
<p id="kEClKu">Last year, Scheffler gained a preposterous 17.274 total strokes, with only 0.107 of those coming on the greens. He played with a blade putter then, and Scheffler is currently one-for-one with his new mallet putter. </p>
<p id="olpfXM">The 2022 Masters champion gained 4.347 strokes on the greens last week, ranking 5th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. With his superior play tee-to-green, it is no surprise that he won convincingly. </p>
<p id="W6H4M7">As such, I like his hot putter to continue flexing its muscles at TPC Sawgrass, where Scheffler will become the first player to win back-to-back Players Championships.</p>
</blockquote>
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<img alt="Scottie Scheffler, Ted Scott, PGA Tour, The Players Championship" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JRQGp-wkrHD1aZfDjPF9cmCtz4k=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25343298/2084806910.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Brian Spurlock/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Scottie Scheffler and his caddy, Ted Scott.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="hemc8u">Added <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsGirlSL">Savannah Leigh Richardson</a>, who also picked Scheffler to prevail:</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="PVcPin">I think Scheffler goes back-to-back at TPC Sawgrass, entering himself into his own sphere among PGA Tour legends. Now that he has gotten a hot putter, it could get ugly for the rest of the field.</p>
<p id="UbuTsk">“I found a putter that I line up very well,” Scheffler explained Tuesday. “I wasn’t using it as trying to hit it perfectly each time or using it in anything else other than to try and help myself line up.”</p>
<p id="d2fWMD">Scheffler also removed the line from his ball ahead of last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, which also paid dividends.</p>
<p id="DFKQIC">“It’s a lot easier to say, ‘Hey, it doesn’t really matter if you miss or make it, but at the end of the day, it matters a heck of a lot to me whether that putt goes in or not,’” Scheffler added. “But it’s about sticking to my process and controlling what I can control. That’s having a good attitude and hitting a good putt, and not using the line has helped a lot in that.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="pMC8Uq">Predicting the winner of golf tournaments is next to impossible, but two members of our team accurately picked Scheffler to win.</p>
<p id="POt2kC">As the Florida Swing continues this week at the Valspar Championship, who do you think will win? Scheffler will not be there, so somebody else will show up in the winner’s circle on Sunday evening.</p>
<p id="cFUDGd">But could it be <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/2024/2/6/24064138/justin-thomas-disagrees-rory-mcilroy-liv-golf-return-pga-tour">Justin Thomas</a> or <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/2/1/24057638/pga-news-jordan-spieth-saudi-pif-liv-golf-ssg-deal">Jordan Spieth</a>? Or maybe another first-time winner on the PGA Tour emerges.</p>
<p id="m3Y44a">You can check out Playing Through’s full betting preview of the Valspar Championship <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/e/23869116">here</a>.</p>
<p id="3yJhDB"><em>Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out </em><a href="https://twitter.com/_PlayingThrough"><em>@_PlayingThrough</em></a> <em>for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter </em><a href="https://twitter.com/jack_milko"><em>@jack_milko</em></a><em> as well.</em></p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/18/24105321/scottie-scheffler-win-playing-through-nails-the-players-pickJack Milko2024-03-18T13:36:27-04:002024-03-18T13:36:27-04:006 March Madness Cinderellas who can bust your bracket in men’s NCAA tournament
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<img alt="South Alabama v James Madison" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pnvI15_1S-veO47NPh_nTXZDKqM=/0x0:3600x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73215678/1949859777.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>We’ve got a 15-seed for you to take a hard look at. </p> <p id="OSWd4k">March Madness scholars may debate this, but it is widely accepted that there are two types of NCAA tournament Cinderellas: 1) The 13-16 seed that pulls off a first round stunner and occasionally makes it to a Sweet 16 or beyond, and 2) The 8-12 seed (especially from a mid-major conference) that makes a run all the way to a regional final or Final Four. </p>
<p id="EdTBnp">There are plenty of options in this year’s field that fit one of the two descriptions. Let’s look at the six with the best opportunity to make good on their Cinderella potential. </p>
<h3 id="y49pXX">1. Samford </h3>
<p id="UUBrZr">The entire country is about to get a briefing on “Bucky Ball” this week. </p>
<p id="NW6k1z">The term comes from Samford head coach Bucky McMillan, who is in his fourth season with the Bulldogs. McMillan has basically spent his entire life in the Birmingham area, and was hired at Samford in 2020 after a successful 12-year stint as the head coach at Mountain Brook High School. He had never spent a second as a college head coach or assistant. </p>
<p id="teQ446">The gamble has paid off in a major way. McMillan has been named the Southern Conference’s Coach of the Year in each of the last three seasons, and this year he has the Bulldogs in the NCAA tournament for just the third time ever and the first time since 2000. </p>
<p id="DcXylf">Don’t be surprised if that isn’t where this Samford team’s story ends. </p>
<p id="cE0WsJ">Part of “Bucky Ball” is pressing for a full 40 minutes. Off makes, off misses, off turnovers, off everything. That’s not exactly an ideal matchup for a Kansas team that is dealing with injuries to its two star players. </p>
<p id="Fu6ia3">Want more evidence to support the upset pick? Samford shoots a ton of threes and it makes a ton of threes. The Bulldogs are a hitting at a 39.3 percent clip from beyond the arc, the eighth-best mark of any team in Division-I. </p>
<p id="lZfavn">It sounds strange to say out loud, but Samford over Kansas is a very live shot. </p>
<h3 id="I7jUUN">2. Oregon </h3>
<p id="Vpm1Pq">Dana Altman’s <a href="https://www.addictedtoquack.com">Oregon Ducks</a> are coming off a week in which they won the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/pac-12-basketball-tournament">Pac-12 tournament</a>, knowing that it was their only route to the NCAA tournament. The last time that happened was 2019, when Oregon was awarded a 12-seed in the Big Dance and advanced all the way to the Sweet before narrowly falling to eventual national champion Virginia. </p>
<p id="srO0Pu">History could very easily repeat itself this week. </p>
<p id="y6LDzo">The Ducks are an 11-seed with a fairly friendly first round matchup against a South Carolina team that has overachieved all season. Win that one and a matchup against Altman’s old school, Creighton, could be waiting in round two. </p>
<p id="OqRCrO">No one flips disappointment on its head quite like Altman. The last three times his Ducks have returned to the NCAA tournament after a year or two of missing out, he’s taken them to the tournament’s second weekend. With talks in recent weeks about him needing to retire or the school needing to move in a different direction, it feels even more likely that this could be a week where forces the narrative to do a 180. </p>
<aside id="TEuccq"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Bet on the 2024 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at DraftKings Sportsbook","url":"https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/ncaab"}]}'></div></aside><h3 id="kh009o">3. James Madison </h3>
<p id="9cvIVi">It’s time for a 12-seed revival. </p>
<p id="QR6b5a">The 12 over 5 has been America’s favorite first round upset pick for a while now, but in recent years, the 12-line hasn’t lived up to their historic hype. Just two 12-seeds have made runs to the second weekend of the tournament over the last decade, and in the 68-team era (since 2011), there have been just as many No. 15 seeds to make the Sweet 16 as No. 12s (four).</p>
<p id="8kVixp">Basically, 12-seeds need a boost. Enter James Madison. </p>
<p id="FtB61V">Every Final Four but one since 2012 has featured at least one team seeded seventh or worse. I think the Dukes have a really chance to be that team this year. </p>
<p id="EuCZFx">The South Region has mega “could fall apart quickly and dramatically” potential. </p>
<p id="JSm2HA">Top-seeded Houston has been rock solid for most of this season, but is coming off of an eye-opening (in all the wrong ways) 69-41 loss to <a href="https://www.widerightnattylite.com">Iowa State</a> in the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/big-12-basketball-tournament">Big 12 tournament</a> title game. Second-seeded Marquette played the entire <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/big-east-basketball-tournament">Big East tournament</a> without star point guard Tyler Kolek, who also missed the final three games of the regular season with an oblique injury. Third-seeded Kentucky epitomizes the old cliche of “can beat anyone in the tournament and lose to anyone in the tournament. And fourth-seeded Duke has been so disappointed by its play in its last two games, that Blue Devil players reportedly went the infamous “players only meeting” route after their quick return home from the NCAA tournament.</p>
<p id="VDx4Z9">James Madison is 31-3. They opened their season with a true road victory over a <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com">Michigan State</a> team that’s in the field as a 9-seed. They shoot the ball well, they have guards who take care of the ball well, and they defend well. </p>
<p id="YBkklp">If they can get past Wisconsin, this could be a team that sees the world burning around them and takes full advantage. </p>
<h3 id="2cJZGB">4. South Dakota State</h3>
<p id="zsMT20">Look, a 15 has beaten a 2 in three straight NCAA tournaments, so it would feel wrong to have a list like this without featuring at least one 15-seed, right?</p>
<p id="HLNryh">I love this Iowa State team and I love T.J. Otzelberger as a head coach, but for weeks now, the Cyclones have matched the statistical profile of past well-seeded teams that have flamed out early in the NCAA tournament. I know they rolled to the Big 12 tournament title, I know the talk around them is about how they should have been the No. 5 overall seed, I know ... I’m just sayin’.</p>
<p id="HDpgIy">Furthermore, there have been 23 No. 2 seeds in tournament history that started the season unranked and entered the tournament ranked in the top 10. Fifteen of those 23 teams (including Marquette last season) have failed to make it to the Sweet 16. One team fits that description this year: Iowa State.</p>
<p id="WCjcr9">This is South Dakota State’s seventh NCAA tournament appearance since 2012. It’s a program that expects to be here. The Jackrabbits, like the other little guys featured on this list, shoot the ball extremely well (36.2 percent from three as a team, 50th-best in D-I). They’re also entering March Madness riding the nation’s fifth-longest winning streak at eight straight games. </p>
<p id="czUjHf">Despite all their success, SDSU has never won a game in the NCAA tournament. Everyone in the world outside of New England thought they were going to beat Providence two years ago, and it didn’t happen. Maybe they just needed more of an element of surprise on their side. </p>
<h3 id="BGMBUw">5. Charleston</h3>
<p id="g8dec6">Like South Dakota State, Charleston isn’t quite as well-regarded as they were the last time they made the NCAA tournament two seasons ago. </p>
<p id="V2laAv">The Cougars are 27-7 and have won 12 straight games — the nation’s second-longest winning streak — but they have no wins over teams in the NCAA tournament or teams ranked in the top 100 on KenPom. What they do have is a head coach in Pat Kelsey who is widely regarded as one of the brightest young stars in the sport, and an erratic first round opponent in Alabama who seems to scream first round upset ... or 35-point first round rout. </p>
<p id="Hcv0Nt">The metrics have loved this Alabama team all season long, but the Crimson Tide’s play, especially of late, has made a lot of people wonder why.</p>
<p id="p5NeZL">Alabama has 11 losses, the most of any team seeded on the top four lines. They’ve lost four of their last six, and have allowed over 100 points in three of those four losses. On the flip side, they’ve also scored 100 points or more in four of their last nine games. </p>
<p id="iuRR28">If ‘Bama is playing its A or A- game, there’s not much Charleston is going to be able to do about it. If ‘Bama is playing its C or C- game, the Cougars absolutely have the experience, the discipline and the coaching to take full advantage. </p>
<h3 id="qltcoP">6. Drake </h3>
<p id="QUXi1G">A 10-seed doesn’t really fit the “Cinderella” moniker ... unless it’s a team (especially a mid-major) making a run to a regional final or beyond. Drake can without question be that team. </p>
<p id="ywBL8D">While everyone was focused on Indiana State for the last month, the Bulldogs might be poised to be the Missouri Valley team everyone winds up remembering from this season. </p>
<p id="Ee1buX">They have a bon-a-fide star in Tucker DeVries (coach Darian DeVries’ son), who has been the MVC Player of the Year each of the last two seasons. He is absolutely good enough to have one of those Wally Szczerbiak two-week runs that everyone remembers forever. </p>
<p id="qJ4tiA">The Bulldogs are in the nation’s top 40 in pretty much every offensive stat that matters, they’re solid defensively, they’re one of the best rebounding teams in the country, and perhaps most importantly, they seem to have a favorable draw. </p>
<p id="npK8kX">They would probably need someone else to take care of <a href="https://www.theuconnblog.com">UConn</a> for them in the top half of the South Region, but that happened, Drake could be this year’s Florida Atlantic. </p>
https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2024/3/18/24104868/ncaa-tournament-upset-picks-2024-march-madness-cinderellas-samford-james-madisonMike Rutherford2024-03-18T13:33:11-04:002024-03-18T13:33:11-04:00Complete schedule, scores for women’s 2024 NCAA tournament
<figure>
<img alt="Syndication: The Des Moines Register" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/spIkxb5TlkQZhoz-YPNDTOz5dSk=/0x0:5210x3473/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73211423/usa_today_22745289.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>March Madness is here and the women’s tournament should be one that will catch attention. </p> <p id="iu4q4E">The women’s 2024 NCAA Tournament will begin on Wednesday, March 20 with First Four games and will continue through the Final Four and National Championship, which are set for April 5 & 7. This year’s Women’s Final Four will take place at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio.</p>
<p id="fzXQjS">The women’s bracket was revealed on Sunday night. </p>
<p id="7tuQL9">The four No. 1 seeds are South Carolina, Iowa, USC and Texas.</p>
<p id="0E0MoR">First and second round NCAA tournament games will be hosted at school sites with the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds being held in Portland, Oregon and Albany, New York. </p>
<p id="gQBDeK">Last year, LSU defeated Iowa to win the national championship. This year there are many teams who could make a splash in the tournament. South Carolina enters undefeated, while this season’s LSU and Iowa squads look talented and ready to compete. And we can’t forget about Stanford and USC in the Pac-12. Although South Carolina will enter as the favorite, we know that anything can happen in March. </p>
<p id="ksK3ib">See below for the complete schedule. </p>
<ul>
<li id="n3XzHa">
<strong>Selection Sunday:</strong> 8 p.m. ET Sunday, March 17 </li>
<li id="AXzOu6">
<strong>First Four:</strong> March 20-21</li>
<li id="BtvZO1">
<strong>First round: </strong>March 22-23</li>
<li id="lNvl87">
<strong>Second round:</strong> March 24-25</li>
<li id="CkmJ74">
<strong>Sweet 16:</strong> March 29-30</li>
<li id="MRUw4H">
<strong>Elite Eight</strong>: March 31-April 1</li>
<li id="5uJln2">
<strong>Final Four:</strong> Friday, April 5 at 7:00 p.m. ET</li>
</ul>
<p id="gSCTKa"><strong>NCAA championship game</strong>: Sunday, April 7 at 3 p.m. ET </p>
<p id="TMTZ1e">See below for the 2024 tournament matchups:</p>
<h3 id="V2knjd">First Four </h3>
<p id="B6j7ax"><strong>Wednesday, March 20</strong><br>No. 16 Sacred Heart vs. No 16 Presbyterian | 7 p.m. ET<br>No. 12 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 Columbia | 9 p.m. ET</p>
<p id="VnXtbg"><strong>Thursday, March 21</strong><br>No. 16 Holy Cross vs. No. 16 UT Martin | 9 p.m. ET<br>No. 11 Auburn vs. No. 11 Arizona | 7 p.m. ET</p>
<h3 id="aLgYop">First Round</h3>
<p id="73qz0J"><strong>Friday, March 22</strong><br>No. 8 North Carolina vs. No. 9 Michigan State | 11:30 a.m. ET<br>No. 7 Duke vs. No. 10 Richmond | 12 p.m. ET<br>No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 Middle Tennessee | 1:30 p.m. ET<br>No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 16 Sacred Heart/Presbyterian | 2 p.m. ET<br>No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 15 Maine | 2:30 p.m. ET<br>No. 1 Texas vs. No. 16 Drexel | 3 p.m. ET<br>No. 4 Virginia Tech vs. No. 13 Marshall | 3:30 p.m. ET<br>No. 4 Kansas State vs. No. 13 Portland | 4 p.m. ET<br>No. 3 LSU vs. No. 14 Rice | 4:30 p.m. ET<br>No. 8 Alabama vs. No. 9 Florida State | 5:30 p.m. ET<br>No. 5 Baylor vs. No. 12 Vanderbilt/Columbia | 6 p.m. ET<br>No. 5 Colorado vs. No. 12 Drake | 7 p.m. ET<br>No. 7 Iowa State vs. No. 10 Maryland | 7:30 p.m. ET<br>No. 3 Oregon State vs. No. 14 Eastern Washington | 8 p.m. ET<br>No. 2 Stanford vs. No. 15 Norfolk State 10 p.m. ET<br>No. 6 Nebraska vs. No. 11 Texas A&M | 10:30 p.m. ET</p>
<p id="V0poRO"><br><strong>Saturday, March 23</strong><br>No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Green Bay | 12 p.m. ET<br>No. 3 UConn vs. No. 14 Jackson State | 1 p.m. ET<br>No. 4 Indiana vs. No. 13 Fairfield | 1:30 p.m. ET<br>No. 8 Kansas vs. No. 9 Michigan | 2 p.m. ET<br>No. 2 Notre Dame vs. No. 15 Kent State | 2:15 p.m. ET<br>No. 3 NC State vs. No. 14 Chattanooga | 2:30 p.m. ET<br>No. 1 Iowa vs. No. 16 Holy Cross/UT Martin | 3:30 p.m. ET<br>No. 6 Syracuse vs. No. 11 Auburn/Arizona | 3:30 p.m. ET<br>No. 5 Oklahoma vs. No. 12 Florida Gulf Coast | 4 p.m. ET<br>No. 1 USC vs. No. 16 Texas A&M Corpus Christi | 4:30 p.m. ET<br>No. 7 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Marquette | 4:45 p.m. ET<br>No. 8 West Virginia vs. No. 9 Princeton | 5:30 p.m. ET<br>No. 7 Creighton vs. No. 10 UNLV | 7 p.m. ET<br>No. 4 Gonzaga vs. No. 13 UC Irvine | 7:30 p.m. ET<br>No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 15 Cal Baptist | 9:30 p.m. ET<br>No. 5 Utah vs. No. 12 South Dakota State | 10 p.m. ET</p>
<p id="FNeWMC"></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/2024/3/16/24101156/complete-schedule-scores-for-womens-2024-ncaa-tournamentbethmaiman2024-03-18T13:18:50-04:002024-03-18T13:18:50-04:00Joel Dahmen’s ‘juicy’ Players Championship round nearly cost some cash for fans
<figure>
<img alt="Joel Dahmen, PGA Tour, Players Championship, Bushmills Irish Whiskey" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bprDg4wnPLhlX-bhdM-Gz3jA6lE=/0x0:6720x4480/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73215620/Bushmills_Golf_AZ_Joel_8.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bushmills Irish Whiskey</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Dahmen surged up the leaderboard at The Players Championship after an impressive weekend, but thankfully his bank account is safe.</p> <p id="KsCapT"><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/17/24104274/players-championship-finish-greatest-ever-pga-tour-fans-shock">This year’s Players Championship</a> proved to be a fantastic week for <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/2/4/24061091/joel-dahmen-pga-tour-pros-give-back-titos-shorties-classic">Joel Dahmen</a>. He ought to go buy some lottery tickets, as his prognostication skills were on point.</p>
<p id="CfTSjj">The former Washington Husky <a href="https://x.com/Joel_Dahmen/status/1769149752090996958?s=20">made a bet on himself</a> with his sponsor Bushmills Irish Whiskey for St. Patrick’s Day. <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/2/9/24067694/phoenix-open-joel-dahmen-gifts-fans-man-people">Dahmen is a man of the people</a>, so it wasn’t surprising to see him make the wager on social media.</p>
<div id="KN2Oet">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’m feeling the luck of the Irish this weekend! I'm betting on myself to finish in the top 10 and if I do, Joel's Juicy Lies are on me and <a href="https://twitter.com/BushmillsUSA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bushmillsUSA</a> to celebrate<br><br>Check it out!!!!! <a href="https://t.co/RlhWzutMwn">https://t.co/RlhWzutMwn</a></p>— Joel Dahmen (@Joel_Dahmen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Joel_Dahmen/status/1769149752090996958?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2024</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="zMjZCb">“I’m feeling the luck of the Irish this weekend! I’m betting on myself to finish in the top 10, and if I do, Joel’s Juicy Lies are on me and @bushmillsUSA to celebrate,” Dahmen wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.</p>
<p id="W1hSLc">Dahmen went 74-67-67-68, closing with a birdie on his 72nd hole. His 4-under Sunday vaulted him up the leaderboard, but he finished one stroke shy of cashing in for the masses.</p>
<p id="W2TU6g">Dahmen tied for 11th at one of the biggest PGA Tour events of the season. </p>
<p id="i9qJm1">Nevertheless, he was right to believe in himself this week. This was by far his best performance of the season after having missed the cut in three of his previous six events.</p>
<p id="Hma8Nj">That one shot may be a saving grace, though. If he had finished inside the top 10, that whiskey bill for "Joel's Juicy Lies" would have been massive. Now, he doesn't have to share any of that $606,250 check, except with his caddie <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2023/6/10/23755508/pga-news-rick-flair-trolls-joel-dahmen-geno-bonnalie">Geno Bonnalie</a>, who will get a big paycheck himself.</p>
<p id="qPadQU">Then again, one more birdie and Dahmen makes $100k more in winnings.</p>
<p id="CqH4Gd">It's nice to see Dahmen that high on the leaderboard again. After watching him struggle during the past year and watching that play out on Netflix's Season 2 of Full Swing, Dahmen appears to have found that itch again. </p>
<p id="hHdVzs">Bushmills Irish Whiskey is the whiskey of the PGA Tour. This past week at The Players, Bushmills bar made 'Joel's Juicy Lie' a feature all week with mini bucket hats.</p>
<div id="In9PDo">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Joel's Juicy Lie <br><br>Only at the <a href="https://twitter.com/BushmillsUSA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BushmillsUSA</a> Irish Whiskey Bar at Taste of Jax near No. 11 green.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/THEPLAYERS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#THEPLAYERS</a> <a href="https://t.co/NsVFAOUell">pic.twitter.com/NsVFAOUell</a></p>— THE PLAYERS (@THEPLAYERS) <a href="https://twitter.com/THEPLAYERS/status/1769427169858502713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2024</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="v1EUY8">Last August, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf">SB Nation’s Playing Through</a> got an inside look into <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2023/8/15/23821118/joel-dahmen-pga-tour-bushmills-whiskey-caddie">Dahmen’s new partnership with Bushmills</a>, with an exclusive. He created his own beverage, which seemed to be a crowd hit at The Players. </p>
<p id="ust3XK">To make a "Joel's Juicy Lie," one will need Bushmills 10-year malt blend, grapefruit soda, lime, and pineapple juice. It's a refreshing drink perfect for a golf outing or even a golf tournament.</p>
<p id="eCdf7P">This T11 finish is his best of the season, dating back to December at the Grant Thornton Invitational, where he was T9 with LPGA's World No. 1 Lilia Vu. </p>
<p id="u9gKLS">Maybe his week at The Players is a sign of what's to come for Dahmen in 2024.</p>
<p id="KoeWiS"><em>Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, be sure to follow us </em><a href="https://twitter.com/_PlayingThrough"><em>@_PlayingThrough</em></a><em> on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter </em><a href="https://twitter.com/SportsGirlSL"><em>@SportsGirlSL</em></a><em> and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.</em></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/18/24104762/joel-dahmen-players-championship-nearly-cost-him-cashSavannah Leigh Richardson2024-03-18T12:58:06-04:002024-03-18T12:58:06-04:00Scottie Scheffler — Tiger Woods by the numbers: It’s closer than you think
<figure>
<img alt="Scottie Scheffler, Tiger Woods" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OkXzKYJDki4s7xMRmq2dEdoTm6g=/0x0:1758x1172/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73215543/Screenshot_2024_03_18_at_8.06.23_AM.0.png" />
<figcaption>Scottie Scheffler, Tiger Woods</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Scottie Scheffler won The Players Championship for the second straight year, building upon his already impressive resume.</p> <p id="Gkt96V">All day Sunday, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/17/24104289/scottie-scheffler-players-championship-history-miracle-win">Scottie Scheffler</a> had that killer instinct in him.</p>
<p id="NchtUs">Scheffler was a man on a mission, someone who wanted to win for the second straight week and, in this case, for the second straight year at <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/17/24104274/players-championship-finish-greatest-ever-pga-tour-fans-shock">The Players</a>.</p>
<p id="68R9ny">He also looked like <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/2/24088728/tiger-woods-play-tournament-pga-of-america-ceo">Tiger Woods</a> in his prime. He chased down another trophy with a disciplined, yet systematic style of play while others behind him caved under pressure. </p>
<p id="jBYc4r">“Anytime you can be compared to Tiger, I think, is really special, but the guy stands alone in our game,” Scheffler said after his victory at <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/12/24097805/pga-tour-players-championship-tpc-sawgrass-toughest-4-holes">TPC Sawgrass</a>. “He really does.”</p>
<p id="cuSUqD">Sunday evening was not the first time the 2022 Masters champion received a comparison to Woods.</p>
<p id="orsa4d">“I’m not going to remember the exact numbers, but, we’re playing at Riviera this year, and I hit my tee ball, and this guy yells out, ‘Congrats on being number one Scottie. Eleven more years to go,’” Scheffler reminisced.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Scottie Scheffler, PGA Tour, The Players Championship" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BaDNIXDY-UtgdV1y0XKTUNYB3XY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25342586/2084806740.jpg">
<cite>Photo by James Gilbert/PGA Tour via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Scottie Scheffler poses with The Players trophy after his win.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="gqH9gw">“This is my eighth tournament win now out here. I’ve tied him in Players Championships. Outside of that, I’ve got 14 more majors and 70-some PGA TOUR events to catch up. So I think I’m going to stick to my routine and continue to plot along, try and stay as even-keeled as I can.”</p>
<p id="lkY2zB">The reference to “11 more years” relates to Scheffler’s ascendance to the top-ranked player in the world. He has held that esteemed position for 74 weeks thus far in his career, which equates to roughly 18 months. </p>
<p id="PAPpvT">Woods, meanwhile, was ranked number one in the world for 683 weeks, or about 13 years and one month.</p>
<p id="7OoGT9">So, in reality, Scheffler will need to hold that top-ranked spot for a little less than 11 years.</p>
<p id="PsXW52">But as Scheffler pointed out himself, he has a long way to go to come close to— let alone match— Woods’ resume. </p>
<p id="RcNRII">Still, the comparisons between Woods and Scheffler certainly carry some weight. </p>
<h2 id="9eiL2e"><strong>Scottie Scheffler vs. Tiger Woods By The Numbers</strong></h2>
<p id="VvSGBa">The strokes gained metrics speak for themselves.</p>
<p id="HtcP2t">During the 2022-23 PGA Tour season, Scheffler averaged 2.614 strokes gained tee-to-green, which ranked second all-time behind Woods’ 2006 season (2.982). </p>
<p id="3J5CY4">(Worth noting: strokes gained began in 2003, or else Woods’ 2000 season would rank even higher than his 2006 campaign.)</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Scottie Scheffler, PGA Tour, The Players Championship" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kCtlR184TV5XN9fpr61isuhNWfs=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25342599/2084809282.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Scottie Scheffler on the 14th hole during the final round of the 2024 Players Championship.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="39ILQD">This year, of the 22 rounds Scheffler has played on the PGA Tour, he has averaged 2.83 strokes gained tee-to-green. </p>
<p id="7lIo7O">He has been better so far this year, which is quite the compliment, considering how well he played a season ago. </p>
<p id="Pl3oOU">Consider this: in 2023, Scheffler played in 23 events on the PGA Tour. He finished in the top five 13 times, including a tie for second at the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/pga-championship">PGA Championship</a> and a solo third at the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/us-open-golf">U.S. Open</a>.</p>
<p id="w4Uq4x">If he is not winning, he is right there, as was the case with Woods so many times. Scheffler also never came close to missing the cut a season ago, similar to Woods at the peak of his powers. </p>
<p id="b2I3Ig">The same can be said about this season. </p>
<p id="qfkn2S">Scheffler’s worst performance so far in 2024 came at <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/1/17/24041788/scottie-scheffler-american-express-real-start-2024-pga-tour-season">The American Express</a>—an absolute birdie barrage played across three courses. That event saw an amateur win for the first time since 1991, while Scheffler finished at 21-under and tied for 17th.</p>
<p id="Hfpq5C">Since then, Scheffler tied for 6th at Pebble Beach, finished three strokes out of a playoff in Phoenix, tied for 10th at Riviera, and then won back-to-back at the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/10/24096643/pga-news-scottie-scheffler-scorches-arnold-palmer-invitational">Arnold Palmer Invitational</a> and TPC Sawgrass.</p>
<p id="UCuu0Z">Sounds pretty Tiger-esque, right? </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Tiger Woods, The Players Championship" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mdatIFgzIJ9TKUDcRv1MCj0007U=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25342596/86323349.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Tiger Woods during the 2006 Players Championship.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="1HxsFU">But the comparisons do not stop there.</p>
<p id="X1YRaF">Scheffler remained composed all throughout Sunday’s final round at The Players, hitting fairways and greens while avoiding the trouble that lurked everywhere. He missed only two fairways—at the first and the seventh holes—and saved par on both.</p>
<p id="nPDvTS">He did not make a single bogey, either, while <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/17/24104310/the-players-championship-wyndham-clark-gutted-excruciating-loss">Wyndham Clark</a>, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/17/24104331/players-championship-xander-schauffele-bath-misery-cough-up-win">Xander Schauffele</a>, and Brian Harman—the trio who finished one stroke behind him—combined to make six.</p>
<p id="VWGTVT">That ultimately cost those players a chance at glory at TPC Sawgrass. But it did not cost Scheffler.</p>
<p id="fqCXyR">He simply does not make mistakes, and the stats prove it.</p>
<p id="8vxtoi">So far this season, Scheffler ranks first on the PGA Tour in bogey avoidance, dropping a shot only 7.61% of the time. In 2006, Woods’s bogey avoidance rate was 12.18%.</p>
<p id="G5Bg4U">Instead of making mistakes, Scheffler fires at flagsticks when a green light presents itself. Just as Woods did in his prime. Seemingly every round, the former Texas Longhorn sets himself up beautifully for multiple opportunities.</p>
<p id="I4qnvr">Despite his putter woes, Scheffler still has made a birdie or better on 31.48% of the holes he has played in 2024. That ranks first on the PGA Tour. Clark ranks second, almost two whole percentage points behind Scheffler.</p>
<p id="0RmH7R">In 2006, Woods’ birdie or better percentage was 27.14%, which ranked first on tour. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Tiger Woods, The Open" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rf4X-lT0Likk1J6kg-1Vw5TISAo=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25342592/832071464.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Peter Byrne/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>The scoreboard at the 2006 Open Championship.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2 id="snfJXn"><strong>Scheffler Flexes Clutch Gene, as did Woods</strong></h2>
<p id="P1G7Mb">But another statistical comparison between Woods and Scheffler has to do with their clutch genes.</p>
<p id="sDZ1hr">In 2006, Woods had a final-round scoring average of 68.75. He won seven times, including The Open and the PGA Championship back-to-back. What makes this even more impressive is that these two majors came on the heels of his missed cut at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot. That week, Woods was in a sorrowful state. His father and mentor, Earl, passed away a few weeks before.</p>
<p id="thaf8j">So far this season, Scheffler has a final-round scoring average of 66.43, highlighted by his exquisite 8-under 64 on Sunday at TPC Sawgrass.</p>
<p id="l0GOwf">He routinely shows up when it matters most, and he has done so on consecutive Sundays. Last week, the final round scoring average at Bay Hill was 73.14—the highest of any of the four rounds. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Scottie Scheffler, PGA Tour, Arnold Palmer Invitational" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KntncTb6hcEUJarYHI49CpVv36g=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25342601/2068280887.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA Tour via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Scottie Scheffler smiles following his win at the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="rAi7KU">So, Scheffler, with a bevy of other players in contention, carded one of the best rounds of the year. He shot a 6-under 66 in windy conditions to win by five.</p>
<p id="aKCPa5">Talk about clutch.</p>
<p id="nbLUpe">Funny enough, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/5/24091491/pga-news-scottie-scheffler-equipment-change-arnold-palmer-invitational">Scheffler changed to a mallet putter</a> in the days leading up to Bay Hill. He is now two for two with his new putter, something that should petrify the rest of the tour.</p>
<p id="buNaxq">Perhaps he makes it three for three at the Texas Children’s Open in Houston, where he will play next. </p>
<p id="jHC0yE">After that? The best players in the world—including those on <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/17/24104256/pga-news-rory-mcilroy-liv-golf-greg-norman-saudi-pif-disservice">LIV Golf</a>—will head to <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/the-masters-golf-augusta-national">Augusta National</a> for The Masters. Everyone—including those on the Saudi-backed circuit—will have their sights set on Scheffler, who will have a better chance than anyone to slip on the green jacket.</p>
<p id="HJkd8g">Indeed, it would not surprise anyone if he went on to win at Augusta.</p>
<p id="9b2Jhh">But should we be surprised that Scheffler is playing this well?</p>
<p id="ESMKaB"><em>Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out </em><a href="https://twitter.com/_PlayingThrough"><em>@_PlayingThrough</em></a> <em>for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter </em><a href="https://twitter.com/jack_milko"><em>@jack_milko</em></a><em> as well.</em></p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/3/18/24104678/scottie-scheffler-tiger-woods-comparison-closer-than-you-thinkJack Milko2024-03-18T09:49:30-04:002024-03-18T09:49:30-04:00Anthony Black and Gradey Dick gave NBA fans the jersey swap meme they were craving
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/A1n8EXeIMHk58H-tZB9oK48ny6A=/200x0:2360x1440/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73215003/swap.0.jpg" />
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<p>Who doesn’t need this in their life?</p> <p id="Tp7ZQL">The only thing Gradey Dick seems to enjoy more than playing basketball is having the last name “Dick.” On Sunday night he teamed up with Anthony Black of the Magic to prove that it’s not the size of the jersey that matters, but how you use it.</p>
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<p id="cuc5lk">In case you’re trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, as if this was some wild coincidence they have <em>no idea</em> was going to happen — please see Exhibit B, when the two players clearly formulated the plan for the “BLACK DICK” jersey swap photo.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Knew exactly what they were doing. Watch Gradey say “f**k it…” at the beginning of this, and Anthony re-position himself. <a href="https://t.co/N70ryyaeC1">pic.twitter.com/N70ryyaeC1</a></p>— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) <a href="https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1769522093753065521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2024</a>
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<p id="rNnzuC">This needs to become the most important subplot in the NBA now. It is Gradey Dick’s mission to make as many amazing jersey swaps as possible, and get them all immortalized forever with photos.</p>
<p id="fstSuS">There are dozens of opportunities around the league, and now he just needs to discover them. Let’s help Gradey out with a few ideas with now.</p>
<ul>
<li id="TkgaSz">DICK BALL (feat. LaMelo Ball)</li>
<li id="Tk1BAS">BROWN DICK (feat. Jaylen Brown)</li>
<li id="1EvALl">DICK CURRY (feat. Stephen Curry)</li>
<li id="woZnYo">FOURNIER DICK (feat. Evan Fournier) **DO NOT GOOGLE THIS**</li>
<li id="bq0olv">GREEN DICK (feat. Jeff Green)</li>
<li id="iKrVl9">HARDEN DICK (feat. James Harden)</li>
<li id="N6xj7Y">DICK HUNTER (feat. D’Andre Hunter)</li>
<li id="tDj8uR">LITTLE DICK (feat. Nassir Little)</li>
<li id="qBHsbQ">REDDISH DICK (feat. Cam Reddish)</li>
<li id="dTKeWF">SUGGS DICK (feat. Jalen Suggs)</li>
<li id="mxiqiV">THOR DICK (feat. J.T. Thor)</li>
<li id="ZLfXeZ">WHITE DICK (feat. Coby White)</li>
</ul>
<p id="O9pesb">There’s so much beauty in the world. </p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2024/3/18/24104721/anthony-black-gradey-dick-nba-jersey-swap-memeJames Dator