Bulls are demanding their next GM keeps Billy Donovan
The Chicago Bulls are taking a very firm stance on coach Billy Donovan and his future with the organization.
Bulls CEO Michael Reinsdorf laid down something of an ultimatum for general manager candidates on Tuesday when discussing the organization’s future. He said the Bulls will keep Donovan as long as the coach wants to say, and went as far as to add that the organization would not even consider GM candidates that were not committed to keeping Donovan as coach.
Reinsdorf:If we're interviewing someone and they're not sold on Billy and a Hall of Fame coach and person who has won championships in college and gone deep in playoffs in OKC and, given teams he was given, achieved good results in Chicago, then they're not right candidate for us
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) April 7, 2026
Reinsdorf’s comments are particularly wild considering Donovan reportedly is not a lock to return next season.
As respected as Donovan is, this could limit the pool of GM candidates interested in the Chicago job. Some might want to pick their own coach, or at the very least, they would rather not have as firm a condition as that upon walking in the door. It could also raise questions as to just how much control a new GM would be given with the Bulls.
Donovan is wrapping up his sixth season as Chicago’s head coach. He is 224-254 overall with just one playoff appearance, but the Bulls clearly aren’t holding him chiefly responsible for that lack of success.
Chris Sale angrily hit himself in the head with a baseball
Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale is known for his temper, but he demonstrated a whole new way to berate one’s self during Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels.
Sale had a meltdown in the fourth inning of Monday’s game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Ca. After the first two batters reached, he missed on a 3-2 pitch to Jeimer Candelario. Once he got the ball back from his catcher, he took it and smashed it against his head in frustration.
Chris Sale was not happy with himself… and he let it show pic.twitter.com/esRZUWuutB
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 7, 2026
Sale’s gesture did not turn the tide. He later issued a bases-loaded walk and hit by pitch, at one point slamming the rosin bag down on the mound in frustration. The Angels wound up pushing three runs across in the inning with the benefit of just two hits.
In the past, Sale has not been shy about letting off steam. Most famously, he cut up a bunch of throwback jerseys he didn’t want to wear while he was with the Chicago White Sox. He’s even had meltdowns while on minor league rehab before.
Sale wound up allowing six runs in four innings and took the loss, though he did strike out seven. He had allowed just four hits and one earned run over 12 innings in his first two starts of the season.
Diego Pavia is set for his first pre-draft visit
Former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia has landed an intriguing pre-draft visit.
Pavia is visiting the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. It is the first known visit Pavia has taken with an NFL team outside of the NFL Combine.
#Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia, the 2025 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, is visiting the #Panthers today, source says.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 7, 2026
The 24-year-old helped Vandy to its first win over a top-5 team in program history. pic.twitter.com/9fHT9XmhBZ
Pavia is not regarded as a top prospect, so it is interesting to see the Panthers use a visit on him. Bryce Young remains the team’s starting quarterback and that is unlikely to change, so Pavia would likely be a late-round backup option if the Panthers really wanted him.
Pavia is considered undersized for a quarterback, which limits his ceiling. There are also concerns about his maturity, though he has somewhat tried to minimize those.
Still, Pavia was a Heisman Trophy finalist who threw for 3,539 yards with Vanderbilt last season. He will likely get the chance to latch on somewhere, and it may be with the Panthers.
Star running back is notable no-show for NFL offseason workouts
One high-profile running back was a notable no-show for the first day of voluntary workouts on Tuesday.
Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane was not in attendance for the team’s first day of voluntary workouts. Achane is entering the final season of his rookie contract and wants an extension.
Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said he did not read too much into Achane’s absence and called it “part of the business.”
Dolphins new HC Jeff Hafley says he believes just about everyone is here for voluntary OTAs except star RB De’Von Achane who isn’t.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) April 7, 2026
Hafley called it “part of the business” & believes it’ll work out.
Achane is 1 of NFL’s best RBs & eligible for new contract. OTAs are voluntary. pic.twitter.com/1d6Zd8997p
Achane emerged as Miami’s most important offensive player last season, so it is no huge surprise that he wants the security of a long-term deal. The former third-round pick ran for 1,350 yards and scored 12 total touchdowns en route to his first Pro Bowl selection.
Achane was the subject of some offseason trade rumors after the team overhauled its offense by letting the likes of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle walk. The Dolphins have made it clear, however, that an extension for Achane is a priority for them as well. It simply has not gotten done yet.
Michael Malone’s North Carolina salary has been revealed
Michael Malone is being paid handsomely to become the new head basketball coach at North Carolina.
The Tar Heels officially announced Malone’s hire on Tuesday, confirming him as Hubert Davis’ successor at the school. Brian Murphy of WRAL obtained details on the new coach’s contract, which comes out to six years and $50 million.
Malone immediately becomes one of the highest-paid coaches in college basketball. In fact, his deal is the exact same one Dan Hurley signed with UConn in 2024 amid interest from the Los Angeles Lakers. It means Malone will make just over $8 million annually, behind only Bill Self of Kansas in terms of average annual value.
That is a hefty sum of money for someone who has not coached at the college level before. The Tar Heels are putting an immense amount of faith in Malone by paying him as one of the sport’s elite coaches sight unseen. Malone was successful at the NBA level, but the college game will certainly bring added challenges that were not present at the professional level.
It certainly works out nicely for Malone. He gets a massive payday and he gets to spend more time around his family by moving to North Carolina.
Dawn Staley issues statement about incident with Geno Auriemma
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley has publicly addressed her incident with Geno Auriemma after last week’s Final Four game.
Staley released a statement urging everyone to “turn the page” on the incident in which Auriemma berated Staley after the Gamecocks’ 62-48 win over UConn. She ended by urging everyone to focus on growing the sport instead of fixating on an alleged feud.
“I spoke with Geno, and I want to be clear — I have a great deal of respect for him and what he’s meant to this game,” Staley said. “One moment doesn’t define a career, and it doesn’t change the impact he’s had on growing women’s basketball. The standard at UConn is what it is because of him, and that’s something this game has benefited from.”
The mission is unchanged – let's grow our game 🫡 pic.twitter.com/mJxqlUy6CK
— South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB) April 7, 2026
Auriemma was widely criticized for his treatment of Staley, who he claimed snubbed him prior to the game. While the UConn coach later issued an apology, it avoided mentioning Staley by name, drawing further criticism.
Staley avoided giving the controversy any more oxygen while her team was still alive, but spoke out after the Gamecocks were blown out by UCLA in the championship game. She is clearly ready to put the incident behind her.
Fernando Mendoza makes significant decision about the NFL Draft
Likely No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza has made a significant decision regarding the NFL Draft.
Mendoza has informed the NFL that he does not intend to attend the draft in person. Instead of traveling to Pittsburgh, he plans to watch the draft with family and friends in Miami.
Projected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza has informed the NFL that he is not planning to attend the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh this month, per sources. Mendoza wants to share the draft experience with his family in Miami. pic.twitter.com/ApUc7UmIDX
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 7, 2026
It is rare for a top pick to pass on the NFL Draft, but not unprecedented. Trevor Lawrence did so in 2021 when he, too, was considered a slam dunk to go first overall.
Mendoza undoubtedly knows where he is going. Nobody is making it much of a secret. Perhaps Mendoza’s decision would be different were the draft in Las Vegas or somewhere nearby, but knowing how tight Mendoza is with his family, this is pretty perfectly in character for him.
While Mendoza is headed to the Raiders, he appears unlikely to start in Week 1. Either way, he is clearly the future of the franchise, whether he is present in Pittsburgh or not.
Bucks accused of blowing off Giannis Antetokounmpo’s trade requests
The Milwaukee Bucks’ relationship with Giannis Antetokounmpo has fallen apart, and a new story reveals just how bad it has gotten.
The Bucks receive a big share of the blame for the relationship going sour in the new story by Shams Charania of ESPN. He reports that Antetokounmpo had serious doubts about the Bucks’ ability to contend before the season, but ultimately agreed to give the new roster a chance to show what it could do.
Antetokounmpo ultimately lost faith in the Bucks’ ability to contend, but tried to set up an amicable split. His representatives informed the Bucks quietly that Antetokounmpo was ready to be moved, and even met with ownership to request that the team “do right” by him. The team seemed willing to accept that, but slow-walked trade talks and wound up keeping Antetokounmpo beyond the trade deadline.
“Giannis has wanted to handle this professionally by being very up front with the team,” one source told Charania. “This could have been a happy resolution but instead might end up being a nasty breakup.”
The Bucks, on the other hand, have suggested that Antetokounmpo is “distant” from the rest of the team, and believe the constant speculation about his future has taken a toll on the locker room. Ownership and top executives have reportedly accepted that a trade is inevitable, however.
Ultimately, the situation seems to have been toxic for a while, and both sides share some of the blame. The issues have really spilled into the public domain lately, with the sides at odds over whether he can even play right now. Everyone involved desperately needs to move on, and it appears likely to happen this offseason.
Todd Bowles speaks out on the tension between Baker Mayfield and Kevin Stefanski
The NFC South got a little spicier when the Atlanta Falcons hired Kevin Stefanski in January to be their new head coach. That means Stefanski will be facing his former Cleveland Browns quarterback and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers signal-caller Baker Mayfield twice a season.
The two don’t seem to have each other’s number on speed dial, which became even more apparent when Mayfield ripped his former coach following the news of Stefanski landing a job with the Falcons. Mayfield said he felt like “a piece of garbage” when he did not hear from Stefanski after his trade to the Carolina Panthers in 2022.
Whatever the case between the former Browns figures, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles wants them to settle their feud in a less confrontational manner.
“I think that’s something that they have to figure out from that standpoint since we can’t have a boxing match where they get in the ring with each other and knock each other out,” Bowles told Josina Anderson of the Exhibit News Network.
Bowles also made it clear which side he is on.
“You know we’re going to back our guy Baker, and I’m sure they’re going to back their coach as well. It’s a division game, so it’s already going to be a tough-fought, hard-fought game, so it just adds to it,” added Bowles.
Mayfield toned down his rhetoric about Stefanski when he spoke about his former coach again in February, but it’s his initial reaction that fans seem to remember more.
Expect Mayfield to have all the motivation he needs to beat Atlanta in 2026, especially in their first meeting.
New details emerge on the Vikings’ search for a new GM
The Minnesota Vikings have yet to find a permanent replacement for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the general manager the team fired in January. At the moment, Minnesota has longtime executive vice president Rob Brzezinski serving the GM role on an interim basis.
According to Kevin Seifert of ESPN, Vikings owner Mark Wilf and his family will be getting advice from a “small, tight group” in finding the right person for the job.
Another notable detail laid out by Seifert is that interviews for Minnesota’s general manager gig will not begin until after the 2026 NFL Draft, which will take place from April 23 to 25.
Whoever becomes the next Vikings general manager will be running a team that greatly regressed in the 2025 season. After making the NFL playoffs with a 14-3 record in 2024, Minnesota went just 9-8 and missed the postseason in 2025.
Finding a stable presence under center could be a chief goal for Minnesota’s would-be GM, especially if the team’s gamble on quarterback Kyler Murray doesn’t pay off after signing the dual-threat signal-caller to a 1-year, $1.3 million contract in the offseason.
For now, the Vikings seem happy with Brzezinski filling the role temporarily, with Wilf saying, “He’s done an outstanding job in terms of building consensus and strategy within the organization.”
Video: Ja Morant fuels exit rumors with gesture in final Grizzlies home game
Ja Morant may have just said goodbye to Memphis Grizzlies fans without actually saying it.
The Grizzlies played their final home game of the 2025–26 NBA season on Monday at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., against the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Morant not in uniform.
The Memphis guard was ruled out for the remainder of the season in late March due to an elbow injury, prompting rumors that he may have already played his last game with the team.
Following Memphis’ 142-126 loss to the Cavs, Morant fueled those speculations further when he flashed a peace sign to Grizzlies fans. You can check it out in this video here.
Many interpreted that gesture from the two-time NBA All-Star as a sign that he’ll no longer be back in Memphis as a member of the Grizzlies.
Milwaukee bound…
— MontgomeryB. (@_MontyBurnham_) April 7, 2026
Lakers bound
— Nate 🐶🏈 (@NateDawgUga) April 7, 2026
Yeah he’s gone
— HIM (@OsoArrogantDLHW) April 7, 2026
Yeah he’s gone 💔 pic.twitter.com/dIcshOUoUi
— Error (@ErrorPC_) April 7, 2026
he knows he’s gone
— PERC (@PERCZlES) April 7, 2026
Although the former Murray State star is under contract through the 2027-28 season, there is a real possibility that Memphis trades him in the summer. His name had been a fixture in trade rumors before the February deadline, and the Grizzlies could restart talks with interested teams about a trade in the offseason.
Taken by the Grizzlies second overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, Morant has career averages of 22.4 points, 7.4 assists and 4.6 rebounds across 327 games.
Pau Gasol sends a huge message to Aday Mara after Michigan’s win
Aday Mara had a night to remember on Monday, as he helped the Michigan Wolverines topple the UConn Huskies in the national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., 69-63.
On top of that, he celebrated his 21st birthday shortly after the Wolverines took down UConn and while he and his teammates were still on the court, savoring their success.
To make it even better for Mara, he got a special message from Spanish basketball great and former Los Angeles Lakers star big man Pau Gasol.
“Historic!!!! I’m so happy for you, Aday, you deserve it!” the 45-year-old Gasol wrote in Spanish in a post on social media.
Histórico!!!! Me alegro mucho por ti, Aday, te lo mereces 👏🏼👏🏼 https://t.co/Gd2fUoKlHi
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) April 7, 2026
It has been quite a basketball journey for Mara, who could one day have a successful NBA career, just like Gasol.
Mara began his college stint with the UCLA Bruins, suiting up for two seasons under Mick Cronin before transferring to Ann Arbor in 2025 to play for Dusty May’s Wolverines.
Mara enjoyed a much bigger role on the court with Michigan than he did in two seasons with the Bruins, averaging 12.1 points, while leading the Big Ten with 2.1 blocks through 40 games with the Wolverines.
Desmond Bane doesn’t seem to recognize the celebrity who crashed his interview
Desmond Bane didn’t seem to have the talent to recognize a celebrity who unexpectedly made a cameo during the Orlando Magic star’s postgame interview on Monday.
While Bane was being interviewed by FanDuel Sports Network’s Dante Marchitelli after the Magic’s 123-107 win over the Detroit Pistons at Kia Center, Orlando, Fla., “America’s Got Talent” judge Howie Mandel sneaked into the frame and praised the guard.
“You got talent,” Mandel told Bane, who seemed a little confused but was appreciative of the message from the 70-year-old celebrity.
Bane even bumped fists with Mandel, who told Bane, “I’m a judge,” as he walked away.
You can watch that scene here.
Desmond Bane has zero idea who Howie Mandel is and I’m here for it 😂😂😂#MakeItMagic pic.twitter.com/wTA4jTPWRf
— Daren Stoltzfus WESH (@DarenStoltzfus) April 7, 2026
Perhaps Bane is just not a big fan of reality shows. It is also possible he knew who Mandel was, but was thrown off by the baseball cap the “Deal or No Deal” host was wearing.
What’s important to Bane is that the Magic won and kept themselves in the thick of the race for one of the top-six spots in the Eastern Conference standings.
Orlando, which got 25 points from Bane in the Pistons game, now sports a 43-36 record, tied with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Charlotte Hornets. All three teams are just half a game behind the sixth spot, currently occupied by the 43-35 Toronto Raptors.
Max Scherzer comments on his injury after exiting early against the Dodgers
Max Scherzer had a quick outing on the mound Monday in the series opener of a 2025 World Series rematch between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario.
He exited the game after just two innings, and while the reason for his early departure was initially unclear, he later revealed it was due to right forearm tendinitis.
“I’ve been dealing with this little issue for a couple of weeks, but it’s never been presenting when I’ve been throwing the ball; it’s actually been hurting more when I’m at home,” Scherzer said after the game, via Sportsnet.
The 41-year-old Scherzer allayed fears about a potential trip to the injured list, saying that he was trying to preserve his arm for his next assignment.
“I didn’t want to go to the IL, I just don’t think this is an IL issue where I need to miss two starts. I just needed to guard it today, so we came up with a plan that the most I would do was three innings, 50 pitches,” shared the three-time Cy Young Award winner.
Scherzer threw just 36 pitches against the Dodgers, allowing 2 earned runs on 2 hits with two strikeouts and 1 walk, as the Blue Jays suffered a 14-2 loss to the reigning World Series champions.
Through two starts in 2026, Scherzer has gone 1-1 with 3 earned runs on 6 hits (2 home runs) with 6 strikeouts across 8.0 innings.
Assuming that he won’t miss time, Scherzer’s next start is expected to take place on Sunday against the Minnesota Twins at Rogers Centre.
Dan Orlovsky facing hilarious punishment for losing bet backing UConn
Dan Orlovsky was unexpectedly one of the biggest losers of how this year’s NCAA Tournament ended.
Orlovsky, a former UConn quarterback, made an unwise wager with Michigan alum Taylor Lewan. The two \ backing their respective alma maters in their very public bet ahead of Monday’s UConn-Michigan national championship clash.
Lewan shared the details of their bet on X just before Monday’s game tipped off.
“Michigan wins, Dan Orlovsky must wear a single dangle earring on the right side with a Michigan block M for 1 full month on all media sports or otherwise. IF he forgets a day, the month timeline restarts,” Lewan posted.
“If UConn wins, Taylor Lewan must dye his hair husky Blue once. Failure to do so within a two week period he must keep it husky blue for the rest of the calendar year.”
Contract details:
— Taylor Lewan (@TaylorLewan77) April 7, 2026
Michigan wins, Dan Orlovsky must wear a single dangle earring on the right side with a Michigan block M for 1 full month on all media sports or otherwise. IF he forgets a day, the month timeline restarts.
If UConn wins, Taylor Lewan must dye his hair husky… https://t.co/eTN0IjXHFE
Unfortunately for Orlovsky, Michigan pulled away Monday with a resounding 69-63 win, leading UConn throughout the entire second half. For his sake, hopefully Orlovsky gets to keep the earring after serving his punishment. Perhaps that could have some value on an episode of “Pawn Stars.”
It hasn’t been a good week for Orlovsky, who also got hammered for his take on Lamar Jackson that aged terribly.
UConn made classy move after losing to Michigan
UConn was classy in defeat Monday after losing to Michigan in the NCAA Tournament championship game.
The underdog Huskies scratched and clawed to stay in the game against the Wolverines, but could not complete a last-minute comeback in a game they trailed by double digits in the second half. UConn made it interesting down the stretch but ultimately lost 69-63 in front of a Michigan-heavy crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.
Despite coming up short, UConn made sure they were not going to be sore losers. Dan Hurley’s boys waited on the court for Michigan to finish their initial celebration just so could shake hands and offer their congratulations.
Really good moment: Dan Hurley and the entire UConn team waited for the Michigan players to come back after their immediate celebration to shake their heads and congratulate them on winning the national title. pic.twitter.com/pwJDeqFC47
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) April 7, 2026
Hurley was nothing but complimentary of his UConn kids despite losing his first game in the Final Four ever after winning his first five.
“How are you disappointed at all in your group?” Hurley told Tracy Wolfson after the game. “These guys had 22 offensive rebounds versus that group of ‘Monstars’ out there, so I’m proud of the guys.”
Hurley certainly handled defeat much better than UConn women’s basketball head coach Geno Auriemma, who caught serious flak for confronting Dawn Staley after losing to South Carolina.
Everyone said the same thing about Aday Mara after Michigan beat UConn
Aday Mara had one of the greatest days in recorded human history on Monday as Michigan won the national championship game over UConn.
Mara did not have a huge stat line in Michigan’s 69-63 victory in the title game, finishing with just 8 points and 4 rebounds on 4/7 shooting at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. But he did have a huge defensive impact to slow down burly UConn big man Tarris Reed Jr., who tallied 13 points on 4/12 shooting.
The Spanish 7-footer also turned 21 on Monday, meaning he is now very much allowed to buy all the beer he needs to celebrate. Mara’s teammates serenaded him with a birthday greeting.
Unreal. Aday Mara turned 21 as One Shining Moment played. pic.twitter.com/yl9IVJkhLa
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTuckerCBB) April 7, 2026
Mara also got to cut down part of the net as is tradition.
Aday Mara cuts down the nets with the Spain flag on his back 👏 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/tOaK1HZViE
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 7, 2026
After a stellar run in the NCAA Tournament, several fans were adamant that Mara deserved to be a lottery pick in June’s NBA draft. Some even felt he belonged within the top-10 after previously being projected as a late first-rounder or even a second-round pick.
aday mara def top 8 prospect look how he’s affecting the game
— no speeding🍪 (@MIK3MCDANIEL) April 7, 2026
If the Pelicans pick falls around the 7-9 range I’m taking Aday Mara the Hawks need a big man like this badly
— Kai (@SznPltts) April 7, 2026
I don’t see how Aday Mara isn’t at least a lottery pick
— #56 (@puntacanademon) April 7, 2026
Aday Mara made himself a lot of money during Final Four weekend. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a lottery pick in June
— Ethan Cadeaux (@Ethan_Cadeaux) April 7, 2026
Mara entered Monday’s game averaging 12.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks on an absurd 67.0% field goal shooting clip. The Michigan junior made several fans believes this NCAA Tournament, and perhaps some NBA scouts as well.
Bulls could hire 1 former NBA All-Star to lead their front office
A notable reunion may be on the table for the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls made the major decision on Monday to fire their lead executives Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley. Karnisovas (vice president of basketball operations) and Eversley (general manager) are now out in Chicago amid a fourth straight losing season by the team (this one marking their worst yet at 29-49).
Kurt Helin of NBC Sports reports that retired former NBA All-Star Kyle Korver has emerged as a candidate to lead basketball operations for the Bulls. Korver currently serves as assistant general manager of the Atlanta Hawks.
Helin also notes that Hawks GM Landry Fields, Golden State Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy, Minnesota Timberwolves GM Matt Lloyd, and CAA agent Austin Brown are other potential candidates for the opening in Chicago. You can read Helin’s full report on the situation here.
Of those names, Korver, now 45, probably makes the most sense as an NBA front office figure who also does not have a position as a lead executive just yet. He played in the NBA from 2003-2020 and made a name for himself as a sharpshooter who hit 2,450 three-pointers at an elite 42.9 percent clip. Korver also played for the Bulls themselves from 2010-12.
After retiring as a player, Korver went into coaching and front office work and has served as Hawks assistant GM since 2023. Chicago fans have at least some fond memories of Korver, and now there is a possibility that he could return as the lead executive of the Bulls.
Michael Wilbon lambasts ‘insecure bully’ Geno Auriemma in scathing rant
Michael Wilbon did not mince words in his public callout of Geno Auriemma.
The UConn women’s basketball head coach received negative backlash last week for confronting Dawn Staley after his team lost to South Carolina in the Final Four. Auriemma was fuming over the officiating in the contest and specifically peeved at Staley for supposedly working the referees.
Auriemma later issued an apology that was not well-received at all.
Wilbon wasn’t ready to forgive and forget either. He chastised Auriemma on Monday’s episode of “Pardon the Interruption” in a scathing rant.
“It’s the disgraceful behavior of a massively insecure bully,” Wilbon said of Auriemma.
Michael Wilbon tees off on Geno Auriemma:
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 6, 2026
"It's the disgraceful behavior of a massively insecure bully. It was petulant, it was classless."
"Lied on national TV, round after round of interviews … accused South Carolina's players of doing something his own players did as if we… pic.twitter.com/pk6toF56rR
“It was petulant, it was classless. … He lied on national TV, round after round of interviews and accused South Carolina’s players of doing something his own players did as if we don’t all have television. Geno Auriemma is one of the biggest figures in the history, deservedly so, of college basketball, and he behaved like a garden-variety bum.”
Wilbon also called out Auriemma’s “bogus” apology to South Carolina for not even including any direct mention of Staley.
South Carolina fans let Auriemma know they weren’t happy with him either during the Gamecocks’ national title game against UCLA. The NCAA played a montage of past championship games during the contest on Sunday, and the South Carolina faithful booed heavily every time UConn was featured on screen. It happened a lot, given that Auriemma is a 12-time national champion.
CJ McCollum hit one of the wildest shots ever that didn’t count
CJ McCollum was mere milliseconds away Monday from highlight reel immortality.
The Atlanta Hawks trailed the New York Knicks 108-105 with 1.2 seconds left on the clock at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga. With no timeouts remaining following a pair of Jalen Brunson free throws, the Hawks had to create some magic 94 feet away from their own basket.
McCollum did his best David Blaine impression with an off-balance 60-foot heave that banked in seemingly right at the buzzer.
CJ MCCOLLUM FOR THE TIE 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/AQTodyEb8t
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) April 7, 2026
Unfortunately for McCollum and every Hawks fan in the building, the ball was still touching CJ’s fingertips as the clock expired. You can watch the slow-motion replay below.
CJ MCCOLLUM FROM HALF COURT
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) April 7, 2026
Refs say the shot was late and the Hawks lose pic.twitter.com/KEOpuwnC0s
The moment McCollum took two dribbles before getting a shot off made it nearly impossible for him to get the ball out of his hands in time. The fact that it was even close was a testament to how quickly the veteran guard released the ball after his second dribble.
McCollum finished with 17 points in the 108-105 loss. While CJ didn’t get the Hawks an extra period on Monday, he’s still been a godsend for the team ever since he arrived in Atlanta in the Trae Young deal. The Hawks have gone 18-3 since McCollum became a permanent fixture in the team’s starting lineup.
